Procurement leaders may be gaining influence, but most still aren’t treated as true executives.

What’s Related

According to the 2026 Annual ProcureCon CPO Report, only 11% of organizations say their Chief Procurement Officer is a core member of the executive team with equal decision-making authority. 

The report, sponsored by ProcureAbility and based on a survey of senior procurement, supply chain, and risk management leaders, shows that 89% of respondents say their CPO now plays a greater role in high-level decision-making. Another 82% expect that influence to grow over the next year. Yet for most companies, that influence stops short of real power at the top table.

Nearly half of respondents said their CPO regularly participates in strategic planning, but only with procurement-related input. Others said the role is still brought in only when specific expertise is needed. The report notes that while this shows progress, it also highlights a gap between involvement and authority.

That gap helps explain why procurement teams often struggle to move faster on big initiatives.

Artificial intelligence is a clear example. While AI continues to climb the priority list, only 11% of respondents say their organizations are fully ready to use it in procurement with measurable impact. Most companies are still piloting tools or evaluating options, and many admit they are held back by data issues and internal hesitation.

The biggest barriers to AI adoption include concerns about data privacy and security, poor data quality across systems, and worries about AI replacing human judgment. Without strong executive backing, procurement teams find it harder to push through those challenges and turn pilots into real change.

Cost pressure is also back in focus. The report shows that balancing cost reduction with growth is one of the top challenges CPOs expect to face in the next 12 months, driven by rising prices, tariffs, and ongoing supply chain disruptions. 

Despite those pressures, supplier relationships remain the top priority for CPOs heading into 2026. More than half of respondents said strengthening strategic partnerships with suppliers is their highest focus, ranking ahead of AI-driven automation.