The Hackett Group_Strategic Category Management Infographic
From Planning to Performance
Strategic Category Management in the Age of Intelligent Procurement
PROCUREMENT MARKET INTELLIGENCE
EXECUTIVE INSIGHT | SEPTEMBER 2025
Top improvement initiatives for digital transformation
The procurement skills rated as most important for category management
include industry knowledge, market strategy and market intelligence gathering.
These skills emphasize the importance of spend category expertise.
Data analytics
and reporting
Source: The Hackett Group 2025 Procurement Agenda and Key Issues Study
Source: The Hackett Group 2024 Spend Orchestration Study
Strategic
sourcing
Category
management
Talent
management
Supplier relationship
management
PROCUREMENT SKILLS BUSINESS SKILLS
Top skills needed for category management
77%
71%
66%
51% 58%
Industry knowledge88%
Market strategy85%
Market intelligence gathering76%
Supplier relationship management74%
Supply risk management expertise71%
Strategic mindset88%
Business acumen85%
Cross-functional teamwork79%
Relationship management74%
Problem-solving acumen71%
Strategic Category Management in the Age of Intelligent Procurement
PROCUREMENT MARKET INTELLIGENCE
EXECUTIVE INSIGHT | SEPTEMBER 2025
Top improvement initiatives for digital transformation
The procurement skills rated as most important for category management
include industry knowledge, market strategy and market intelligence gathering.
These skills emphasize the importance of spend category expertise.
Data analytics
and reporting
Source: The Hackett Group 2025 Procurement Agenda and Key Issues Study
Source: The Hackett Group 2024 Spend Orchestration Study
Strategic
sourcing
Category
management
Talent
management
Supplier relationship
management
PROCUREMENT SKILLS BUSINESS SKILLS
Top skills needed for category management
77%
71%
66%
51% 58%
Industry knowledge88%
Market strategy85%
Market intelligence gathering76%
Supplier relationship management74%
Supply risk management expertise71%
Strategic mindset88%
Business acumen85%
Cross-functional teamwork79%
Relationship management74%
Problem-solving acumen71%