The ROI of contracting excellence 2026

Organizations are losing nearly 10% of contract value through contracting weaknesses. Discover what the latest research reveals about value erosion, AI, and measurable contracting excellence.

From contracting activity to measurable business value

How much value does effective contracting really deliver, and can organizations prove it?

WorldCC's latest research reveals that weaknesses in contracting processes continue to erode nearly 10% of contract value, despite significant investment in technology, automation, and AI.

Building on the 2023 report, this new study draws on insights from 120 organizations and more than 20 practitioner interviews to examine where commercial value is being lost, why efficiency improvements are not necessarily translating into better business outcomes, and what organizations can do differently.

Key findings include:

• Value erosion remains high: Organizations estimate losses of approximately 9–10% of contract value, rising to around 13% on the buy-side.
• Post-award management is critical: Weak governance, fragmented data, and missed obligations continue to undermine contract performance.
• AI has yet to demonstrate measurable commercial returns: While productivity is improving, organizations struggle to connect AI adoption with measurable improvements in value, risk, or revenue.
• Contract data remains disconnected: Only 19% of organizations provide Finance with comprehensive, structured access to contract information.
• Contract adaptability is limited: Just 2% of respondents are very confident their major contracts could absorb significant disruption without renegotiation or dispute.

The report explores how organizations can move beyond traditional activity-based measures, strengthen post-award governance, connect contract data with financial performance, and develop more adaptive contracting approaches.

It also provides a practical 10-action plan to help leaders assess their current capabilities, prioritize improvements, and demonstrate the business impact of contracting excellence.