In Future of Procurement•October 8, 2025

AI in Procurement: When are the New Strategies a Real Game Changer

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is by far one of, if not the biggest, technological advancements of the last century, which is fundamentally reshaping every facet of our world: from how we work to how we lead, to how we build resilient and ethical organisations. AI transforms society, creates new industries, and is highly likely to permanently transform others.In these last years, we’ve seen a myriad of new technologies designed to support and make Procurement operations more efficient, to streamline decision-making, mitigate risk, and optimise sourcing. Hence, making organisations more ethical and profitable.For procurement leaders, AI is a tool, and equally a strategic imperative that businesses must take seriously to safeguard growth (even their survival) in this new era. One thing is clear: those who ignore AI may find themselves not just left behind, but left out.

“AI is a great solution though it should not be perceived as an oracle.”

At Green Apples®, we’ve been tracking how AI is transforming procurement.In this conversation, we speak with our Operations Director, Vlad Gradinariu https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladgradinariu, to explore the opportunities, threats, and essential next steps for companies preparing to embrace a full-on digital transformation.

AI in Procurement Strategies

How would you define Artificial Intelligence within the context of procurement and why should procurement leaders care right now?

Vlad Gradinaru: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Procurement enhances the human being. AI is a great solution though it should not be perceived as an oracle, nor the mastermind of every Procurement requirement. Machine learning softwares can accelerate tasks and automate workflows, allowing teams to focus on strategies and decision-making. Why should leaders care? Simply because they’d miss out on significant value and potentially losing competitive advantage.

What are the most promising ways AI can drive value in procurement today, particularly when we refer to sustainability, supplier transparency, or speed to insight?

AI is a trusted ally when it comes to the sustainability aspect, especially in the space of ESG data, such as Scope 3 emissions, compliance and even sustainable sourcing. To make an example, in the past year we supported a key customer boost their Eco Vadis ratings and secure Platinum status. Eco Vadis leverages machine learning technologies to help tackle the complex sustainability challenges. They integrate AI to support their sustainability experts in delivering reliable ratings of companies' environmental, social, ethical, and sustainable procurement performance.

“The biggest risk for Procurement teams today is overly relying on AI.”

Moving on the challenges and threats AI brings to Procurement operations, where do you see the biggest risks or misconceptions around integrating AI into procurement workflows? And how can organisations avoid falling into these traps?AI comes with various risks but the biggest risk for Procurement teams today is overly relying on AI. Therefore, organisations shouldn’t be blindly trusting insights and recommendations without applying real procurement expertise and ethical judgement.

“Leaders must NOT underestimate technology, regardless of the industry.”

As someone at the intersection of operations and innovation, how do you see AI evolving within procurement over the next maybe 3 to 5 years? What should leaders prepare for now?

In today’s context AI heavily relies on human oversight to prevent “hallucinations”, which refer to situations where AI produces misleading outputs. While hallucinations will never fully disappear, as those are embedded within the structure of how AI works, I expect that with the introduction of hybrid systems, combining AI with real time data, in the next 5 years Procurement units could trust AI to run end to end tasks independently, however the human oversight will still be necessary, though to a significantly lesser extent.  Leaders must NOT underestimate technology, regardless of the industry, and steer towards a digital transformation in the years to come. 

“Businesses must FIRST build a solid foundation to understanding where AI can bring value.”

For businesses still in early stages, what are the essential first steps to prepare for a digital transformation powered by AI, culturally, operationally, and ethically?

Before embarking into a necessary, yet fascinating digital journey, businesses must first build a solid foundation. This means assessing and redesigning all processes to understanding where AI can bring value, as well as ensuring accessible and high-quality data. Artificial Intelligence is changing procurement fast. The real advantage? Knowing how to apply it with targeted purpose.At Green Apples®, we’re here to guide you through every step to strengthen digital resilience in procurement and supply chain, with expert insights, integrity and innovation.

This article was first published in Green Apples® Tips Newsletter, in August 2025.  Author: Corina Stoicescu, Strategic Communications Partner, Seasoned Journalist; LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/corinastoicescu

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