The Hansen Fit Score: Practitioner Assessment

Digital transformation and ProcureTech implementation isn’t a one-way street in which the solution provider carries the sole responsibility for success. Practitioner digital maturity and readiness are actually the determining factors that will reliably predict outcomes. Or as I like to say, practitioners aren’t spectators or along for the ride regarding their digital success – they are the “true” drivers of it.

2025 Top Innovators (PRACTITIONERS): Company Rankings

(SOURCE: IMD’s Center for Future Readiness)

Hansen Fit Score vs Top Innovators Ranking Overview

This report ranks the companies listed in the attached image from greatest to least alignment with the Hansen Fit Score and compares their Hansen Fit Score ranking to their 2025 ranking as Top Innovators. Where there are differences, explanations are provided.

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1. Hansen Fit Score Ranking (Greatest to Least Alignment)

2. Comparison: Hansen Fit Score vs. 2025 Top Innovators Ranking

Companies with a Higher Hansen Fit Score Alignment than Innovator Rank

• Unilever plc: Ranks 1st in Hansen Fit Score but 3rd in Innovators. This is due to Unilever’s advanced agent-based orchestration, adaptive workflows, and strong data integration, which are core to the Hansen model, even if their innovation recognition is slightly lower.
• Procter & Gamble Co.: Ranks 2nd in Hansen Fit Score but 4th in Innovators. P&G’s deep investment in agent-based and strand commonality-driven procurement gives it a higher Hansen alignment than its innovation rank suggests.
• Colgate-Palmolive Co.: Ranks 3rd in Hansen Fit Score but 6th in Innovators. Their focus on adaptive, data-driven procurement and strong human-AI collaboration boosts their Hansen score.
• Estée Lauder Companies: Ranks 5th in Hansen Fit Score but 13th in Innovators. Estée Lauder’s early adoption of agent-based models and strand commonality for global supply chain agility is not fully reflected in their innovation ranking.

Companies with a Higher Innovator Rank than Hansen Fit Score Alignment

• L’Oréal SA: Ranks 4th in Hansen Fit Score but 1st in Innovators. L’Oréal is recognized for product and market innovation, but its procurement and supply chain digitalization, while strong, is less advanced in agent-based orchestration compared to Unilever and P&G.
• Coca-Cola Co.: Ranks 10th in Hansen Fit Score but 2nd in Innovators. Coca-Cola’s innovation is more focused on product and distribution rather than deep agent-based procurement transformation.
• Nestlé SA: Ranks 6th in Hansen Fit Score but 5th in Innovators. Nestlé’s innovation is broad, but its procurement digitalization is not as advanced as Unilever or P&G.

Companies with Similar Rankings

• Beiersdorf AG: Ranks 7th in both Hansen Fit Score and Innovators, reflecting balanced innovation and procurement transformation.
• Kimberly-Clark Corp.: Ranks 8th in Hansen Fit Score and 16th in Innovators, showing stronger procurement transformation than innovation recognition.

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3. Explanation of Rank Differences

• Procurement Transformation vs. Product Innovation: Companies like Unilever, P&G, and Colgate-Palmolive have invested heavily in agent-based, adaptive procurement systems, which are highly aligned with the Hansen Fit Score but may not always be recognized as top product innovators.
• Sector Focus: Cosmetics and household products companies tend to score higher on the Hansen Fit Score due to their early adoption of agent-based and strand commonality models, while beverage and food companies often focus more on product and market innovation.
• Digital Maturity: Companies with higher digital procurement maturity (e.g., Unilever, P&G) outperform in the Hansen Fit Score, even if their overall innovation ranking is lower.

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4. Summary Table

Below is a complete summary table comparing each company’s alignment with the Hansen Fit Score and their 2025 Top Innovators ranking, along with the difference in rank and a brief explanation for any discrepancies.

Key Insights:

• Companies like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and Colgate-Palmolive rank higher on the Hansen Fit Score due to advanced agent-based procurement and human-AI collaboration, even if their innovation rank is lower.
• L’Oréal and Coca-Cola have higher innovation ranks, reflecting strong product and market innovation, but their procurement digitalization and agent-based transformation are less advanced relative to their peers.
• Estée Lauder, Kimberly-Clark, and Reckitt Benckiser show significant positive differences, indicating their procurement transformation is ahead of their general innovation recognition.

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY: Experience and expertise aren’t only about having the right answers, but also knowing the right questions to ask. What questions does today’s Procurement Insights post raise?

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