The Hackett Group has released its Spring 2026 SolutionMap and TechMatch℠ rankings, and MeRLIN has once again been recognized across multiple key procurement technology categories, earning the 2026 Validated badge. This recognition reinforces MeRLIN’s continued standing as a trusted solution for strategic sourcing, supplier management, and source-to-contract procurement.
The Spring 2026 edition marks a significant milestone: it is the first SolutionMap published under The Hackett Group brand, following the integration of Spend Matters’ Solution Intelligence team and methodology. The Hackett Group’s analysts evaluated 118 providers across 16 source-to-pay (S2P) categories, using a rigorous process of 500+ functional and capability criteria, mandatory product demonstrations, and independently verified customer ratings. The result is one of the most thorough, data-driven benchmarks in the procurement technology industry.
MeRLIN’s Recognized Categories
In this cycle, MeRLIN continued to demonstrate strong capabilities across its established procurement domains, including:
- Sourcing - end-to-end RFx management and sourcing lifecycle support
- Direct Material Sourcing - PLM and ERP integration, BOM-driven demand
- Source-to-Contract (S2C) - integrated workflow across sourcing and contract management
- Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) - authoring, milestones, e-signature, and obligation tracking
- Supplier Relationship Management & Risk (SXM) - supplier onboarding, performance, and risk intelligence
- Ausgabenanalyse - custom reports, dashboards, and cube-based spend visibility
- eProcurement - P2P workflows, purchase orders, and supply management
What the SolutionMap Recognition Means
SolutionMap is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous capability assessments in the procurement technology market. Inclusion is earned through a structured evaluation process, covering detailed functional RFI responses, live product demonstrations and verified ratings from actual customers. For procurement teams building shortlists or making technology investment decisions, SolutionMap recognition serves as independent validation of a solution’s functional depth and real-world delivery.
For MeRLIN, continued recognition across sourcing, supplier management, and contract categories reflects the breadth of the platform and its sustained relevance to procurement teams across manufacturing, discrete industries, and complex supply environments.
Read the full Spring 2026 SolutionMap release on The Hackett Group’s website here.
