What 2025 Taught Me About Procurement And Why It Matters for 2026

 If 2024 was a year of recovery, 2025 was the year of reckoning.

We saw everything from unexpected supplier exits to evolving ESG demands, tighter budgets, shifting customer expectations and the rise of AI-powered procurement tools that are changing the game. As a procurement professional navigating it all, I can confidently say: 2025 didn’t just test our systems, it tested our mindset.

Here’s what this year taught me and why these lessons are non-negotiable for 2026.

1. Relationships Are Still the Foundation: It became clear this year that when supply chains stretch thin, relationships hold strong. The suppliers we had built solid relationships with, were more willing to negotiate, prioritize us and offer creative solutions when things went south.

Quick Tip: Don’t wait until there's a problem to speak with your suppliers. Set quarterly check-ins that go beyond performance metrics. Ask, “How can we support each other better?”

2. Data Isn’t Optional: Procurement analytics moved from “nice to have” to “mission-critical.” From spend visibility to risk monitoring, the teams that thrived in 2025 were those who trusted clean, real-time data.

Quick Tip: Invest time in data hygiene. Before embracing new tools, make sure your current data is clean, categorized and accessible.

3. Risk Is Not Just a Box to Check: 2025 reminded us that risk management can’t live in a spreadsheet alone. Political instability, cyber threats and global events disrupted even the most stable supply chains.

Quick Tip: Create a supplier risk scorecard that includes not just financial risk, but digital, environmental and geopolitical factors. Revisit it quarterly.

4. Procurement Must Be Proactive, Not Reactive: This year rewarded teams that anticipated problems, not just responded to them. Whether it was diversifying supplier bases or engaging early with internal stakeholders, proactive procurement stood out.

Quick Tip: Build a trend-watching system. Assign one team member to track industry news, tech trends and policy updates monthly and share insights.

5. Soft Skills Are Harder to Ignore Than Ever: No matter the system, platform, or dashboard, it was the conversations, empathy and persuasion that often saved the day. Procurement leaders had to negotiate smartly, manage conflict and build cross-functional trust.

Quick Tip: Dedicate time each quarter to develop your soft skills through courses on negotiation, communication or stakeholder management.

So, as we wrap up the year, I encourage every procurement leader to reflect:

What relationships do you need to strengthen? What data do you need to trust better? Where can you anticipate instead of react?

Because in procurement, what you learn today shapes what you save tomorrow.

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