Indirect Procurement Report 2026

2026 INDIRECT PROCUREMENT REPORT

Uncertainty driving efficiency

Foreword by Raj Patel, Managing Director for RS UK & Ireland

These are challenging times for procurement professionals. Yet research by RS and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) has shown that ongoing uncertainty is acting as a catalyst, driving the industry to become more resilient, more efficient, and more technologically driven.

This report presents the findings of our ninth annual RS and CIPS survey, our research reveals a sector under pressure, but also one that is becoming increasingly confident in its strategic role.

Executive Summary

The 2026 RS and CIPS Indirect Procurement Report is based on a comprehensive survey conducted between 9 June and 18 July 2025, promoted to CIPS members and the wider procurement community across the UK and Ireland. This year, 448 professionals from the UK and Ireland completed the survey.

What you’ll learn from this report:

  • The key business pressures facing procurement professionals – and how cost control and strategic risk mitigation is being managed
  • Sustainability remains integral, but organisations are prioritising initiatives that deliver both environmental and financial returns
  • MRO: Protecting asset uptime through better data and careful management of the supply chain
  • Procurement trends across industries

To find out more, download the 2026 Indirect Procurement Report.

Complete to download a copy of the report