Regulators Raise the Bar for Public‑Sector Procurement of Agentic AI
Public‑sector buyers must look beyond glossy brochures; new regulations demand proof that agentic AI meets compliance standards.
Katrin Ostermann
Trade and Procurement Editor
Covers wholesale, distribution structures and purchasing. Less interested in revenue announcements than in the terms behind them: payment periods, volume tiers, framework agreements, and who ends up carrying the cost of a change.
Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court forces Datteln to issue a product‑neutral iPad tender – a precedent for municipal ICT procurement
The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court ruled on 3 September 2026 that the city of Datteln must restart its planned procurement of roughly 650 iPads and issue a product‑neutral tender – the first binding precedent for public ICT procurement in Germany.
How Neona Living grew to eight‑figure revenue with €1,500 start‑up capital – without VC
Berlin‑based e‑commerce brand Neona Living turned a garden shed and €1,500 of start‑up capital into annual sales of over €10 million – completely bootstrapped and without external venture capital.
Opel in the German Crisis: Stellantis’ Investment Policy Worsens the Problems
Opel has lost 40% of its sales in Germany over the past ten years, with market share falling from 7.2% to 4.8%. At the same time, the brand receives only 30% of Stellantis’ investment budget – a trend that endangers the brand’s future and the entire German automotive industry.
Multi‑day negotiation trainings for procurement: prices, duration and target groups at a glance
Buyers increasingly compare price, scope and target audience of negotiation trainings. We compare the publicly available course details of German providers.
AI Agents in Trade: Costs, Risks and Effort of Switching
How can AI agents in trade make money and what does that mean for your IT and business processes? We examine costs, potential pitfalls and the effort of a switch.
A!-Day Agentic Commerce on October 8 in Munich: What Retailers Can Expect
The inaugural A!-Day conference distills insights from weekly AI think tanks. Registration opens September 8; guest list already open.
Lio AI in Procurement, Automation, Costs and Migration Effort
Lio’s new generative AI automates routine tasks in procurement, reduces manual data entry, and reshapes cost structures and migration requirements.
Own rail connections boost supply‑chain resilience
Companies that build their own rail connections increase the independence of their logistics, but must reckon with investment costs, interface adjustments and project management.
JD takes over MediaMarktSaturn - EU review and Chinese counter-reaction
The planned takeover of MediaMarktSaturn by JD.com is the focus of an EU investigation, while China labels the review as an impermissible jurisdiction.
Sunday Truck Traffic: What Procurement Teams Need to Keep in Mind
The minister is easing the Sunday driving ban for trucks. For purchasing and logistics, this introduces new planning risk, potential costs and adjustment effort.
Machine Procurement: Costs, Risks and Effort under the New EU Rules
Three new EU regulations are reshaping machine planning. We show what costs arise, which processes break and what effort a transition demands.
Robust Supply Chains Start at the Component – What Procurement Professionals Need to Know
Focusing on the component level boosts supply‑chain resilience. We examine the costs, risks and effort involved in making the switch for procurement.
Strategic Procurement Partners – More Than Just Suppliers
Companies now demand strategic support from suppliers for unforeseen needs – this reshapes costs, processes and procurement effort.