Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “prepare for supplier negotiations and renewals”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today and, for AI fixes, a prompt to copy.

60 min
typically, once a week
45%
of the time can be automated
Easy
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

AIBest fix

Have AI build your negotiation brief

Give AI the current contract terms, usage and market notes; it builds a one-page brief with your targets, leverage and the supplier's likely moves.

Typically saves about 40% of the time5 min to set up
  1. 1Gather current price, usage, contract end date and any performance issues.
  2. 2Use a research mode for market pricing if useful, and check sources.
  3. 3Use the prompt below.
  4. 4Agree your walk-away point with the budget owner before the call.
Prompt to copy
Prepare a negotiation brief for renewing [SUPPLIER] for [PRODUCT/SERVICE]. Current terms: [PRICE, VOLUME, TERM, END DATE]. Our usage: [DETAILS]. Issues: [PERFORMANCE OR SERVICE PROBLEMS]. Alternatives: [OTHER OPTIONS]. Give: our goals (ideal, target, walk-away), our leverage, the supplier's likely arguments and responses, five non-price asks, and an opening email. Mark any market assumptions [CHECK].

Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot · ChatGPT, Claude or Perplexity research mode

Fix 2 of 2

Automation

Get automatic alerts before renewal and notice dates

Reminders 90, 60 and 30 days before each notice date go to the contract owner, so nothing auto-renews by accident.

Typically saves about 60% of the time2 h to set up
  1. 1Get renewal and notice dates into one place (your CLM, or a tracker with an owner per contract).
  2. 2Turn on CLM reminders, or build a Power Automate, Zapier or Make flow from the tracker to email, Teams or Slack.
  3. 3Send alerts to the business owner and copy procurement or legal.
  4. 4Review upcoming renewals monthly.

Tools: CLM reminders · Power Automate, Zapier or Make · Microsoft Lists or Smartsheet

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Do you get automatic reminders before contract notice dates?
Reminders 90, 60 and 30 days before a notice date go to the contract owner, so nothing renews by accident and you have time to negotiate.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

How many hours does this cost you?

The free 8-minute check works out where your week goes and gives you your top fixes. The team scan does the same for everyone and adds it up, so you know which leaks to fix first.

Answers are anonymous. Leaders only see team totals.

Other common tasks for Procurement / purchasing specialists