Chapter 7.0
AI in procurement
AI is the biggest technological shift since the industrial revolution.
It’s changing how we live, work, and build. The pace is exponential, and construction isn’t immune. We’re in the middle of a labour revolution, where admin is automated and people are unlocked to apply their intelligence.
Procurement sits at the heart of this change. Given the immense fragmentation across workflows, the opportunity for AI to connect the dots is immense. And because 80% of costs flow through the supply chain, the opportunity to make an impact is real.
Auto bid levelling
Turn messy subcontractor quotes into instant, apples-for-apples comparisons.
Bid levelling is where the bulk of procurement effort sits — it’s manual, messy, and fraught with risk. AI takes on the heavy lifting, instantly comparing subcontractor quotes, spotting gaps or inconsistencies, and presenting a clean, levelled comparison.
It saves hours of grunt work, reduces mistakes, and gives your team confidence they’re making the right call.
Pricing intelligence, with live rates
Immediate access to live benchmarks and rates drastically changes how you estimate, negotiate, and purchase.
Every project generates valuable pricing data, yet most of it gets lost in emails, spreadsheets, or tender portals. AI aggregates this data into a live, searchable library - giving you instant access to benchmarks and real-time intelligence.
It means relying less on gut feel or the strongly opinionated, instead being data-led which drives smarter, more consistent purchasing decisions across your business.
AI procurement assistant
An AI sidekick, connecting the dots, surfacing risks, and guiding your best next move.
With structured, connected data in place, AI can step into a new role: a co-pilot for your procurement team. Think of it as an expert by your side - flagging risks, suggesting opportunities, and prioritising exactly what needs to happen next.
It’s not replacing people, it’s empowering them - giving every construction professional the capability and experience of a seasoned leader.
Where to focus amongst the noise
With AI everywhere, the challenge isn’t finding ideas – it’s knowing where to focus. Here’s our take, looking at:
Frequency – the 'Jobs to be Done' every single day.
Impact – what moves the needle, in particular on profit margin.
Workflow – embedding tools directly into where you work, so adoption is guaranteed, not wishful thinking.
The sweet spot sits at the intersection of all three.
Read the next chapter
8 – The business case for smarter procurement
You don’t need to construct a business case for implementing digital procurement in your business. We’ve already done it.
Level complex bids in seconds with AI
Upload quotes in different formats and AI will generate an apples-for-apples comparison in seconds with BidLevel from ProcurePro.
