Latest Research

Research is at the heart of what we do. With over 20 years of dedicated research into commerce and contract management, our members benefit from our latest insights, leading practices and professional development programs. 

A recent survey of our membership revealed the following insights:

Relationship & commercial maturity survey

How strong are council–supplier relationships, and what drives better commercial outcomes?

The way councils and suppliers work together has a direct impact on delivery, value for money, and public trust. But where are relationships working well, where is friction emerging, and how are governance, transparency, capability, and commercial maturity shaping results?

Through two connected surveys, we are gathering perspectives from both councils and suppliers to better understand the realities of buying, supplying, and managing goods, works, and services across Australian and New Zealand local government.

The findings will help identify the behaviours, practices, and commercial and contract management conditions that support stronger outcomes, and will inform a report to be released later this year.

Australian Voice of CouncilAustralian Voice of Supplier

New Zealand Voice of CouncilNew Zealand Voice of Supplier

2026 Most Negotiated Terms

Where do negotiations really get stuck and why?

The contracting landscape is transforming at unprecedented speed, driven by relentless market uncertainty and the accelerating influence of AI. But what does this mean for the heart of our work – what we negotiate and how we negotiate it?

Are certain contract terms gaining critical importance while others become flashpoints for disagreement? How are negotiation dynamics shifting, and where are the new pressure points emerging?

The 2026 Most Negotiated Terms survey will deliver the insights and answers you need, revealing not just what's changing, but how to adapt.

Begin the survey

How does your salary compare? Where are the best opportunities and the greatest rewards?

Research shows that Commercial and Contract Management roles are receiving increased executive attention. As the leading professional association in this field, employers and practitioners turn to us for the latest data on salaries and compensation packages. We are therefore inviting you to take part in our confidential annual Salary Survey.

Our survey will reveal the job roles and industries where satisfaction is highest, and it will also confirm any existing international variations. The data will be released to all participants as a consolidated report.

US Public Procurement Benchmark

Your input in the 2025-26 US Public Procurement Benchmark survey will help map the current landscape of organizational structure, role definition, performance metrics, technology deployment, and strategic priorities across the US Federal and public sector. By participating, you not only gain insights for your own organization but also help the wider acquisition and contract management community track progress and celebrate improvement over time.

Sustainability: Retreat, refocus, or reinvention

This confidential survey explores how sustainability priorities and practices are evolving in commercial and contracting activity, particularly in light of economic, geopolitical, and regulatory pressures. What the report aims to cover:

• Whether different aspects of sustainability have retreated, continued to make progress, or matured into BAU
• How far it has shifted from societal ambition to organisational self-interest
• Whether regulatory fragmentation, uncertainty, and roll-back is diluting impact
• Where contracts and commercial decisions are supporting or lagging behind stated intent
• How motivation differs by industry, geography, and role

From contract repository to contract system of record 

How mature is your contract management system? Is it AI-ready?

More than 70% of organizations have invested in a contract repository, a fundamental pre-requisite for AI implementation. But if that applies to you, does your repository have the features and capabilities needed for success?

In this survey, we are benchmarking the typical level of maturity that organizations have achieved, and how many are poised to join the AI revolution.

By participating, you will discover where you stand on this important journey.