A Gartner survey of 101 chief procurement officers (CPOs) conducted in January–February 2026 reveals that only 36% are very confident in their ability to redesign procurement roles for AI. The study identifies a gap between individual AI productivity gains and broader team or organizational outcomes, known as the “AI productivity paradox.” Despite improvements in time savings, output volume, and quality at the individual level, these gains fail to translate due to outdated operating models. Gartner recommends redesigning roles, aligning AI with financial outcomes like cost optimization and revenue growth, and updating performance measures to include innovation and new outputs. Additional findings from a ProcureAbility report show that 65% of procurement leaders rank digital transformation as their top priority for 2026, followed by ESG (51%) and supply chain disruption management (47%). Only 36% of CPOs are confident in AI role redesign, underscoring the urgency for strategic adaptation in procurement functions.
Only 36% of CPOs Confident in AI-Driven Role Redesign
According to www.dcvelocity.com, just 36% of chief procurement officers (CPOs) are very confident they can redesign roles and processes around artificial intelligence, based on a Gartner survey of 101 CPOs conducted between January and February 2026.
Procurement teams are seeing productivity gains from GenAI, but without intentional redesign of roles and processes, those gains remain confined to the individual level.
— Fareen Mehrzai, Senior Director Analyst, Gartner’s Supply Chain practice
AI Productivity Paradox Limits Organizational Gains
The survey identifies a gap between individual and team-level AI productivity, termed the “AI productivity paradox.” While GenAI improves individual performance—measured in time savings, output volume, and quality—these gains do not scale to team or enterprise outcomes due to outdated procurement operating models.
Only 36% of CPOs reported high confidence in their ability to redesign roles for AI, with the remaining 64% hesitant or uncertain. This lack of confidence correlates with underdeveloped frameworks for integrating AI into core procurement workflows.
Recommendations for AI-Enabled Procurement Transformation
Gartner recommends three key actions to close the productivity gap:
- Redesign roles around AI: CPOs should evaluate current roles, separate tasks into human-centric and AI-native categories, and reassign responsibilities accordingly.
- Align AI gains with financial outcomes: Focus on cost optimization and revenue growth rather than solely on efficiency metrics.
- Update productivity measures: Expand performance tracking to include innovation, complexity, and new outputs generated through AI-enabled work.
Traditional productivity metrics based on “output per unit of time” are increasingly outdated in AI-enabled environments, according to Mehrzai. “To maximize the value of GenAI, CPOs must evolve productivity measures to capture its innovative outputs and new sources of value,” he said.
Procurement’s Dual Focus on Digital Transformation and ESG
Additional findings from a separate report by ProcureAbility—a unit of Jabil—indicate that 65% of procurement leaders prioritize digital transformation in 2026, while 51% emphasize ESG initiatives. Supplier relationship management (45%) and process efficiency (43%) also rank among top priorities.
Supply chain disruption remains the top challenge, with 65% of respondents reporting shortages in the past year and 47% citing disruption management as their most significant operational concern over the next 12 months. In response, organizations are shifting away from sole-source suppliers to improve resilience.
Current supply chain adaptability is perceived as only “somewhat effective” by 59% of respondents, while 38% rate it as “not very effective,” highlighting the need for systemic change.
Source: DC Velocity
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
