The role and strategic agenda of the chief procurement officer (CPO) have evolved over the past decade. In this ongoing series, we revisit what defined procurement and the CPO’s agenda based on responses to Ardent’s annual State of Procurement survey. The series started in 2006, the year I first tackled the the “CPO Agenda” study. While the report titled evolved with my move to Ardent Partners (the report, like this website is called “CPO Rising”), it has always been a fantastic way to get a deep view into the market and understand what is driving the industry each year.
Each week, I will outline the key procurement insights for the next year in this series, culminating in 2025.
Procurement in the Age of Data- 2022
In 2022, Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) found themselves at the center of a data revolution that reshaped how enterprises operated and competed. The explosion of available data, matched by an insatiable demand for intelligence across the enterprise, created both challenges and opportunities for procurement leaders. No longer just managers of cost and contracts, CPOs were called upon to harness data to inform strategy, strengthen supplier relationships, and enable smarter decision-making. The CPO Rising 2022 report underscored the growing role of data as the lifeblood of modern procurement and highlighted the strategies that leaders deployed to navigate an increasingly complex world.
A Report Built on Experience and Benchmarking
The seventeenth edition of the annual CPO Rising series continued Ardent Partners’ long-standing dialogue with procurement leaders across the globe. Based on the perspectives and performance of more than 350 CPOs and procurement executives, the 2022 report provided a comprehensive view of procurement’s current state. It offered benchmarking statistics, best practices, and actionable recommendations to help procurement teams understand where they stood and how they could improve. By combining historical perspective with a forward-looking lens, that year’s study captured how CPOs adapted to volatility and seized opportunities to drive value through data and intelligence.
A World Transformed by Global Events
Procurement does not operate in a vacuum. The pandemic, still lingering in its third year, reshaped the very foundation of global supply chains and business operations. Its long-term impact, Ardent Partners argued, would unfold over a generation, with effects that could not yet be fully defined. Layered on top of this disruption were new challenges: inflation at levels not seen in decades, persistent supply chain fragility, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which reshaped geopolitics with profound humanitarian and economic consequences. These forces, combined with rising nationalism and restrictions on trade and immigration, transformed the global trade environment. Procurement leaders needed to account for heightened uncertainty, unpredictable actors, and shifting alliances, making their work both more complex and more critical than ever.
Procurement’s Expanding Role and Responsibilities
Despite these obstacles, procurement’s importance only grew. CPOs were increasingly recognized as key players in ensuring business continuity, enabling resilience, and supporting recovery during times of crisis. Whether facing a pandemic, geopolitical instability, or financial pressures, strong procurement outcomes consistently helped enterprises weather storms. As global supply chains touch nearly every business function, procurement managed more categories — including indirect and services — while addressing new layers of complexity. The work of sourcing, contracting, and supplier management was no longer transactional; it was strategic, risk-laden, and inseparable from enterprise performance.
The Power of Data in Procurement
At the heart of procurement’s evolution was data. The sheer scale of information available to organizations today — from supplier performance metrics to market intelligence and predictive analytics — offered unparalleled opportunities for smarter decisions. For CPOs, this revolution meant moving beyond reactive reporting to proactive intelligence. It meant using data to anticipate risk, identify opportunities, and align procurement strategy with enterprise goals. Best-in-Class procurement organizations were already deploying data in innovative ways, from modeling supply chain risk to enabling dynamic supplier collaboration. In the years ahead, the winners would be those who can translate raw data into actionable insights that deliver measurable business impact.
Building the Next Generation of Procurement
The 2022 report highlighted that more CPOs than ever before were prepared to tackle these challenges with agility and sophistication. They were not only navigating present crises but also laying the foundation for the next generation of procurement organizations. This transformation involved embracing advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms that expanded visibility and control across the supply chain. But technology alone is not enough. It needed to be paired with leadership vision, cross-functional collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement. For many enterprises, the procurement team emerged as the bridge between operational execution and strategic intent, ensuring that data-driven decisions translated into resilience and growth.
Optimism Amid Uncertainty
While that business environment may be one of the most difficult seasons procurement leaders have faced, there was reason for optimism. History shows that procurement excellence can help enterprises endure volatility and emerge stronger. The pandemic and geopolitical disruptions tested the profession in unprecedented ways, but they also showcased its ability to deliver extraordinary value. By leveraging the power of data, CPOs continued to elevate procurement’s role within the enterprise, driving efficiency, managing risk, and shaping strategy.
Leading Through the Data Revolution
The CPO Rising 2022 report made it clear: procurement stood at a critical juncture in its evolution. The convergence of global disruptions and the data revolution raised both the stakes and the opportunities for CPOs. Leaders who embraced data-driven intelligence, while also fostering trust, agility, and resilience, not only steered their organizations through uncertainty but also shaped the future of procurement itself. In an era where information is power, CPOs had the chance to transform procurement into a true engine of insight, influence, and strategic value.
