Will Tech and AI make Category Manager roles irrelevant?

The Procurement Software Podcast

This episode of The Procurement Software Podcast delves into the impact of technology and AI on category manager roles in procurement. Host James Meads explores how advancements in tech can potentially change the landscape of procurement and discusses specific areas like spend analytics that can benefit from AI applications. Tune in to learn more about the evolving role of category managers in the era of technological advancements.

Will Tech and AI make Category Management irrelevant?

In this episode, we explore how AI and technology are transforming the role of category managers in procurement. AI can automate many tactical tasks, such as spend analytics, sourcing, supplier management, and contract reviews, reducing the operational workload. This automation enables category managers to focus on more strategic activities, enhancing their ability to deliver value to the organisation. Despite the efficiency AI brings, it cannot replace the essential soft skills required for effective supplier management and stakeholder engagement. The episode underscores that human emotional intelligence and communication skills remain crucial. Category managers excel in fostering relationships, developing category strategies, and crafting compelling narratives around data to engage stakeholders. Tune in to learn how AI empowers category managers to shift from routine tasks to high-impact activities, driving strategic decision-making and value creation within organisations.

Timestamps:

[00:02:24] AI in sourcing applications [00:04:43] Contract Management AI Technology [00:11:31] The rise of prompt engineering [00:15:14] AI limitations and soft skills [00:17:15] AI in procurement advancements And that wraps up another episode of The Procurement Software Podcast! Thanks again for listening, and do please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. Every one helps! We'll be back at the same time next week, so see you there. If you want to learn more about Procurement Software, check out the useful links below.

Stay in touch!

Grab your ticket to ProcureCon EU in Barcelona with 10% off!

• Download our Tech Map for Enterprise
• Download our Tech Map for Mid-Market
• Download our Tech Map for SMEs
• Find your perfect procurement tech solution in our Software Finder app
• Sign up for the Procurement Software Newsletter
• Book an Intro Call and let’s talk all things Digital Procurement!
• Connect with James on LinkedIn