How can procurement become more transparent, more data-driven and more future-ready? This was the central question for us at the BME eSolution Days 2026. Two days full of exchange, insights and conversations showed one thing very clearly: AI has arrived in procurement – at least as one of the key topics shaping the future.
On May 19 and 20, 2026, SoftconCIS presented WebCIS 4.0 at the BME eSolution Days at Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf. The event once again brought together numerous solution providers, procurement professionals and experts to discuss current developments in digital procurement.
One topic was particularly present throughout the event: artificial intelligence in procurement. At many booths, in presentations and in conversations, it became clear that AI is becoming increasingly important for procurement organizations. At the same time, it also became apparent that while many companies are actively exploring the topic, practical implementation is still at an early stage.
A particular highlight was our expert presentation by Bastian Wagner on the topic “AI in Procurement: Doing Instead of Talking!”. The high number of participants confirmed that procurement departments are currently looking above all for practical answers:
- Where can AI provide concrete support in procurement?
- What data foundation is required?
- How can price developments, benchmarks and KPIs be evaluated more effectively?
- What role does procurement controlling play in data-based decision-making?
- How can real value be created from existing ERP data?
In the discussions at our booth, it became clear that many procurement departments already have access to large amounts of relevant data – for example from SAP and non-SAP systems, purchase orders, invoices, supplier master data or category structures. However, the challenge often lies in making this data quickly, structurally and decision-oriented usable.
This is exactly where WebCIS 4.0 comes in. As a specialized platform for strategic procurement controlling, WebCIS supports companies in transparently analyzing procurement data, preparing key performance indicators and making potential savings visible.
The event also showed how dynamic the market around AI in procurement has become. Many providers are now positioning themselves with AI functionalities, AI agents or automated workflows. For procurement decision-makers, this creates a new challenge: it is no longer just a question of whether AI is relevant in procurement, but which applications actually deliver measurable value.
Because AI alone does not solve procurement problems. What matters is whether it works on a clean data foundation, can be embedded into existing system landscapes and answers concrete procurement-related questions. For example: Where do price deviations occur? Which suppliers are developing critically? Which categories are affected by market changes? Where are potential savings hidden? And which developments will become relevant to future business results?
From our perspective, this connection will be decisive: AI must not be viewed separately from procurement, but as an intelligent extension of reliable procurement controlling. WebCIS 4.0 provides the foundation for this by bringing together procurement data from SAP and non-SAP systems, analyzing it and translating it into decision-relevant information. AI can build on this foundation, identify patterns faster, detect anomalies and support procurement teams in making more fact-based decisions.
The BME eSolution Days therefore confirmed an important impression: the future of procurement will not be determined by new technologies alone, but by the ability to integrate technology meaningfully into existing processes, data structures and decision-making paths. Companies that want to use AI successfully in procurement should therefore first strengthen their data foundation, KPI logic and transparency in procurement controlling.
We would like to thank all visitors for the insightful conversations, the open exchange and the great interest in WebCIS 4.0.
