NEC Corporation has announced the launch of its innovative “NEC AI Agent Service for Procurement Negotiations” in Japan, beginning this December. Leveraging NEC’s proprietary Automated Negotiation AI, this solution automates complex procurement negotiations optimizing delivery dates, quantities, and supplier coordination to significantly enhance operational efficiency for manufacturers.
The new service is engineered to reduce lengthy negotiation cycles from hours or days to just seconds, enabling companies to respond more quickly to fluctuating demand and streamline supply-chain operations. The offering marks a significant step in NEC’s continued commitment to advancing digital transformation (DX) across industries.
Proven Results from Early Deployment
In November 2024, NEC conducted a proof-of-concept (POC) within its own group operations, automating procurement negotiations for approximately 1,300 parts. The results demonstrated that the “automated agreement rate” the percentage of agreements achieved independently by AI reached 95%, confirming the technology’s ability to secure mutually optimal outcomes for NEC and its suppliers. Notably, negotiations that had previously taken several hours were completed in approximately 80 seconds, confirming dramatic improvements in efficiency.
Addressing Modern Manufacturing Challenges
Procurement in today’s manufacturing environment is becoming increasingly intricate due to diversified demand patterns and extended global supply chains. NEC’s new AI-driven service directly addresses the need for faster, more resilient logistics and planning. As companies struggle with labor shortages, bespoke processes, and rising cost pressures, NEC’s solution provides an answer to optimizing production systems and procurement strategies in a volatile business landscape.
NEC’s Automated Negotiation AI is designed to autonomously handle negotiation tasks that would otherwise overwhelm teams, enabling businesses to avoid missed production opportunities and maintain balanced inventory. By reducing overstock and minimizing delays, the technology supports more agile, demand-responsive supply chains.
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What Sets NEC’s Service Apart
NEC has built its Automated Negotiation AI from extensive R&D and intellectual property development, resulting in a platform capable of negotiating both with humans and other AI systems. This service helps procurement teams offload repetitive tasks, freeing them to focus on strategic initiatives like supplier development and risk management. Seamless integration with existing enterprise systems such as ERP platforms ensures quick deployment without disrupting current processes.
Enhancing Global Supply-Chain Standards
NEC’s negotiation technology has already been recognized at the international level. It has been adopted as an international standard for E-Negotiation by the United Nations’ UN/CEFACT, promoting smooth cross-border collaboration in global supply chains.
