Episode 61: Supply chain partners in quantum

Why supplier choice matters in quantum computing

As quantum computing moves from theory into early practical use, procurement teams are starting to ask sensible questions about suppliers, competition, and long-term risk. The market is still small, but it is developing quickly, and decisions made now could have lasting consequences.

Unlike more established areas of technology procurement, quantum does not yet have a wide field of mature vendors. A handful of large technology companies are leading the way, alongside a fast-growing ecosystem of startups focused on specialist applications or hardware components.

The role of large vendors and startups

Most organisations exploring quantum today are engaging through large providers that can offer access to real quantum computers via the cloud. This matters, because many advisory firms and systems integrators talk about quantum capability but ultimately rely on access to someone else’s hardware to do any real work.

Alongside these larger players, the startup community is particularly active. Many newer companies focus on narrow problem areas, such as optimisation or specific industry use cases. For organisations with a clear, specialised requirement, these startups can be valuable partners, provided the risks are understood.

Hardware access and cloud consumption models

For the foreseeable future, quantum computing is expected to remain primarily cloud-based. Owning a quantum computer only makes sense in very limited circumstances, such as national research priorities or highly sensitive workloads.

For most organisations, procurement teams should expect consumption-based cloud models, similar in principle to other forms of compute, although costs are still relatively high and evolving. Over time, these costs are expected to come down as the technology matures.

Skills, services, and supplier credibility

Beyond hardware access, the services layer is critical. Procurement teams should look for partners that can help identify which business problems are genuinely suitable for quantum approaches, rather than applying it indiscriminately.

One indicator of capability is familiarity with established quantum programming frameworks, such as open-source Python libraries that are becoming industry standards. Formal badges and certifications are starting to appear, and these are increasingly showing up on CVs as organisations begin to hire quantum specialists.

Long-term risk and quantum-safe requirements

A key consideration for procurement teams is future-proofing. Governments and security bodies are already signalling that systems must become resistant to future quantum attacks. This means insisting that any new software or connected devices are quantum safe, particularly for long-lived assets such as infrastructure or IoT.

Procurement decisions made today may still be in place when quantum capabilities mature further. Failing to plan for that now risks future disruption, rework, or loss of competitive advantage.

For organisations preparing their procurement strategy for emerging technologies like quantum computing, get in touch.