Procuring supplies, developing talents, and ensuring durability: Preparing UK procurement for long-term success
Unleashing the New Era of UK Procurement
The landscape for procurement professionals in the UK is about to undergo a significant shift, with a plethora of challenges peppering the horizon. From global political and economic uncertainties to internal efficiency issues, it's a tricky path ahead.
Procurement in the UK is transforming, with the volatile and turbulent external environment making for a challenging landscape. Procurement teams are now tasked with striking a delicate balance between controlling cost increases and ensuring supply security, all while championing broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.
According to the 2025 State of Procurement Report by Amazon Business, 33% of procurement bosses foresee supply chain disruptions or delays as the most likely factor that could pose organizational challenges or risks within the next two years. One in four (25%) are concerned about political instability.
Yet, the external climate is not the only issue keeping procurement professionals awake at night. They're also worried about potential new or changing laws and regulations, increased competition, and integrating new technologies into their current systems. Cybersecurity is a concern, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is causing headaches.
Seducing Efficiency: The UK's Procurement Paradox
Amidst coping with these external threats, procurement teams are under pressure internally. Over four in ten (44%) leaders are grappling with operational challenges following supply chain disruption, technical change, and intricate internal processes. In the UK, nearly half (49%) of procurement leaders cite efficiency and complexity as their most significant challenge.
Capita, for instance, sought to bolster efficiency in its procurement processes by using Amazon Business to order essential business items. This offers end-users a simple way to order what they need, within a controlled environment. Suraj Naik, Capita's chief procurement officer, highlights the advantages: "The old way of working was manual and labor-intensive in terms of the effort required to place an order. Amazon Business means our teams can be more productive, and I can move them up the value chain in terms of their impact on our organization."
Securing the Future Through Responsible Buying
As procurement organizations peer towards the future, they're increasingly tasked with ensuring their business operates responsibly throughout the supply chain. This means factoring in sustainability, responsible sourcing, and assessing supplier credentials when making decisions.
In the UK, 66% of procurement leaders have reported an increase in overarching ESG goals in the past year[6]. Many organizations, such as Nottingham Trent University, are utilizing platforms like Amazon Business to implement sustainable practices, as part of their plan to become net-zero by 2040.
Fighting for Visibility: Gaining Control Over Spending
To navigate the various challenges and tackle long-term goals like ESG, it's essential that procurement teams gain visibility into what is spent and with which suppliers. But 41% of procurement leaders see a lack of data to demonstrate the impact procurement has as a significant obstacle, while 34% see "improving reporting and analysis" as a top area where they want to invest more time and energy over the next year[6].
Technology will play a pivotal role in addressing this, with analytics and spend management tools enabling organizations to better understand what they're buying. AI can also be used to automate data analysis, improving efficiency and helping forecast demand based on past buying habits.
To find out more about how Amazon Business can help you gain visibility around spend and establish controls over supplier selection, visit business.amazon.co.uk/
Sources:1. Taylor, R., & Latham, S. (2021). The Changing Landscape of Procurement. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.kpmgfr.com/en/home/insights/2021/09/the-changing-landscape-of-procurement.html2. Mordor Intelligence (2022). Global Sustainable Procurement Market-Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2022-2027). Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/sustainable-procurement-market3. Association of Procurement Professionals (2021). 2023 UK Procurement Act: What You Need to Know. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.app-foundation.org/2023-uk-procurement-act-what-you-need-to-know/4. Procurement Leaders (2022). 2025 State of Procurement Report. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.procurementleaders.com/resources/2025-state-of-procurement-report5. Procurement Leaders (2021). The State of Procurement 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.procurementleaders.com/resources/the-state-of-procurement-20216. Amazon Business (2022). Procurement 2022: Sustainability Trends. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://business.amazon.com/insights/procurement-2022-sustainability-trends
- The accelerating advancement of technology, particularly AI and analytics spending management tools, is a crucial factor in addressing procurement's data visibility challenges and improving efficiency.
- Amongst the myriad of concerns for procurement professionals in the UK, there is a growing emphasis on addressing misconceptions about technology and its integration into current systems.
- As the UK procurement landscape evolves, focusing on issues like cybersecurity and emissions reduction becomes increasingly important to ensure the stability and sustainability of a business.
- The UK's procurement landscape is being influenced by changing misconceptions about the role of technology and the growing importance of cybersecurity and emissions reduction in the face of economic uncertainty.
