The AI in Business Podcast Enabling Strategic Procurement with AI, From Frustration to Foresight - with Rob DeSantis of Arkestro
Oct 10, 2025
Rob DeSantis, CEO and co-founder of Arkestro with a rich background in procurement technology, shares insights on AI's transformative power in procurement. He discusses the disconnect between finance and procurement goals, emphasizing the need for collaboration to adopt AI effectively. Rob reveals how AI simplifies complex data, yielding 20-30% savings, and fosters transparency, improving supplier relationships. He also highlights the importance of C-level leadership in overcoming risk-averse cultures to scale AI adoption successfully.
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Different Priorities Slow Adoption
- Procurement and finance have different priorities: procurement focuses on continuity while finance chases measurable savings.
- That misalignment slows tech adoption unless both sides see magnitude of value.
AI As A Third Paradigm Shift
- Rob frames AI as the third major paradigm shift after the internet and the cloud.
- He argues AI offers step‑function value, not incremental improvements, making it impossible to ignore.
The Call That Re‑ignited Rob
- Rob recounts his excitement after a deep technical conversation with cofounder Edmund.
- He realized AI plus behavioral science would create a transformation far larger than his prior ventures.
