There will be 100 successful startups built around one simple idea: Automating enterprise procurement with AI agents.
Most procurement teams today are basically a mini-ERPโฆ with email as the API.
PDFs. Spreadsheets. Supplier threads. Approvals buried in inboxes.
Perfect environment for agents.
Build an AI procurement layer that can:
- read RFQs and contracts
- evaluate suppliers
- negotiate terms
- trigger approvals
- complete transactions
Procurement is the perfect agent wedge:
unstructured documents repetitive workflows huge hidden cost.
Classic Tornado Test:
If an agent compresses weeks of work into minutes, itโs not a feature.
It becomes the new baseline.
And you can start building this today with open-source frameworks like
@OpenMercato.
If you run a software consultancy, hereโs the blunt truth:
Stop pitching โAIโ.
Pick one ugly enterprise workflow, automate it end-to-end, then productize the delivery.
Thatโs where the real money will be.