Procurement is undergoing a transformation. It’s evolving from a cost control function into a...
The old playbook for procurement transformation is starting to show its age. For years, the cycle was predictable: a massive platform rollout, a multi-year consulting engagement, and a "Big Bang" go-live that didn’t live up to expectations by the time the ribbon was cut.
Today, AI and agent-driven digital capabilities move too fast for that rigid pace. When intelligent platforms can handle end-to-end procurement activity with a fraction of the friction we’re used to, it’s easy to assume the role of the traditional consultant is shrinking. But a more adaptive, AI-native consulting model is taking shape.
Every day, I’m working with partners at the world’s largest consulting firms, and they are moving fast, investing and adapting for the realities of AI democratization and agentic operating models. We aren't seeing the end of consulting, nor are we seeing LLMs become the sole source of advice. We are seeing a reinvention of how strategic advice is delivered and executed.
As someone who has spent over a decade in this field across three continents, I see a genuine shift happening compared to how we worked just a few years ago. The busy work that used to clog up these projects is being stripped away, leaving room for something much more impactful.
At the heart of this is the simple fact that the achievable upside with a transformation based on agentic orchestration is far higher than the early promises of S2P suites or best-of-breed-only approaches. The metrics are the same; savings, cashflow, compliance, efficiency, productivity… but the speed and scale at which those outcomes can now be achieved changes the equation entirely.
The profile of consultant-led transformation programs built around agentic orchestration is also fundamentally different from previous eras. Everything is on the table: redesigning procurement operating models for agentic delivery, experimenting with digital solutions at speed, and deploying platforms in an agile, use-case-focused way. This means the expertise required from large consulting firms is evolving into an entirely different set of skills.
Closing the Skills Gap and Empowering Teams
We all know that many large enterprises are facing a massive AI skills gap. The platforms have arrived, but organizations now need people who can adapt just as quickly. Most organizations have the ambition to transform, but they lack the internal expertise to navigate this new landscape. Given the sheer pace of change, this is perhaps unsurprising.
What I am seeing, however, is consultancies stepping in to do more than simply deliver a project; they are helping plug the skills gap and enabling enterprise teams to own their digital future.
The "hard part" of a project has moved. It’s no longer just about making the software work technically. The real challenge now lies in rewiring the operating model to actually take advantage of that new speed. It’s about managing the human element, getting stakeholders to trust AI-driven insights, and redesigning governance to match the pace of acceleration that agentic AI makes possible.
A More Effective Way to Implement
We talk about "implementation" a lot in this industry, and for good reason. It is the bridge between a vision and a result. However, the way we implement is also shifting.
In the past, implementation was often a transactional phase with a clear start and end. You configured the platform, rolled it out, and the project was considered "done."
In a world of continuous AI evolution, "done" is a moving target. The firms that are winning right now aren't the ones trying to protect old-school, labor-heavy delivery models. They are the ones leaning into agile implementation. They realize that if the technology is faster, they can spend less time on technical plumbing and more time on the high-value strategy that actually moves the needle for the C-suite.
Our own implementation team at ORO recently explored this shift in a series of deep-dive blogs. They look at how implementation methodologies themselves are evolving to keep pace with AI. You can read those insights here:
Inside the Implementation: Designing Human-Centric Orchestration at Scale
The ORO OPEN Approach: Co-Creation Over Sequencing
At ORO, we didn’t want to build just another legacy partner program. That’s why we built the ORO Partner Enterprise Network (OPEN).
The philosophy is simple: openness wins. Instead of technology and consulting operating in silos, we’re bringing genuine co-creation into the ecosystem. Our strategic consulting partners bring their unique IP and industry-specific expertise directly into customer transformation journeys.
By keeping implementation lean and removing unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, we’re helping customers realize benefits in weeks, not months or years.
The Impact for Customers
This isn't a zero-sum game where AI wins and consultants lose. For the enterprise customer, this revolution is a massive win. It means organizations no longer have to choose between the speed of a modern platform and the deep experience of a human advisor who can help teams bridge the skills gap.
When you combine the raw speed of ORO’s Agentic Procurement Orchestration platform with the institutional knowledge of one of our OPEN partners, you create a far more agile organization. The goal for procurement leaders today is to find the sweet spot where these two forces overlap. That is where the most interesting work is happening, and it’s where the real transformation begins.
Want to learn more about how ORO can transform procurement at your organization? Book a demo with one of our experts.
By James Tickle, Head of Partnerships - EMEA at ORO Labs
Expertise: 17+ years in procurement transformation and digital operations with global experience; Built and scaled consulting, delivery, and partnership functions at ProcureTech, Accenture and Nestle; Expert in digital procurement strategy and agentic AI-driven transformation at Fortune 500 companies.
