Role-Based Programme
RB1340

AI for Strategic Sourcing

Smarter Supplier Research, Spend Insights & Sourcing Decisions

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Duration
4 Hours
Level
Awareness
Delivery
Instructor-Led
Format
Awareness Session

Programme Objectives

  • Understand how AI can support Strategic Sourcing across spend analysis, supplier research, market intelligence, sourcing events, and decision support.
  • Explore practical AI applications for identifying suppliers, analysing categories, comparing bids, and assessing sourcing risks.
  • Apply structured prompting techniques to create sourcing briefs, supplier-comparison criteria, RFx content, and negotiation-preparation inputs.
  • Use AI to improve productivity across category research, sourcing documentation, supplier evaluation, stakeholder communication, and reporting.
  • Recognise confidentiality, commercial sensitivity, bias, data quality, competition considerations, and human-review requirements when using AI in Strategic Sourcing.

Tools covered

Generative AI AssistantsAI Search & ResearchSpend AnalysisSupplier ResearchMarket IntelligenceRFx SupportSupplier ComparisonRisk AnalysisAI-Powered Reporting & Productivity Tools

Who should attend

  • Strategic Sourcing Managers
  • Strategic Sourcing Executives
  • Sourcing Specialists
  • Procurement Managers
  • Procurement Executives
  • Category Managers
  • Category Sourcing Professionals
  • Vendor Management Professionals
  • Supplier Relationship Managers
  • Procurement Analysts
  • Spend Analysts
  • Commercial Managers
  • Supply Chain Professionals
  • Procurement Operations Professionals
  • Strategic Sourcing Team Leads

Prerequisites & Participant Readiness

  • Basic understanding of procurement, sourcing, or supplier-management processes
  • Familiarity with RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluation, or purchasing data is helpful
  • Basic analytical, research, and commercial skills
  • No programming or technical AI knowledge required
  • No previous AI-tool experience required

TOC Modules

Concepts
  • Understanding Generative AI and its relevance to Strategic Sourcing
  • Exploring AI applications across spend analysis, supplier research, RFx preparation, evaluation, and reporting
  • Understanding the difference between AI assistance, procurement systems, analytics, and sourcing judgement
  • Recognising AI limitations, hallucinations, outdated supplier information, and unsupported commercial conclusions
Practical activities
  • Identifying high-value AI applications across a typical strategic-sourcing workflow
  • Comparing a traditional sourcing activity with an AI-assisted approach

Scenarios

Business Requirement to Supplier Shortlist

Business Requirement → AI-Assisted Category Research → Supplier Landscape → Screening Criteria → Supplier Comparison → Risks & Gaps → Shortlist

Participants use AI to analyse a sample sourcing requirement, research the supplier landscape, define evaluation criteria, and prepare a structured supplier shortlist for further due diligence.

Supplier Bids to Sourcing Recommendation

Supplier Proposals → AI-Assisted Comparison → Cost & Capability Review → Risks & Clarifications → Negotiation Topics → Recommendation → Stakeholder Summary

Participants use AI to compare sample supplier proposals, identify commercial and capability differences, and prepare a concise sourcing recommendation for stakeholder review.

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