The evolution from chatbots to AI agents
Most procurement teams have experimented with basic AI tools - chatbots that can retrieve contract clauses or answer policy questions. These are helpful but limited.
More advanced systems can do more: summarise supplier reports, draft communications and flag potential risks. Yet, these tools remain reactive. They respond when asked but don't drive progress independently.
AI agents represent the next evolution. They're designed around outcomes rather than information retrieval. You set objectives - reduce high-risk supplier exposure, improve ESG compliance, find better sourcing options - and the agents work proactively to advance these goals.
These aren't just smarter chatbots. As described by McKinsey & Company, they can ‘function as hyper efficient virtual coworkers.’
Transforming how jobs get done
Imagine arriving Monday morning to find your AI agent system has already reviewed overnight developments, flagged three urgent issues across your global supply chain, and begun preparing appropriate responses.
Today's reality for procurement teams is overwhelming. You're monitoring thousands of suppliers across dozens of countries, tracking shifting regulations in multiple languages and somehow still finding time for strategic decisions. It's just not humanly impossible.
This is where AI agents could become true workplace partners. Unlike traditional systems that simply flag problems, an agent system would work like a coordinated team:
A monitor agent continuously scanning millions of sources in dozens of languages, distinguishing between minor issues and systemic violations.
An analyst agent providing crucial context: "This incident affects suppliers who provide 17% of your raw materials."
An action agent preparing responses: "Based on your policies, here's a draft supplier communication and documentation timeline."
Our recent conversations with procurement leaders reveal they're less interested in grand AI promises for warehouse management or reordering processes. What they truly value is AI that can handle time-consuming tasks like processing small orders (which can consume up to 50% of their time), formulating contracts and deciphering complex terms and conditions.
Consider how this could transform response to regulatory changes. Instead of weeks spent manually reviewing complex compliance documents, an AI agent system could identify affected suppliers and translate regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions and languages into actionable steps, allowing procurement professionals to focus on meaning-making tasks rather than paperwork.
The difference would be profound: AI agents could actively reduce cognitive load by transforming raw data into actionable insights, less like tools and more like colleagues who help you focus on what truly matters.
Why AI agents matter now
Procurement teams do not lack skill or commitment, however, the complexity of coordination exceeds human capacity.
When systems merely identify problems without facilitating solutions, they create more work rather than less. AI agents bridge the gap between knowing and doing by handling follow-up and coordination that would otherwise consume valuable time.
They don't replace professional judgment - they make it easier to apply that judgment more frequently and effectively.
To be clear, AI agents won't run procurement end-to-end. Critical decisions about suppliers, risk tolerance and strategic direction remain firmly in human hands.
What agents can do is reduce the friction that slows teams down by:
Pursuing missing information without constant prompting
Highlighting meaningful changes that require attention
Helping teams focus limited time on high-impact activities
This represents a fundamental shift from systems that store information to agents that help you use it.
The future of AI in procurement
At Bendi, we predict that the most effective AI agents won't be general-purpose tools. They'll be specialised for specific procurement challenges:
ESG compliance monitoring and follow-up
Supplier communication and relationship management
Risk identification and mitigation planning
These AI agents won't replace procurement professionals. Consider them as powerful virtual assistants. They will allow teams to redirect their expertise toward complex decisions that genuinely require human judgment.
This is how Bendi is developing agents: empowering procurement teams so that AI that doesn’t just highlight problems, but helps solve them.
Case study: AI agents and ESG risk management
Consider how AI agents could transform ESG risk monitoring across your supplier network.
Today, tracking changes in regulations, media coverage, and NGO reports across multiple regions is practically impossible for most teams. Even when issues are identified, connecting them to specific suppliers and determining appropriate responses often proves challenging.
AI agents might address this by:
Continuously monitoring relevant sources across multiple languages and regions
Classifying issues within ESG frameworks covering labour practices, environmental impact, and governance
Mapping affected locations and sectors to your supplier data
Flagging potential exposures throughout your supply chain
Recommending targeted responses: supplier engagement, internal escalation, or alternative sourcing
It's a direction we're actively pursuing at Bendi. The data sources and analytical frameworks already exist. What AI agents provide is the ability to facilitate these processes continuously and translate insights into recommended actions.
(Photo credit: Emilipothese via Unsplash)
