Survey: 73% of Procurement Leaders want More Strategic Flexibility, Ability to Execute
A recent survey of 1,000 U.S.-based Finance and Procurement decision-makers finds that 55% of organizations still prioritize cost control over flexibility, even after several years defined by supply chain shocks and economic disruption.
Despite over 83% of Procurement and Finance professionals saying they feel directly responsible for innovation in their organization’s Procurement strategy, less than one third (27%) feel fully able to deliver it under their current circumstances. While most professionals are still having their success measured in cost savings (48%) and risk mitigation (43%) by their leadership, nearly one in three (29%) report they see their greatest value instead as supporting overall business growth.
The survey results/analysis is found in “Ambition Meets Attrition: Finance and Procurement Leaders Must Bridge the Growing Gap Between AI Ambition and Real-World Agility,” released by Raindrop Systems.
“Procurement and Finance have evolved well beyond the stereotype of just being responsible for managing costs,” said Ward Karson, Chief Operating Officer of Raindrop Systems. “Today, these departments are expected to help drive strategic resilience, yet many remain caught in a cycle of ambition without action. Until they have the right tools to turn intent into results, their potential to fuel innovation and business growth is going to remain out of reach.”
The rise of AI-driven procurement tools presents a major opportunity to close this gap. However, three out of four respondents reported that, although their organizations have the right internal infrastructure to support AI, cultural resistance, limited investment, and a shortage of skills have prevented meaningful AI projects from getting off the ground. In fact, 18%3 reported no AI adoption has taken place to date within their departments. Respondents identified data analysis (44%), task automation (39%), team collaboration (38%), and proactive risk management (37%) as valuable tasks for AI to take over and free them up to drive further innovation for the company.
The report’s findings present a clear call to action for Procurement and Finance teams to redefine their role and their technology. By embracing AI-powered solutions and thus shifting the value of these departments, leaders can help Procurement move beyond transactional cost-cutting to become strategic partners that shape growth, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.
“No matter company size, those who delay adoption of AI-powered, end-to-end solutions risk entrenching inefficiencies and falling behind peers,” said Patrick Raymann, Research Director at IDC. “Partnering with proven technology providers who can quickly bridge the readiness-to-reality gap will determine the winners of the next wave of Procurement innovation.”
To read the full “Ambition Meets Attrition” report, visit https://bit.ly/49duDw6.
