Procurement Staffing in 2025: Five Key Trends

Analyst Insight: Procurement used to be all about finding the best deal — an insular, contract-heavy, back-office function. But as the business landscape undergoes vast changes, from supply chain disruptions to economic volatility to digital transformation, so too does procurement.  

Today’s procurement professionals are evolving from cost-cutters to value creators focused on long-term supplier partnerships, technological innovation, and cross-functional collaboration. Manufacturers evaluating new hires should be cognizant of several key trends currently reshaping procurement.  

AI takes center stage. Artificial intelligence tools are they’re improving fast, and proficiency with them is now a must for procurement professionals. This could entail everything from data visualization tools and automation of requests for proposals (RFPs) to streamlining contract reviews and receiving recommendations based on market data and organizational spend. 

Genera…