As of early 2026, the concept of “procurement as a service” is finally a thing of the past. Our institute records a fundamental shift: procurement has become the center of strategic resilience. After the turbulent years of 2024-2025, when energy price volatility and logistical disruptions changed the API Sourcing landscape, the industry has moved into the era of Predictive Procurement.
Today, the question is not whether AI will replace the procurement person. The question is whether your company’s operating model can integrate a “digital twin” of procurement into your decision-making process before the market reacts to another raw material shortage.
In 2024–2025, global pharma invested over $4.2 billion in predictive analytics systems. The main driver is the transition from reactive firefighting to an anti-fragility model.
Novartis has implemented an integrated AI-powered platform to monitor its entire supply chain in real time. The system not only tracks shipments, but also predicts the likelihood of delivery delays for critical APIs 30 days in advance, analyzing geopolitical news, weather, and strikes.
According to our monitoring data:
The transition to proactivity requires a complete restructuring of internal technical processes. We identify three key vectors of change.
In 2026, the selection of API suppliers is based on the Resilience Matrix. AI analyzes not only the financial condition of the counterparty, but also its GMP/GDP Compliance in dynamics. If the system detects anomalies in quality reports at the production site in India or China, it automatically suggests redistributing quotas to backup suppliers.
The modern Total Cost of Ownership calculation is no longer a static Excel spreadsheet. It is a dynamic model that includes:
AI agents now handle 90% of the routine verification of Certificates of Analysis (CoA) and manufacturer dossiers, allowing the procurement team to focus on strategic networking and relationship management (SRM) rather than paperwork.
By the end of 2026, we expect the first fully autonomous procurement cycles for non-critical product categories (MRO, laboratory consumables). For strategic raw materials, the role of humans will remain crucial, but they will transform into the role of “ecosystem architect”.
CPO readiness checklist by the end of 2026:
| Priority | Task | Expected effect. |
| Data | Master Data unification across all locations | “A single version of the truth” for AI. |
| Talents | Training purchasers to work with Prompt Engineering. | 3x productivity increase. |
| Technologies | Implementation of Real-time Price Tracking tools. | Reduction in raw material costs by 5-8%. |
| ESG | Integrating a carbon footprint assessment into each contract. | Compliance with EU requirements and access to capital. |
In 2026, the winner will not be the one with the lowest price from the supplier, but the one with the fastest “Analysis – Decision” cycle. AI is not a replacement for the buyer, it is his exoskeleton, allowing him to see the market through the noise of data.
As of early 2026, the concept of “procurement as a service” is finally a thing of the past. Our institute records a fundamental shift: procurement…
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