akirolabs Featured in Handelsblatt AI 2.0 Special
The Handelsblatt AI 2.0 Special focuses on the next phase of artificial intelligence in business, including how AI is being applied across enterprise functions, industries, and decision-making processes.
In this context, akirolabs’ contribution focuses on the role of agentic AI in strategic procurement: how AI can support procurement teams not only with insights and automation, but also with scenario comparison, strategy adaptation, and more structured decision-making.
akirolabs’ perspective is that AI should augment procurement expertise, not replace it.
In strategic procurement, the most valuable work often happens before execution: understanding markets, aligning stakeholders, comparing strategic options, assessing risks, and deciding which path creates the most business value.
This is where agentic AI becomes especially relevant. The first wave of procurement digitalization focused heavily on operational efficiency: automating tasks, improving visibility, accelerating workflows, and reducing manual effort. These capabilities remain important, but they are not enough for the strategic challenges procurement teams now face.
Modern procurement teams need to make decisions that affect business resilience, sustainability, innovation, supplier ecosystems, cost structures, and long-term competitiveness. That requires tools that support strategic thinking, not just transactional execution.
According to the information shared for the Handelsblatt feature, akirolabs is applying AI to support this strategic layer by helping procurement teams:
- compare strategic scenarios
- structure complex internal and external inputs
- continuously adapt category strategies as markets evolve
- improve alignment between procurement teams and business stakeholders
- make more informed decisions in complex supply environments
This reflects akirolabs’ broader focus on strategic category management: helping procurement teams move away from static documents and fragmented workflows toward a more intelligent, collaborative, and adaptive way of working.
For akirolabs, the goal is not to remove human expertise from procurement, but to give procurement professionals a decision environment that matches the complexity of modern supply markets.
“Traditional analytics and static reporting were never built for the complexity procurement teams face today. Our goal is to give teams a decision environment that matches the complexity of modern supply markets,” Michael Pleuger, CEO and Co-Founder of akirolabs.
Read the full interview here: https://epaper.handelsblatt.com/epaper/handelsblatt-beilage-01-2026-02-20-epa-2801/detail/?payloadcache=e32488ed-152a-4d3f-982a-03e99dba6ea0&page=p106834
Looking ahead
The Handelsblatt feature reflects the growing relevance of agentic AI in enterprise procurement and the increasing need for technology built around strategic decision-making.
As procurement teams face more volatile markets and more complex business expectations, AI will play an important role in helping them move faster, collaborate better, and make more informed decisions.
akirolabs is proud to contribute to this conversation and to continue building AI-native technology for the strategic heart of procurement.
About Handelsblatt
Handelsblatt is one of Germany’s leading business and financial media brands, covering business, finance, politics, management, industry, and technology.
About akirolabs
akirolabs is an AI-native strategic procurement platform focused on category management, collaboration, and decision-making. The platform helps enterprise procurement teams develop better category strategies, align stakeholders, and connect procurement work with broader business goals. akirolabs focuses on bringing domain-specific AI to strategic procurement workflows and supporting organizations as they modernize how procurement operates.
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What makes a successful pilot with akirolabs?
We define success collaboratively with your team. Typical outcomes include strategy creation for priority categories, measurable process improvements, and internal alignment. We provide full support and a clear roadmap for evaluation.
Can I try the platform hands-on after the demo?
Yes, we offer guided pilots and sandbox environments depending on your stage in the buying process. These give you and your team the opportunity to explore features in your own context.
Can I see how akirolabs would work with our specific categories?
Yes, we can tailor the demo to showcase how akirolabs works with your specific categories and procurement structure. Let us know your priority areas in advance, and we'll customize the demonstration accordingly.
Who should attend the demo from my organization?
We recommend including key stakeholders from your procurement leadership team, category management function, and procurement excellence or transformation groups. Including business stakeholders can also be valuable to demonstrate how the platform facilitates cross-functional collaboration.
How long does a typical demo take?
A standard demo takes approximately 45-60 minutes, allowing time for a comprehensive overview of the platform and discussion of your specific requirements. We can adjust the timing based on your availability and areas of interest.
What will I see during an akirolabs demo?
During the demo, you'll see the complete akirolabs Category Strategy Workbench in action, including the collaborative workflow, AI-powered insights from akiroAssist, strategic scenario modeling capabilities, and the Strategy One-Pager feature. We'll customize the demonstration to focus on aspects most relevant to your organization's needs.
Ready to Transform Your Procurement Strategy?
There’s a better way to do procurement. This is IT.
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