Federico Gomez

Companies are rapidly integrating generative AI into procurement and sourcing decisions. The promise is obvious. AI can read thousands of pages of supplier proposals faster than any human team, summarize technical requirements in seconds, and create the appearance of consistency and objectivity in evaluation. But there is an important distinction managers are starting to overlook. The same AI system that performs extremely well at identifying whether a supplier meets minimum requirements may perform much less reliably when judging which supplier is truly better. Recent research published in the Journal of Business Logistics examined this issue by comparing how large language models evaluated supplier bids against evaluations completed by experienced procurement professionals. It analyzed 123 supplier proposals tied to 31 public procurement projects conducted by the State of Ohio between 2023 and 2024. The projects involved complex IT services contracts, many containing large, text-heavy bid packages requiring evaluative judgment rather than simple arithmetic comparisons. The researchers tested three reasoning-oriented AI models: OpenAI o3, Grok-3-Mini, and DeepSeek R1. They then compared their evaluations against human procurement scores. The findings revealed a surprisingly clear pattern. AI performed well when evaluating compliance signals. These are signals tied to baseline qualifications and technical requirements. Does…

In today’s supply chain landscape, digital transformation is no longer optional—but as the panelists in the latest Supply Chain Now webinar revealed, it’s also not just about technology. Hosted by Scott Luton and Jake Barr, this conversation brought together two powerhouse leaders: Eliza Simeonova, Quality Supply Chain Operations Officer at Haleon, and Philip Vervloesem, Chief Commercial & Markets Officer at OMP. Together, they tackled one of the most pressing challenges of our time—how to lead meaningful, people-centered transformation in an age increasingly defined by AI. A few insights stood out: Technology isn’t the hero—people are. True digital transformation begins with clarity of purpose, disciplined simplification, and leaders who stay close to the work. AI amplifies human intelligence, it doesn’t replace it. The most successful organizations empower their teams to collaborate with technology, not compete against it. Waiting for perfection is the biggest risk. Progress comes from experimentation, agility, and the courage to act before every variable is known. From redefining leadership mindsets to practical strategies for upskilling teams, this discussion offered an inspiring roadmap for supply chain leaders ready to embrace what’s next. Watch the full webinar on demand: Register to view the replay »Download the companion resource: 5 Must-Know…