Shopping Innovations Shake Up Growth

As 2025 begins, B2B businesses are looking for critical growth areas. Increasingly, what they are finding is that the procurement function represents a strategic lever for unlocking competitive differentiation.

Until recently, and for decades before, procurement teams in global organizations were viewed primarily as cost-cutting implementers – a function focused on squeezing suppliers and saving pennies, as well as one traditionally full of inefficiencies, manual processes and broken supply chain networks.

By 2025, this archaic image is probably set to be shattered. Today, procurement is not only positioned as a key driver of organizational efficiency but also a critical strategic lever for growth, powered by innovations in payment and digital process improvements in areas such as embedded finance, supply chain financing, cross-border payments and digital marketplaces,

These improvements, and their advantages, empower procurement teams to create value beyond cost savings.

As organizations continue to face economic uncertainties and competitive pressures, the ability to use these innovations is set to help determine procurement success.

See also: Digital B2B Marketplaces Cut Out Middlemen While Reshaping Shopping

The Strategic Role of Data and Technology in Procurement

Last Thursday (Dec. 26), the news came out that unified commerce and logistics software firm Cart.com partnered with punchout integration provider Greenwing Technology. The collaboration is designed to make eProcurement easier and more efficient for institutional buyers such as universities, government agencies and large corporations, and promotes the rise of online B2B marketplaces as a key reimagining of how procurement teams acquire goods and services.

These platforms offer a centralized hub where buyers can access a wide range of suppliers, compare prices and negotiate terms in real time. By 2025, leading digital markets will be integrated with payment innovations that simplify transactions and improve security.

For example, in an interview posted here in September, Donald Polanskysenior manager of corporate systems development at GlassCraft Door Company, told PYMNTS The company’s own B2B marketplace has plans to use custom APIs and integrate with third-party enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, which automate the quote-to-order process.

Yet at the heart of purchasing innovation lies data.

“To really unlock the power of AI, especially in a B2B world, you really need to have a lot of real world business data to train AI,” Rajeev Ramachandransenior VP product strategy and management Coupatold PYMNTS.

Advanced analytics tools, and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, equip procurement professionals actionable insights to spending patterns, supplier performance, and market trends. By using these insights, organizations can make data-driven decisions that drive growth and innovation.

According to the study “Digital Payments: Modernizing Procurement Processes,” a PYMNTS and Corcentric collaboration, 31% of retailers have invested in digital and data-driven procurement systems, with more 53% plan to do so. Similarly, 42% of manufacturers have begun upgrading their procurement technology, and 44% are in the process of doing the same.

Read more: Data Quality: The Unsung Hero of AI-Powered B2B Procurement

The Future of Procurementt as a Growth Engine

The integration of payment technology with shopping data is particularly impactful. Payment analytics provides a detailed view of cash flow and spending, helping organizations to optimize payment terms and improve financial planning. This synergy between payments and procurement ensures that every dollar spent contributes to strategic objectives.

One of the most transformative forces transforming shopping is embedded finance. By seamlessly integrating financial tools and services into procurement workflows, embedded finance eliminates friction in supplier relationships and streamlines operational efficiencies. For example, today’s platforms allow suppliers to access real-time financing options directly within procurement systems, reducing delays and mitigating cash flow challenges.

As more organizations adopt embedded finance solutions, procurement’s role in protecting the financial health of supply chains strengthens its strategic importance.

Global procurement strategies also depend on cross-border payment solutions, an area that has been observed significant progress in recent years. Traditional barriers such as currency fluctuations, high transaction fees and regulatory complexities are increasingly being broken down by innovations in digital payments and other technologies.

In addition, real-time payment tracking and reconciliation tools are now the standard in global procurement operations, providing unparalleled visibility into cross-border transactions. This transparency not only improves financial control but also fosters stronger supplier relationships by ensuring timely payments.

Finally, today’s procurement leaders must have a deep understanding of financial instruments, technology, and data analytics. They are no longer negotiators but innovators and strategic advisors.