In an increasingly complex business landscape, over half of procurement teams have taken the leap into automation, reaping substantial benefits in speed, efficiency, and adaptability. As the industry moves forward, teams that fail to embrace this shift risk falling behind. Cequence CLM’s perspective on Keelvar’s recently published 2025 report highlights why automation is no longer just an advantage—it’s a necessity.
Automation Adoption Hits 52%: The New Normal for Procurement Teams
According to Keelvar’s "Sourcing in 2025: AI & Automation Take Center Stage" report, 52% of procurement teams have already integrated automation technologies into their processes. The results speak for themselves: reduced manual workloads, fewer errors, and enhanced responsiveness. Procurement leaders who have yet to implement these solutions face mounting pressure from competitors who are gaining ground by leveraging automation to improve their operations.
Facing Challenges with Confidence
The report reveals that 78% of procurement leaders view the current market as equally or more unpredictable than last year. Persistent challenges such as inflation, internal cost pressures, and volatile supply chains are forcing organizations to reevaluate their strategies. Automation and AI are emerging as critical tools to navigate these complexities and secure a competitive edge.
For many organizations, the focus has shifted from questioning automation’s feasibility to exploring how it can be implemented at scale. The message is clear: success in procurement now depends on a team’s ability to deploy and optimize automated processes effectively.
Tangible Benefits of Automation in Procurement
Procurement teams embracing automation report remarkable gains:
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60% reduction in time spent on repetitive tasks
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56% decrease in risk of errors
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40% improved responsiveness to market changes
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35% more resources allocated to strategic initiatives
These benefits enable teams to shift their focus from transactional activities to value-driven strategies, empowering organizations to achieve their broader goals.
The Role of Technology Vendors
Despite the clear advantages, barriers to adoption remain. Budget constraints are a significant hurdle, with 60% of procurement leaders citing them as a key challenge. This highlights the critical role ProcureTech vendors must play in making automation accessible and cost-effective. Vendors need to deliver strong ROI cases to secure buy-in from key stakeholders, such as CFOs, and unlock the full potential of automation for their clients.
Preparing for the Future with Cequence CLM
At Cequence CLM, we believe that automation extends beyond procurement—it’s about transforming contract lifecycle management into a seamless, efficient, and strategic function. The insights from Keelvar’s report underscore the urgency for organizations to invest in tools that streamline processes, reduce risks, and free up resources for innovation.
By adopting automation and integrating it with robust contract management solutions, businesses can not only weather today’s challenges but also build resilience for the future. Whether it’s reducing the complexity of sourcing decisions or ensuring compliance through automated workflows, Cequence CLM is committed to helping organizations achieve success in an unpredictable world.
Embrace Automation Today
The race toward automation is well underway, and early adopters are already seeing transformative results. Don’t let your organization fall behind. To learn more about how Cequence CLM can help you harness the power of automation, contact us today.
Reference: Insights based on Keelvar’s "Sourcing in 2025: AI & Automation Take Center Stage" report.
