AI-powered refresh sharpens WNS Procurement suite’s core offerings

Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) are at the forefront during financial crises, global supply chain disruptions, and natural disasters. Their primary responsibilities include reducing costs, managing the enterprise value chain, and providing accurate forecasts to prevent potential disruptions. CPOs often leverage technology to tackle these challenges and collaborate with various ecosystem partners.

In early March 2025, WNS Procurement launched its latest digital suite, The Smart Cube. This suite combines artificial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence (HI) to enhance procurement functions. However, the question arises: Does this strategic initiative provide a genuine competitive advantage, or is it an old wine in a new package?

What does The Smart Cube cover, and how does it enhance the procurement function?

WNS Procurement’s new digital suite consolidates multiple procurement functions, such as market intelligence, category management, risk management, and project management, with an orchestration AI agent called Procurement Intelligence Agent (PIA+). The suite consists of four key AI-powered PRO platforms (see Exhibit1):

1. Amplifi PRO – An analytics-led market intelligence platform providing category, commodity, and supplier insights
2. Category PRO – An end-to-end category management tool that integrates planning, execution, and monitoring
3. SmartRisk PRO – A risk management solution that continuously monitors supplier risks
4. Pipeline PRO – A procurement workflow management tool that streamlines stakeholder engagement and project tracking

Exhibit 1: WNS Procurement’s The Smart Cube digital suite with four ‘PRO’ modules

Source: WNS Procurement, March 2025

PIA+ provides proactive, persona-specific recommendations and real-time insights to procurement teams. This suite is strategically designed to enhance efficiency, deliver deeper insights, and improve risk mitigation—three areas where procurement organizations have traditionally faced challenges.

The Smart Cube digital suite provides intelligence, risk mitigation, and efficiency in enterprise procurement functions

Enterprises need contextual intelligence, not just AI automation, to navigate supplier challenges. For example, auto manufacturers require real-time commodity forecasts to manage cost volatility and secure supply. Amplifi PRO’s AI + HI model aims to deliver 90% accurate price predictions and regional supply insights, enhancing decision-making efficiency.

With the rise of environmental economics, procurement must be proactive. Category PRO helps optimize sustainability and track environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics, supplier diversity, payment terms, and KPIs while driving cost savings.

Procurement inefficiency is a significant challenge for enterprises as it slows down operations. Pipeline PRO aims to transform procurement by reducing query resolution time by 40% and increasing self-service adoption to more than 70%. This will enable seamless engagement for finance, operations, and category team stakeholders, resulting in a faster, more efficient procurement function.

Similarly, SmartRisk PRO offers real-time monitoring of supplier risk, compliance, and geopolitical risks with instant alerts for enterprises. This allows enterprises to proactively identify at-risk suppliers, regulate compliance, and enable faster risk remediation.

The Smart Cube digital suite has evolved with AI-infused enhancements for smarter procurement solutions

WNS acquired ‘The Smart Cube’ in 2022, and more than two years have passed since the acquisition was completed. Most of the competencies and accelerators from The Smart Cube have been redefined and infused with GenAI capabilities, leading to the launch of the WNS Procurement digital suite.

Existing WNS Procurement enterprise users can expect enhanced insights and analytics embedded services. New adopters can cut costs and boost productivity by leveraging cloud data, AI strategies, and change management. Going forward, the parent company, WNS, can also plug in the data accelerators and competencies gained from Kipi.ai, a recently acquired data modernization and democratization platform.

Regardless of the service provider, an enterprise that adopts a digital suite should consider the following:

• Integration complexities: While API-ready integration must be seamless, adoption isn’t guaranteed. Enterprises with legacy systems may face significant hurdles, requiring substantial IT efforts for implementation.
• AI + HI-based decisions: While AI can enhance procurement efficiency, context is crucial in negotiations and supplier management. Over-reliance on automation without human oversight could result in rigid decision-making and unintended risks.
• Data security and compliance risks: Integrating internal and external procurement data sources raises concerns about data security, compliance, and governance. Third-party APIs and real-time data feeds could be vulnerable to cyber threats.

The Bottom Line: WNS Procurement’s The Smart Cube offers AI enhancements integrating data, analytics, and technology. But tech alone won’t deliver impact. Procurement leaders must evaluate its fit for their risk appetite, scalability needs, and digital readiness.

For procurement leaders aiming to drive cost savings, resilience, and enterprise-wide alignment, WNS Procurement’s digital suite is a serious contender in the AI-led procurement transformation race. However, its success will hinge on integrating diverse procurement ecosystems and delivering measurable business impact.