Role-Based Programme
RB1342

AI for Strategic Sourcing

Supplier Intelligence, Cost Optimisation & Sourcing Strategy

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Duration
16 Hours
Level
Intermediate
Delivery
Instructor-Led
Format
Capability Training

Programme Objectives

  • Develop practical AI capabilities for strategic sourcing, supplier discovery, spend analysis, market intelligence, and sourcing decision support.
  • Apply AI to analyse category requirements, supplier markets, commercial proposals, cost drivers, risks, and sourcing opportunities.
  • Use AI to strengthen RFx preparation, supplier evaluation, negotiation planning, business-case development, and stakeholder communication.
  • Improve sourcing performance through structured supplier intelligence, scenario analysis, cost optimisation, risk assessment, and evidence-based recommendations.
  • Apply responsible AI practices related to confidential commercial data, supplier information, fairness, source validation, governance, and human oversight.

Tools covered

Generative AI AssistantsAI Search & ResearchSupplier IntelligenceSpend AnalysisMarket IntelligenceCost AnalysisRFx SupportSupplier ComparisonNegotiation PreparationRisk AnalysisSourcing AnalyticsExecutive Summarisation

Who should attend

  • Strategic Sourcing Managers
  • Strategic Sourcing Specialists
  • Procurement Managers
  • Category Managers
  • Sourcing Executives
  • Procurement Analysts
  • Category Analysts
  • Supplier Management Professionals
  • Vendor Management Professionals
  • Commercial Managers
  • Procurement Operations Professionals
  • Supply Chain Professionals
  • Cost Optimisation Professionals
  • Procurement Team Leaders
  • Procurement & Vendor Management Leaders

Prerequisites & Participant Readiness

  • Experience in procurement, sourcing, category management, supplier management, or commercial operations
  • Familiarity with RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluation, pricing, and procurement processes
  • Basic familiarity with Generative AI tools is recommended
  • Ability to interpret supplier, market, spend, and commercial information
  • No programming knowledge required

TOC Modules

Concepts
  • Understanding Generative AI, reasoning models, multimodal AI, and AI assistants
  • Exploring AI applications across sourcing, supplier research, spend analysis, RFx, and negotiation
  • Understanding how AI complements procurement suites, ERP, sourcing, and supplier-management systems
  • Recognising hallucinations, unsupported supplier claims, and limitations in commercial decisions
Practical activities
  • Mapping the strategic sourcing lifecycle to practical AI applications
  • Identifying high-value versus high-risk sourcing use cases
  • Comparing traditional and AI-assisted sourcing workflows

Scenarios

Fragmented Spend to Strategic Sourcing Plan

Spend Data → Category Analysis → Market Intelligence → Supplier Discovery → RFx Design → Bid Evaluation → Negotiation Strategy → Sourcing Recommendation

Participants use AI to analyse a simulated fragmented spend category, identify sourcing opportunities, research supplier options, and develop a structured sourcing recommendation.

High-Cost Single Supplier to Resilient Sourcing Strategy

Supplier Dependency → Cost Analysis → Market Research → Alternative Suppliers → Risk Assessment → Commercial Scenarios → Negotiation → Resilient Sourcing Plan

Participants use AI to analyse a simulated high-cost, single-source dependency, evaluate alternative suppliers and commercial options, and create a sourcing strategy balancing cost, continuity, and supplier risk.

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