Procurement Glossary
Technology radars: Strategic instrument for technology evaluation in Procurement
November 19, 2025
Technology radars are strategic planning tools that help companies to systematically evaluate emerging technologies and assess their potential for procurement. They visualize the maturity level of various technologies and their development over time in order to make well-founded investment decisions. Find out below what technology radars are, which methods are used and how they optimize strategic procurement decisions.
Key Facts
- Visualize technologies according to maturity and development over time in concentric circles
- Support strategic decisions on technology investments and supplier selection
- Based on systematic assessment of market maturity, potential and implementation risks
- Enable early identification of disruptive technologies before market maturity
- Promote interdisciplinary collaboration between Procurement, R&D and strategy departments
Contents
Definition: Technology radars
Technology radars are a systematic evaluation and visualization tool that categorizes technologies according to their stage of development and strategic potential.
Basic structure and layout
A technology radar consists of concentric circles that represent different time horizons. The segments divide technology areas according to fields of application or business areas. Each technology is positioned as a point, with the distance to the center indicating the degree of maturity.
- Inner circle: Established, production-ready technologies
- Middle circle: Technologies in the pilot phase or market launch
- Outer circle: Experimental or conceptual technologies
Technology radars vs. other valuation tools
In contrast to static market analyses, technology radars offer a dynamic perspective on technology developments. They differ from portfolio analyses in their specific focus on technology maturity and development over time.
Importance of technology radars in Procurement
For the procurement strategy, technology radars enable forward-looking planning of technology investments. They support the identification of future-proof suppliers and the timely adaptation of procurement guidelines to technological developments.
Methods and procedures
The development and maintenance of technology radars requires structured methods for data collection, evaluation and visualization of technologies.
Systematic technology assessment
The evaluation is based on defined criteria such as market maturity, application potential and implementation costs. Expert interviews, patent analyses and market observation provide the necessary data basis for well-founded assessments.
- Technical feasibility and scalability
- Economic profitability and cost development
- Regulatory framework and standards
Collaborative creation processes
Successful technology radars are created through interdisciplinary collaboration between Procurement, development and specialist departments. Regular workshops and stakeholder management ensure a balanced perspective on technological developments.
Continuous updating and monitoring
Technology radars require regular updates to reflect changes in the technology landscape. Quarterly reviews and systematic monitoring of technology trends ensure that the assessments are up to date and relevant.
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Important KPIs for technology radars
The effectiveness of technology radars can be measured by specific key figures that evaluate both the quality of the assessments and their strategic benefit.
Evaluation quality and accuracy
The forecast quality measures how accurately technology radars predict the actual development of technologies. A hit rate of over 70% for technology assessments is considered a good benchmark for the quality of the radar.
- Proportion of correctly forecast technology developments
- Average deviation for time forecasts
- Identification rate of disruptive technologies
Strategic effectiveness and decision support
The influence on strategic procurement decisions demonstrates the practical benefits of technology radars. Measurable improvements in return on investment and innovation speed prove the effectiveness of the tool.
Efficiency and resource optimization
The cost-benefit ratio evaluates the effort required for creation and maintenance in relation to the added value generated. The degree of automation and update frequency are further important efficiency indicators for sustainable technology radars.
Risks, dependencies and countermeasures
When using technology radars, various risks can affect the quality of assessments and strategic decisions.
Subjectivity and evaluation bias
Expert assessments are subject to personal preferences and cognitive biases, which can lead to incorrect technology assessments. Structured evaluation processes and diverse expert panels reduce these risks through multi-perspectivity and systematic validation.
Time delays and updating problems
Technology developments are often faster than the update cycles of technology radars. Outdated assessments can lead to suboptimal procurement decisions. Continuous supply chain monitoring and agile update processes minimize this risk.
- Quarterly review of critical technologies
- Automated trend analysis and early warning systems
- Flexible adaptation of the evaluation criteria
Complexity and resource expenditure
The creation and maintenance of comprehensive technology radars requires considerable human and financial resources. Companies must weigh up the benefits against the costs and, if necessary, develop focused radars for critical technology areas.
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Practical example
An automotive supplier is developing a technology radar for battery technologies to support strategic investment decisions. The radar categorizes different battery types according to maturity and market potential. Lithium-ion technology is classified as established in the inner circle, while solid-state batteries in the outer circle are assessed as future-oriented but not yet ready for the market.
- Systematic evaluation of 15 battery technologies based on defined criteria
- Quarterly update by interdisciplinary team of experts
- Integration of radar findings into supplier strategy and R&D planning
Current developments and effects
Digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence are fundamentally changing both the creation and application of technology radars.
AI-supported technology assessment
Modern AI systems automate data collection and analysis for technology radars. Machine learning algorithms identify trends in patent databases and scientific publications, which increases the quality of the evaluation and reduces the effort involved.
Integration into digital procurement platforms
Technology radars are increasingly being integrated into digital procurement systems. This networking enables a direct link between technology assessment and operational procurement decisions, whereby strategic planning and daily purchasing processes are better coordinated.
Advanced visualization and interactivity
Modern technology radars use interactive dashboards and advanced visualization techniques. Three-dimensional representations and dynamic filters enable a more differentiated analysis of technological developments and their impact on different business areas.
Conclusion
Technology radars are indispensable tools for strategic procurement decisions in technology-intensive industries. They enable a systematic evaluation of technological developments and support companies in reacting to market changes in good time. The integration of AI-supported analysis methods and networking with digital procurement platforms significantly increase their effectiveness. Despite the challenges of objectivity and resource expenditure, the strategic benefits for future-oriented procurement organizations clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
FAQ
What distinguishes technology radars from conventional market analyses?
Technology radars focus on the maturity and development of technologies over time, while market analyses primarily look at current market conditions. They offer a dynamic, future-oriented perspective and systematically visualize technologies at different stages of development.
How often should technology radars be updated?
The update frequency depends on the dynamics of the respective technology area. Quarterly updates are recommended for fast-moving areas such as IT, while semi-annual or annual reviews may be sufficient for established industrial technologies.
What resources are required to create a technology radar?
An effective technology radar requires interdisciplinary expertise from Procurement, development and specialist departments. Depending on the scope, the time required varies between 20-50 person days for the initial creation and 5-15 days for regular updates.
How can evaluation biases in technology radars be minimized?
Structured evaluation processes, various expert panels and external validation reduce subjective distortions. The use of quantitative criteria and regular calibration of the assessment benchmarks increase the objectivity and comparability of the assessments.
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