Why AI in Procurement Shouldn't Replace Your Category Managers
The procurement technology industry has embraced a narrative that positions artificial intelligence as the inevitable replacement for human decision-making in sourcing, supplier selection, and spend management. Vendor presentations showcase algorithms that autonomously negotiate contracts, select suppliers, and optimize purchasing decisions without human intervention. The implicit promise: procurement teams can be smaller, faster, and more cost-effective by letting machines handle the complexity. This narrative is not only misleading—it's actively harmful to organizations that need procurement to drive strategic value rather than simply process transactions at lower cost. The reality of AI in Procurement is far more nuanced than the automation-everything rhetoric suggests. The most successful implementations in FMCG recognize that artificial intelligence serves as decision support for experienced category managers, not a substitute for the business judgment, supplier relationships...