For many procurement professionals, the rapid rise of digital tools and automation can feel both exciting and unsettling. On one hand, procurement software promises improved efficiency, increased value and streamlined processes. On the other, there’s a lingering fear that technology (particularly AI-powered solutions) could automate procurement roles out of existence altogether.

Let’s be clear: procurement technology isn’t here to replace procurement professionals. It’s here to empower them.

In this blog, we’ll unpack why procurement teams shouldn’t fear automation and how the right source-to-contract procurement software can actually free you from repetitive admin, giving you the space to focus on higher-value, strategic activities.

We’ll also explore how procurement technology can help unlock greater innovation, supplier collaboration and help you deliver on social value objectives all while improving your operational performance.

Why Procurement Professionals Are Feeling the Pressure

Procurement has changed dramatically over the last decade.

What was once seen as a transactional function has now evolved into a central driver of business value. Procurement teams today are expected to do far more than just secure the best price:

  • Navigate complex supplier markets
  • Ensure compliance with evolving regulations
  • Deliver ESG and social value objectives
  • Drive innovation through supplier partnerships
  • Mitigate risks in increasingly volatile supply chains

All this, while continuing to manage costs and deliver value for money.

With so many competing priorities, it’s no wonder many procurement teams feel overwhelmed.

The traditional ways of working (spreadsheets, email chains and manual tracking) simply aren’t fit for purpose anymore. Procurement leaders are recognising that they need digital solutions not just to keep pace, but to thrive.

Procurement Technology: A Threat or an Enabler?

A common misconception within the procurement community is that automation will make roles redundant.

Yes, procurement software can automate tasks such as:

  • Sending reminders for contract renewals
  • Tracking supplier compliance documentation
  • Scoring supplier tenders against weighted criteria
  • Reporting on contract performance
  • Tracking supplier SLAs

Here’s What Procurement Tech Can’t Replace:

  • Relationship management with suppliers and internal stakeholders
  • Strategic sourcing and category planning
  • Setting procurement strategies aligned with business goals
  • Developing ESG procurement roadmaps
  • Evaluating long-term supplier risk
  • Driving supplier innovation and collaboration

In fact, by automating the transactional side of procurement, technology creates space for these high-impact activities to take centre stage.

How Procurement Software Frees Teams to Focus on Strategy

Let’s explore some specific ways the right procurement software solutions can unlock more strategic procurement.

1. Eliminating Manual Contract Admin

Contract management is one of the most time-consuming aspects of procurement. Many organisations still rely on manual processes, leading to misplaced documents, missed renewals and limited visibility.

Modern contract lifecycle management (CLM) software automates approval workflows and renewal tracking.

This means procurement teams no longer need to spend hours chasing signatures or checking for upcoming expiries. Instead, they can use this time to analyse contract performance, negotiate better terms or identify opportunities to consolidate spend.

2. Streamlining Supplier Onboarding and Compliance

Supplier onboarding is often slow and cumbersome, involving multiple forms, document requests and manual checks.

Procurement software with integrated supplier management functionality makes this far easier. Suppliers can submit onboarding data through dedicated portals and automated workflows, check compliance, verify documents, and flag risks.

Not only does this speed up onboarding, but it also reduces risk by ensuring suppliers remain compliant throughout their relationship with your organisation.

3. Provide Wider Visibility of Key Data

Many procurement teams spend countless hours each month compiling reports for finance, operations and leadership teams. With Atamis, you can subscribe individuals to particular reports and set them to run at specific intervals i.e. monthly. This means you can be sure the right people get the right information at the right time. 

With the right procurement software, much of this reporting can be automated. Real-time dashboards provide up-to-date information on:

  • Spend by category or supplier
  • Supplier performance against KPIs
  • Contract status and milestones
  • Social value outcomes delivered
  • ESG procurement metrics

This allows procurement teams to focus less on gathering data and more on analysing it, spotting trends, identifying risks and making proactive decisions.

4. Simplifying Tendering and Supplier Selection

Running tenders and evaluating supplier bids is another area where procurement software delivers significant time savings.

Tools such as our Tender App allow procurement teams to:

  • Easily publish opportunities to a wider supplier base through APIs or integrations with public sector tendering platforms (such as FTS)
  • Standardise supplier submissions
  • Automatically score responses based on pre-set criteria
  • Manage clarifications and communications through a single platform

This dramatically reduces the administrative burden of tenders while making the process more transparent and objective.

Making Room for Innovation and Supplier Collaboration

By cutting down on admin, procurement professionals can dedicate more energy to higher-value activities like supplier collaboration and innovation.

Suppliers increasingly act as sources of innovation, offering new products, processes or technologies that can drive competitive advantage. However, engaging suppliers in innovation initiatives requires time and relationship-building – something that’s often sacrificed when procurement teams are bogged down with admin.

With procurement software handling the transactional work, teams can devote more time to:

  • Co-creating solutions with strategic suppliers
  • Running supplier innovation challenges
  • Jointly addressing ESG procurement opportunities
  • Developing risk mitigation strategies together

This collaborative approach not only drives innovation but also strengthens supplier relationships, positioning procurement as a true business partner.

Digital Procurement as a Driver of Social Value

One area where procurement professionals are under growing pressure is social value.

Regulations like the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 require public bodies in the UK to consider how procurement can benefit local communities, the environment, and society as a whole.

Private sector organisations are also increasingly expected to demonstrate their commitment to ESG procurement principles.

But tracking and delivering social value is difficult without the right tools.

Modern procurement software can help by:

  • Embedding social value criteria into tender processes
  • Tracking supplier commitments on social value
  • Monitoring and reporting on social value performance
  • Aggregating data across contracts to measure overall impact
  • Displaying key data in intuitive and digestible dashboards

This not only ensures regulatory compliance but also supports more strategic decision-making around social value initiatives.

Procurement Software Is Built For Humans (Not To Replace Them)

The key point here is simple: procurement software isn’t about replacing people; it’s about empowering them.

Digital tools take away the repetitive, low-value tasks that often dominate procurement workloads – freeing up time for professionals to focus on what they do best:

  • Building supplier relationships
  • Managing risks
  • Delivering ESG outcomes
  • Driving innovation
  • Shaping procurement strategies that deliver long-term value

Far from stealing jobs, procurement technology helps procurement teams become more influential within their organisations.

Why Procurement Needs Space to Be Strategic

Procurement’s role in organisations is evolving fast.

Today’s teams must manage an ever-growing list of responsibilities. From ensuring supply chain resilience to driving cost savings, improving compliance, delivering on social value objectives and supporting sustainability.

Without the right tools, these competing demands can feel impossible to juggle.

That’s why smart procurement leaders are embracing technology as an enabler.

Procurement software provides the automation and visibility needed to:

  • Streamline day-to-day operations
  • Reduce manual workloads
  • Increase accuracy and reduce risk
  • Enable more data-driven decision making
  • Focus on long-term, strategic goals

Rather than fearing procurement technology, teams should see it as a critical ally that allows them to focus on the most impactful parts of their roles.

Common Misconceptions About Procurement Tech (And Why They’re Wrong)

Still not convinced? Let’s address some common myths about procurement software.

Myth 1: Procurement software is too complicated to implement

Reality: Modern cloud-based procurement tools are designed for ease of use, with intuitive interfaces, crucial customisation and dedicated implementation support.

Myth 2: Automation will make my role redundant

Reality: Automation takes care of admin, not strategy. Your expertise in negotiation, supplier collaboration and risk management remains irreplaceable.

Myth 3: Procurement software is only for large organisations

Reality: Many procurement platforms offer scalable solutions that work for organisations of all sizes – from SMEs to large enterprises.

Myth 4: It’s too expensive

Reality: When factoring in time savings, risk reduction and improved performance, most organisations find that procurement software delivers a strong return on investment. See what one of our clients said about the cost vs savings of implementing Atamis.