Identifying Future Skills Requirements: Differentiating between Direct and Indirect Materials Purchasers

Global development is powering ahead toward Industry 4.0, the coming Fourth Industrial Revolution. Cyber-physical systems connect the physical and digital world, making demand identification possible without the need for direct human intervention. Moreover, Artificial Intelligence is actively supporting various aspects of operational and strategic purchasing. The new purchasing environment is compelling purchasing professionals to learn new skills. Research is presently needed to identify appropriate skill sets. Based on a World Cafe of 82 purchasing professionals, this study compiles a list of 32 essential future skills in purchasing. Furthermore, the skills identified are ranked and assigned to the role of either direct material purchaser or indirect material purchaser.