Procurement is being driven by experienced professionals who know the ins and outs of negotiation, compliance, and supplier relationships. But as digital transformation reshapes industries everywhere, procurement leaders face new challenges and new opportunities.
Our 2024 State of Procurement Survey sheds light on the evolving demographics of procurement and highlights a clear message: experience is valuable, but adapting to technology is essential to stay competitive.
Here's a summary of the survey's findings on the age, skills, and technological needs of today’s procurement workforce.
Experienced Professionals Facing New Challenges
Procurement is led by a highly seasoned workforce, with 65% of professionals we surveyed aged 46 and above. These individuals have developed deep expertise over decades, navigating procurement’s complex demands and contributing strategic value. They’ve built relationships with partners and suppliers, understand their industry deeply, and have a keen sense of what it takes to bid out a successful project. Another 28% fall within the 34-45 age range, meaning that most of the workforce has years of hands-on experience.
However, while experience has always been a cornerstone of successful procurement, the future of the industry is being driven more and more by technology. The traditional skills that have served procurement teams well must now be paired with new digital competencies to solicit competitive bids and maintain strong relationships. In this environment, even the most veteran professionals need to embrace change.
Check out an executive summary of our 2024 State of Procurement Report to learn more about the workforce demographics shaping procurement today.
Bridging the Experience Gap with Technology
The data is clear: while experience is invaluable, it’s no longer enough. As eProcurement software solutions, in-depth data analytics, and process automation become standard, procurement professionals must be comfortable with these technologies to streamline processes, evaluate fairly, and make faster, data-driven decisions.
One of the biggest hurdles identified in the survey is technology integration. Only 43% of respondents reported that their eProcurement tools are fully integrated into their processes. This gap indicates that while technology is being adopted, it isn’t yet fully utilized in many organizations, likely due to skill gaps or resistance to change from those inside the agency.
There are ways to combat these challenges, the most effective being to select the right eProcurement provider. A system that is easy-to-use, has a low bar to implementation, and has plenty of support professionals and help documentation can ease the fears of veteran procurement professionals who don’t view themselves as tech-savvy. Simple, quick implementation also means they won’t feel burdened by a long process of replacing their current methods with software that will take them a long time to learn to use. Once they realize how much easier technology can make their day-to-day responsibilities, these experienced team members can become champions of automation.
For experienced professionals, blending years of procurement knowledge with digital innovation is the next challenge. By embracing automation, data analytics, and integrated eProcurement systems, they can continue to lead effectively and stay competitive in the evolving landscape.
The white paper provides insights into how organizations can bridge this technology integration gap.
Upskilling: The Key to Staying Competitive
To keep up with the demands of a tech-driven future, continuous learning is essential. Our survey revealed a strong need for upskilling within procurement, with more than 76% of respondents calling for technology training programs to be instituted or sponsored by their agencies or professional organizations. This trend once again highlights the growing need to move beyond traditional procurement practices and adopt digital workflows and tools, but it also helps them learn new strategies for effective procurement.
Upskilling not only helps professionals remain effective but also enhances their ability to drive strategic decisions using real-time data insights. With the right training, seasoned leaders can continue to bring value to their organizations by blending their expertise with cutting-edge technology. This eliminates the fear of being rendered obsolete by emerging technology and reinforces the need for veteran experience that can lead well into the future.
Explore strategies for upskilling and adapting to digital procurement in the full white paper.
Conclusion: Leading Through Change
Seasoned professionals are the backbone of public procurement teams, investing years of knowledge and expertise into the industry and bringing a wealth of experience to each solicitation. But to stay relevant, older professionals must adapt to technological advancements that help them streamline their processes and communicate better with vendors and suppliers.
By investing in continuous learning, adopting new eProcurement tools, and embracing data-driven reporting and decision-making, today’s leaders can turn challenges into opportunities and continue to add strategic value to their agencies and their constituents.
Want to learn more about the future of procurement and how to prepare your team? Download the 2024 State of Procurement White Paper for an in-depth look at the data and actionable insights on adapting to a digital future.
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