Levelpath seized the moment to demonstrate exactly how that’s happening, with our President and Co-founder Stan Garber leading a packed session alongside Grace Zacharek, a champion of modern, strategic, and digital-first procurement, and Jim O’Rourke, CPO. Together they shared six practical ways AI is already transforming procurement at leading organizations. Each area was brought to life with examples of applying AI today to simplify complexity, increase speed, and scale results.
- Supercharging Efficiency
Here is the reality every procurement leader knows: you are being asked to deliver more without getting more resources. Budgets stay flat while workloads explode, creating an efficiency gap that traditional approaches simply are challenged by. AI increases capacity by automating manual work, guiding users through smart workflows, and analyzing information to provide quick insights. At TreeHouse Foods, the team redesigned its claims process using Levelpath, resulting in an over 200% return on investment in six weeks by increasing throughput and eliminating manual routing. That is the kind of efficiency transformation that turns procurement from a cost center into a profit driver.
- Unlocking Hidden Value
AI identifies savings opportunities by improving supplier relationship management, optimizing negotiations, and automating analytical tasks for increased insights and visibility. The technology does not just speed up RFP creation; it intelligently suggests the perfect suppliers based on your historical success patterns. At PADNOS, a lean team used Levelpath to support three times their typical sourcing volume without hiring additional employees. That is not efficiency, that is multiplication of impact.
- Making Compliance Effortless
Embedding policies into the procurement workflow helps ensure compliance without creating friction. AI-powered intake routes requests based on category, supplier status, and internal rules, improving accuracy and reducing cycle times. At SiriusXM, procurement teams now manage 90% of IT spend through a centralized, automated intake process that enforces policy and improves stakeholder experience. When compliance becomes invisible, everyone wins.
- Preventing Problems Before They Happen
AI mitigates risk by continuously monitoring supplier health, contract compliance, and payment anomalies. It flags potential issues in real time, allowing teams to act before problems escalate. For many procurement teams, AI has helped to prevent duplicate or mistaken payments and reduced fraud risk. At TreeHouse, this proactive approach helped eliminate supplier leakage and enabled much earlier intervention in claims and contract tracking, turning risk management from damage control into competitive advantage.
- Building Stronger Supplier Relationships
Great supplier relationships begin with accurate data and effective collaboration. AI improves supplier management by creating enriched profiles, enabling supplier collaboration, and driving bids to best-fit suppliers. Qualtrics saw this transformation firsthand. By implementing intelligent supplier records, they reduced new supplier requests by more than 30% within just two months. When your existing suppliers can better meet your needs, everyone benefits from stronger, more strategic partnerships.
- Scaling at Your Own Pace
Procurement transformation does not require an all-at-once approach. AI-native tools allow organizations to start small, demonstrate results, and expand adoption at their own pace which leads to longer term use. GATX exemplifies this strategy perfectly. They began with one sourcing workflow, achieved early success, then extended the platform across legal, finance, and operations within six months. That is how you build momentum that lasts.