Art of Procurement

“Everyone keeps talking about AI just for the sake of AI, but, ultimately, the only thing that matters is the outcome you can achieve.” - Baber Farooq, Senior Vice President, Market Strategy, Procurement Solutions at SAP Procurement leaders have long felt the pinch: rising expectations, tight budgets, and platforms that struggle to keep up with user expectations. As AI shifts from a buzzword to true capability, procurement needs to rethink what they need from their core procurement suite. What will it take to move from incremental change to a genuine step-change in productivity? In this episode, Baber Farooq, Senior Vice President, Market Strategy, Procurement Solutions at SAP, discusses the future of SAP Ariba and what “next-gen” truly means for procurement. To do this, Baber draws back the curtain on SAP’s rethink of Ariba, including why incremental AI add-ons just weren’t enough, and how his team approached trust, transparency, and a seamless transition for current users. In this episode, Baber speaks about: Reimagining procurement technology with AI as a core capability, not a bolt-on Why data quality and structure are critical to enabling reliable AI outcomes Concrete examples of how generative AI changes real user workflows and decision-making Links: Baber Farooq on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

“There is no stagnancy in a supply relationship. Continuous improvement is the basis for that.” - Neji Isaac, Global Category Manager, NOVA Chemicals Procurement often measures success in cost savings and contract terms, but today's business environment demands more.  As supplier markets consolidate and customer needs shift, procurement leaders must find new ways to bring value to the business, especially in categories that seem stagnant or constrained. In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, Neji Isaac, Global Category Manager at NOVA Chemicals, shares a real-world case study that pushed the boundaries of traditional supplier relationships. Drawing on his global experience and recent doctoral research, Neji explains how identifying overlooked opportunities and challenging old assumptions can unlock efficiency and drive unexpected value. Whether you’re facing a “take-it-or-leave-it” supplier market or searching for fresh levers to pull, Neji offers pragmatic strategies to reflect on. In this episode, Neji discusses: Rethinking supplier relationships in long-standing, strategic categories How to recognize and act on cultural and regional differences in supply approaches Turning overlooked assets (like spare land) into value-adding levers Why the “we win” approach beats traditional win-win thinking Ways to uncover what truly matters to your suppliers Links: Neji Isaac on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

In this Phil-Ins episode of “Buy: The Way…To Purposeful Procurement,” Philip Ideson, Rich Ham, and Kelly Barner reflect on their conversations with Bayer CPO Thomas Udesen, franchise procurement leader Kristine Morton, and procurement entrepreneur Jason Busch. Despite differences in scope, scale, and sector, the through-line is unmistakable: common sense.  For example, Thomas showed how Bayer abandoned “pointless” savings metrics in favor of measures that connect directly to business outcomes, while Kristine reminded us that for franchisees, if it doesn’t hit the P&L, it didn’t happen. And Jason revealed how AI employees could finally make real-time validation and continuous monitoring of results possible at scale. Taken together, these stories underscore procurement’s most pressing challenge: leaving behind the dysfunctional obsession with “claimed savings” and building incentive systems that reward real impact. Rich, Phil, and Kelly also step back to examine procurement’s sense of alignment (or detachment?) from the wider business. Kelly shares vivid experiences from her own practitioner days, contrasting the urgency of grocery logistics with the abstraction of office supplies. Phil cautions against “procurement blinkers,” reminding us that silos plague every function, not just ours. And Rich argues that measuring against EBITDA – profits, not projections – may finally put procurement “on the pitch” with their teammates. This recap sets the stage for the next phase of the series: designing incentive structures that actually work. Because if procurement doesn’t align with business value, AI vendors may sell that value straight to the C-suite. Links: Rich Ham on LinkedInLearn more at FineTuneUs.com

In this engaging discussion, Darshan Deshmukh, President at ProcureAbility, shares insights on building resilient supply chains amidst geopolitical uncertainty. He emphasizes the need for procurement leaders to transition from transactional to collaborative relationships with suppliers, treating them as valued partners. Darshan explores how to differentiate real from perceived risks, the importance of investing in supply chain optionality, and the role of AI in transforming procurement skills. His call to action is clear: play the long game and embrace a mindset shift toward longer-term value.

“We’re in the business of change – selling change and then delivering it.” - Gordon Donovan, Vice President Research - Procurement & External Workforce, SAP  In an era of overlapping crises, procurement faces fast-evolving challenges… and opportunities.  Senior leaders are tasked with not only keeping the engine running but also building resilient, future-facing teams that thrive in complexity. The recently published SAP Economist Impact research report, “The Resilient Edge: Procurement in an Era of Polycrisis,” provides a data-driven lens on what the next three to five years may hold, especially as outsourcing, skills, and technology reshape operating models. To dig into this new research, Philip Ideson welcomes Gordon Donovan, Vice President Research - Procurement & External Workforce at SAP, back to the show. Gordon combs through insights on what is driving procurement decision-making, current confidence in category management, and the practical implications of surging contingent workforce and outsourcing activity. Whether you want to understand why risk management is lagging, how AI will drive operating model transformation, or where procurement should focus next, Gordon brings both the latest data and his own hard-won advice for CPOs. In this episode, Gordon discusses how this latest research from SAP can help procurement: Identify how leaders’ priorities are aligning for the first time in four years Rethink the value proposition beyond cost savings and communicate it upstream Advance risk management beyond basic compliance, especially in category strategies Harness outsourcing and the contingent workforce as proactive transformation levers Prioritize the right skills, even those that rarely make the official list Links Gordon Donovan on LinkedIn Procurement's Path Through an Era of Polycrisis Visit the SAP Website Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

“We can all claim savings without necessarily achieving the result.”  This stark observation from Jason Busch sums up decades of dysfunction in how procurement measures their impact and why AI may finally force a (much-needed) reckoning with reality. In this episode of “Buy: The Way...To Purposeful Procurement,” Jason joins co-hosts Philip Ideson and Rich Ham to explore how artificial intelligence might finally solve procurement's validation problem… but only if organizations abandon their addiction to “claiming savings” and start measuring what actually matters: EBITDA. As a co-founder of FreeMarkets and a founder of Spend Matters, Jason has witnessed 25 years of procurement's evolution from the inside, and he’s not pulling any punches. Instead, he offers a radical proposition: procurement should function as economic “detectives” gathering evidence of spend crimes, then “prosecutors” holding suppliers accountable based on that evidence. The technology finally exists to make this possible, but it will require procurement to abandon the comfortable fiction of projected savings in favor of the uncomfortable truth of EBITDA impact. The implications of this approach extend beyond individual organizations. Jason frames procurement's societal purpose as “public defenders against rampant cost escalation,” suggesting that when buyer-side flaws enable seller-side exploitation, the ultimate losers are consumers who absorb these costs through higher prices. According to Jason, the question isn't whether technology will transform procurement… It's whether procurement will transform themselves enough to leverage that technology purposefully and for the good of the business. Links: Jason Busch on LinkedIn Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com  

“Procurement is going to be on the front lines, creating competitive advantage for the corporation.” - Vel Dhinagaravel, CEO at Beroe AI isn’t just a buzzword anymore… it’s rapidly becoming procurement’s sharpest tool for staying ahead.  Business leaders now demand more than “check-the-box” savings; they want real, data-driven competitiveness that puts their organizations at the front of the pack. The big question: how can AI and always-on intelligence transform procurement’s role and impact? In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, Beroe CEO Vel Dhinagaravel joins host Philip Ideson for a candid conversation on the reality (and roadblocks) of using AI in procurement. Vel draws from deep experience and real-world case studies to reveal where intelligence platforms are making a difference, how measurement is shifting, and what mindsets are needed to win in today’s faster, more transparent world. From rethinking metrics to unlocking competitive benchmarking and avoiding overhyped tech promises, this conversation gives procurement leaders practical advice they can use now. In this episode, Vel discusses: How leading CPOs are moving from point-in-time savings to continuous value Why benchmarking against competitors (not just last year’s spend) is the new mandate Where and how to use AI for measurable results Ways to spot the hype vs. real limitations in intelligent agent tools How to prepare your team for the market’s next leap in performance Links: Vel Dhinagaravel on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

“A decision abyss is the chasm that forms between critical supply chain functions… and that's what keeps and prevents organizations from making fast, cross-functional, well-informed data-driven decisions.” – Keith Hartley, CEO and Board Member at LevaData, CEO of The Abyss Group In today’s hyper-connected supply chains, data is everywhere, but turning it into fast, confident decisions remains elusive. The cost? Slow launches, eroding margins, and “spreadsheet heroics” that mask deeper issues. As the complexity compounds year after year, procurement leaders face a tough choice: keep coping, or tackle what Keith Hartley calls the “decision abyss.” In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, Keith, CEO of LevaData and author of the new book “Conquering the Decision Abyss”, joins host Philip Ideson to dig into this silent but urgent challenge.  They explore why siloed information and human habits – not just technology – are holding teams back, and what’s truly required to turn fragmented data into bold, coordinated action. Keith also shares real-world stories, quick wins, and a candid take on why C-suites are finally wading into supply chain’s black box. In this episode, Keith also discusses how to: Diagnose the symptoms and root causes of the “decision abyss” Move your team beyond spreadsheet culture to smarter decisions Embrace modern AI to contextualize and use even messy data Enable rapid testing for new processes that deliver outcomes   Links: Keith Hartley on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

When Kristine Morton's was first introduced to the flawed incentive structures plaguing much of corporate procurement, she said, “That all sounds stupid."  Her blunt reaction reveals something profound: it is possible to build a procurement career without ever encountering the dysfunctional systems that dominate so many large organizations. In this episode of "Buy: The Way...To Purposeful Procurement," Kristine Morton, Director of Strategic Sourcing at Unleashed Brands, joins Philip Ideson and Rich Ham to demonstrate what procurement looks like when stakeholders demand proof, not promises. Working across franchise systems and private equity-backed companies, Kristine serves over 1,000 individual franchise owners who scrutinize every P&L line item. In her world, "savings" means money that actually hits the bottom line, not projections based on contract signatures. Every initiative undergoes rigorous testing before rollout, and continuous measurement ensures stakeholders receive exactly what was promised. In this episode, she explains the stark contrast between procurement theory and practice. While large corporations debate abstract incentive structures, Kristine focuses on operational empathy, which means understanding what makes franchise owners' lives easier, cheaper, or better.  Her approach to category management is truly continuous. As Kristine puts it, “My vendor relationships don't end at contract signature. If I don't follow up and ensure our initiatives deliver what we promised, I won't learn when things don't work out.” Kristine’s leadership journey demonstrates that purposeful procurement doesn't require managing billions in spend. There's profound purpose in simply making efforts real and ensuring stakeholders get what they were promised. With this perspective, adoption is validation; if programs don't deliver value, business owners simply won't participate.   Links: Kristine Morton Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com  

“ProcureTech100 is the voice of the user. It's the voice of the customer. We want the perspective of those who are using these solutions every day, who have done proof of concepts, and who have seen the ROI.” - Philip Ideson, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Art of Procurement Today’s procurement leaders are surrounded by tech innovation and disruption, but separating real value from empty hype is more complex than ever. With hundreds of new providers, AI tools, and shifting priorities, staying competitive calls for more than just another list of solutions; it demands objective, peer-driven insights. This week, Art of Procurement co-founders Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner unpack the acquisition of the ProcureTech100 and Founders’ Circle programs. They explain what sets the ProcureTech100 apart, why practitioner voices matter, and how this new approach will improve visibility, trust, and practical decision-making for procurement teams everywhere. Tune in for a candid conversation about rethinking technology intelligence, the importance of independence in awards and recommendations, and how community engagement is shaping the next chapter of procurement’s digital story. In this episode, Philip and Kelly: Explain what makes the ProcureTech100 uniquely objective and peer-driven Share how practitioner insights inform more valuable tech recommendations Reveal new ways leaders and providers can participate or become judges Discuss the future direction for digitization advisory, as informed by community data Links: Trust & Transparency: Judging the 2025/26 ProcureTech100 Art of Procurement Acquires ProcureTech100, ProcureTech100 Yearbook, and Founders' Circle Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube