Year: 2026

This reading assignment is based on research I conducted during my research sabbatical in Spring 2026. But first, recall our general discussion on RFQs, cost breakdowns, outsourcing, competitive bidding, etc. In our earlier lectures and readings, we discussed how supply chain management directly impacts profitability, return on investment (ROI), and a company’s ability to do things “better, faster, and cheaper.” One of the major ways companies improve performance is through...

Man, procurement is changing rapidly. AI is really reshaping how sourcing professionals approach supplier risk monitoring, negotiation preparation, RFQ analysis, contract review, and spend analytics.I recently surveyed more than 100 procurement and SCM pros to better understand how orgs are using supplier RFQ cost breakdowns. See results below.One of the most interesting findings was that over 70% of respondents identified AI-driven cost analysis as the next major frontier for procurement.At...