Role-Based Programme
RB1343

AI for Strategic Sourcing

Advanced Supplier Intelligence, Spend Optimisation & Sourcing Excellence

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Duration
32 Hours
Level
Advanced
Delivery
Instructor-Led
Format
Capability Development

Programme Objectives

  • Develop advanced capability to apply AI across strategic sourcing, category analysis, supplier discovery, market intelligence, RFx processes, evaluation, negotiation, and sourcing governance.
  • Use AI-assisted analysis to identify spend opportunities, supplier-market dynamics, cost drivers, sourcing risks, and value-creation opportunities.
  • Apply AI to supplier research, RFIs/RFPs/RFQs, bid comparison, should-cost analysis, total cost of ownership, negotiation preparation, and sourcing recommendations.
  • Use AI-assisted analytics to improve sourcing speed, commercial insight, supplier selection, risk management, cost efficiency, and stakeholder decision-making.
  • Build responsible AI-enabled Strategic Sourcing workflows with strong confidentiality, governance, validation, transparency, and human oversight.

Tools covered

Generative AI AssistantsAI Search & ResearchSpend AnalysisSupplier IntelligenceCategory AnalysisMarket IntelligenceRFx DevelopmentBid AnalysisCost ModellingTotal Cost of Ownership AnalysisSupplier Risk AnalysisNegotiation IntelligenceWorkflow AutomationAI AgentsDecision-Support Tools

Who should attend

  • Strategic Sourcing Managers
  • Category Managers
  • Procurement Managers
  • Sourcing Specialists
  • Strategic Buyers
  • Procurement Analysts
  • Category Analysts
  • Supplier Management Professionals
  • Commercial Procurement Professionals
  • Procurement Excellence Professionals
  • Supply Market Intelligence Professionals
  • Vendor Management Professionals
  • Procurement Transformation Professionals
  • Procurement Operations Leaders
  • Leaders Responsible for Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Selection

Prerequisites & Participant Readiness

  • Experience in procurement, sourcing, category management, purchasing, supplier management, or commercial operations
  • Familiarity with RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluation, negotiation, contracts, and sourcing processes
  • Basic awareness of Generative AI and common business applications
  • Comfort working with supplier, spend, market, commercial, and procurement information
  • No programming knowledge required

TOC Modules

Concepts
  • Understanding Generative AI, reasoning models, research, analytics, automation, and AI agents
  • Exploring AI applications across sourcing strategy, supplier research, commercial analysis, and negotiations
  • Distinguishing AI-assisted sourcing from autonomous supplier-selection decisions
  • Understanding hallucinations, commercial confidentiality, weak evidence, and human accountability
Practical activities
  • Mapping AI opportunities across the Strategic Sourcing lifecycle
  • Identifying activities suitable for augmentation, automation, or continued human ownership
  • Creating an AI opportunity map for Sourcing teams

Scenarios

Fragmented Supplier Base to Strategic Sourcing Programme

Spend Analysis → Category Segmentation → Supply Market → Supplier Discovery → RFx → Bid Evaluation → Negotiation → Award Recommendation

Participants use AI to analyse fragmented spend across multiple suppliers, identify consolidation opportunities, research the supply market, conduct a structured RFx process, and create an evidence-based sourcing recommendation.

High-Cost Critical Category to Resilient Sourcing Strategy

Cost Drivers → Supplier Market → Current Supplier Risk → Should-Cost → Alternate Suppliers → Negotiation Strategy → TCO → Resilience Plan

Participants use AI to analyse a high-cost critical category, identify pricing and supply-risk drivers, evaluate alternative suppliers, build negotiation scenarios, and create a balanced cost-and-resilience sourcing strategy.

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