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Five steps to unlocking value with OpenAI in procurement

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Guide
Summary

Throughout our collaboration with OpenAI, we have seen that successful AI adoption in procurement is not about sophisticated algorithms alone. It is about people, trust, and practical integration into day-to-day workflows.  

Based on our experience, here is a proven five-step journey procurement leaders can follow to unlock value with OpenAI. 

Step 1: Establish secure, enterprise-grade access 

Every AI journey in procurement must start with security and trust. 

Begin by providing access through enterprise-grade environments such as ChatGPT Enterprise or Team workspaces. These environments ensure that customer data is not used to train models and that sensitive procurement information remains protected. 

For procurement teams handling supplier data, contracts, and pricing intelligence, this secure foundation is not optional; it is the prerequisite that enables confident exploration and adoption. 

Step 2: Train and empower your people first 

AI transformation starts with people, not technology. 

A short, focused onboarding program can rapidly build confidence and momentum. Effective enablement typically covers: 

  • How to use ChatGPT productively in a professional context 
  • How to structure prompts to get reliable, relevant outputs 
  • How collaboration and workflow features support team-based use 

By focusing on practical use rather than theory, teams quickly achieve early wins, turning curiosity into confidence and skepticism into engagement.