The 2026 Procurement Predictions: From AI Hype to Operating Reality

2026 Procurement Predictions: From AI Hype to Operating Reality

Date: February 5, 2026

2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for procurement. AI adoption is accelerating, orchestration platforms are reshaping how work gets done, and macroeconomic pressure is forcing leaders to prove real ROI - not just experimentation.

In this forward-looking webinar, Zip brings together insights from analysts, thought leaders, procurement practitioners, and the Zip community to translate the biggest procurement predictions for 2026 into a practical, executive-ready narrative. Rather than treating predictions as isolated ideas, this session organizes them into clear, actionable themes that reflect how procurement is actually evolving in the real world.

You’ll explore how AI is moving from productivity tool to digital labor, why orchestration is emerging as the new procurement operating system, and how teams are navigating the messy middle between AI ambition and operating reality. The discussion will also address the coming ROI reckoning, workforce transformation, and how leading organizations are creating competitive advantage beyond cost savings.

Key themes include:

1. Workforce evolution and AI agents as digital labor
2. Orchestration platforms as the new procurement operating system
3. The AI ROI reckoning and market correction
4. Creating competitive differentiation beyond cost savings
5. Navigating the complexity of real-world AI adoption
   

Speakers:

1. Joe Fox, Zip
2. Danielle McQuiston, Zip
3. Kristin Ellis, Instacart

Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of what is hype, what is real, and the concrete actions procurement leaders should take in 2026 to drive measurable business impact.