Revealing the 2026 US Public Procurement Benchmark: Product vs. Practice, and Will AI Elevate or Eliminate Us?
World Congress Special Edition: Episode 1
Recorded live at World Congress, this special edition episode of The Leading Edge offers an exclusive preview of the findings from the 2026 US Public Procurement Benchmark Report, ahead of its official launch.
Host Nikki Mackay is joined by Dan Finkenstadt and Patrick Hughes to explore what the latest benchmark data reveals about the current state of U.S. public procurement, including contract management capability, technology adoption, workforce development, and commercial maturity.
The discussion also tackles two of the profession's most thought-provoking questions: Should commercial be viewed as a product or a practice? And as artificial intelligence continues to reshape procurement, will it elevate the profession or eventually replace key aspects of it?
Combining exclusive benchmark insights with expert perspectives, this episode challenges conventional thinking and highlights the practical steps organisations can take to strengthen commercial capability in an increasingly AI-enabled future.