SAP, Coupa, ORO Labs & Proxima Deliver 2026 Predictions

As we step into 2026, the conversation around artificial intelligence in business operations is maturing beyond mere automation.

Industry leaders are signalling a fundamental shift: AI isn't just about doing things faster – it's about doing them better, smarter and with greater strategic intent.

From embedding governance into agentic workflows to transforming supply chains into continuously optimised ecosystems, organisations are moving past experimentation into full-scale deployment.

Yet this evolution reveals a paradox. While AI promises unprecedented efficiency, it simultaneously exposes critical gaps in data infrastructure and organisational readiness.

Success in 2026 won't belong to those with the most advanced algorithms, but to those who can balance technological capability with human judgement, robust data foundations and clear strategic vision.

The future is agentic, interconnected and unforgiving of half-measures.

Supply chain resilience through intelligent orchestration

Val Blatt, Global Supply Chain CRO at SAP: "In 2026, supply chain resilience will be defined by orchestration, the seamless integration of planning, logistics and manufacturing into one intelligent ecosystem.

"As organisations evolve beyond static planning, agentic AI-driven workflows will automate tasks and data will flow continuously across networks, enabling teams to anticipate disruptions, simulate trade-offs and rebalance production in real time.

"Resilience will continue to shift from being reactive to a continuously optimised state of operations, becoming a structural capability embedded in the enterprise architecture itself."

Beyond automation: AI as a governance engine

Sudhir Bhojwani, Co-Founder and CEO of ORO Labs: "Most of the industry's discussion about agentic AI focuses on productivity: the number of tasks that can be automated and how much faster we can move.

"What's missing is the bigger picture. Agents aren't just about efficiency. They're also about governance at scale. When you design them well, agents encode judgment, compliance and brand values into every transaction. That's where the real transformation happens."

From pilots to full-scale AI deployment

Salvatore Lombardo, CPTO, Coupa: "In 2026, organisations will abandon endless pilots and dive into full-scale deployment across their operations and entire product portfolios.

"Companies will recognise that AI is not merely an optimisation layer, but it is the fundamental replacement of the traditional user experience. To manage this, product leaders must pivot from feature creation to outcome orchestration. They will need to prioritise designing AI systems that drive business outcomes to support innovators and early adopters."

Data infrastructure: The foundation for AI success

Simon Geale, EVP at Proxima: "This year we have seen AI expose procurement's long-standing data gaps. In 2026, data becomes the roadmap and AI rides on top. As businesses evolve their operating models to get the best from humans and tech, they will uncover gaps in data, process and the ability to architect and engineer. CPOs will push for enterprise-wide responses to AI, but many organisations will find themselves in sticky transformations.

"Expect to hear lots about data; data models, metadata, structuring of data, data standards and the ethics, guardrails and middleware required for AI. Next-gen outsourcing anyone?

"Despite this, one of procurement's most valuable skills in 2026 may simply be the ability to talk to people. Human fluency – the ability to influence, frame decisions and move people becomes a premium skill. We talk a lot about developing digital skills and that remains critical, but alongside this the simple act of being able."