The rapid rise of generative AI and agentic workflows has transformed procurement from an incremental technology adopter into a function poised for a leapfrog moment. Where first-generation procurement platforms digitized existing processes, AI agents now make it possible to reimagine those processes entirely. They automate more, scale faster, and enable a new level of efficiency and intelligence.
But realizing this potential requires a deliberate journey. Organizations must move carefully from planning to building, deployment, and scale, avoiding pitfalls that can undermine adoption.
The first step in adopting AI agents is not technological but strategic. Before rushing into deployment, procurement leaders must pause to understand their business processes and the gaps within them. What outcomes matter most? Faster sourcing cycles? Improved compliance? Better supplier engagement?
Clear goals provide the foundation for designing agents that deliver targeted value. As Lalitha Rajagopalan explains, “Even before you understand the technology, you need to understand the business processes and where the gaps are.” Clear goals — whether faster sourcing cycles, improved compliance, or more seamless supplier engagement — provide the foundation for designing agents that deliver targeted value.
Once priorities are clear, organizations can begin building agents that align with their specific needs. This stage is about more than technical capability. For AI agents to succeed, they must fit into the broader procurement ecosystem and integrate seamlessly with existing workflows.
The key consideration is alignment. As Lance Younger explains, “Customers want to know not just how it works but how it fits into the broader procurement ecosystem.” Trust is central to adoption. Procurement teams need reassurance that agents will enhance decision-making without adding complexity or oversight burdens.
The most effective approach is to start small, according to Rajagopalan. “You can start with pilots that target well-defined areas.” Early wins provide both data and reassurance, laying the groundwork for broader adoption.
The transition from pilots to broader deployment is often where challenges emerge. Rajagopalan warns that “the challenge is not the technology itself. It’s how you frame it and how you use it.” Rushed deployments that lack clear governance or fail to connect with business objectives can erode trust and stall momentum.
Cultural resistance can also be significant. Teams accustomed to traditional systems may hesitate to embrace new, agent-driven workflows. Overcoming this requires anchoring adoption in strategy: agents must be positioned not as novelty tools but as enablers of broader procurement objectives.
Scaling AI agents across procurement offers the greatest opportunity for transformation. At this stage, organizations can move beyond isolated pilots to create enterprise-wide impact, automating repetitive tasks across categories, geographies, and supplier networks.
“It’s going to be really possible to automate so much more and really leverage scale in an extraordinary way,” says Rajagopalan.
Partnerships play a critical role as scale increases. And there's a lot of value to working across regions and industries. Knowledge sharing and networking in this way enable procurement to accelerate maturity by learning from others. By drawing on shared experiences, organizations avoid reinventing the wheel and move more quickly toward sustainable adoption.
The rise of agentic workflows represents more than just another technology shift for procurement. It is, as Rajagopalan puts it, “literally a leapfrog moment.”
Procurement leaders who approach the journey with clarity and care will find themselves at the forefront of this transformation. By planning purposefully, building with trust, deploying thoughtfully, and scaling with confidence, they can ensure that AI agents deliver on their promise: faster, smarter, and more integrated procurement.
Try our Agentic Maturity Self-Assessment to evaluate how ready your team is for agentic procurement orchestration and see your suggested next steps.