The Procurement
Software Podcast

My thoughts, insights, predictions and trending topics for you to consider as we go into 2025, as well as some news on the future of the podcast!

I recently spoke at an invite-only event by apadua, and also at Onventis’ conference. I’m bullish on these, so I invited apadua’s Co-Founder on the show

Spend analytics has matured. Tools are better at handling messy data. And in Anvil’s case, CO2 analytics and consultancy is part of the total offering.

CPOs often try to cheapskate on salaries and subject matter expertise. It’s a fool’s errand. You need the best people. To hell with HR…go get them.

Procurement tech expert Jon W. Hansen predicts 75% of AI-driven procuretech companies will disappear within 2 years. I disagree: here’s why.

Managing Source-to-Pay and vendor management for complex jobs in the oil & gas sector necessitates a different approach. Enter Workrise.

Not all categories of procurement software have equal potential. Some will flourish. Others will likely disappear. Which ones fall into which camps?

An eSourcing platform that unlocks features, along with world class customer success. The winning combo as you go from reactive to proactive procurement.

Tech is great, but it has limitations. Certain aspects of business culture and colleagues’ mindsets can’t be transformed by a software implementation.

Managing your procurement savings pipeline in Excel or a Sharepoint site is doomed to fail. A collaborative, tech-first approach is better.

Procurement shouldn’t be seen as a back office function, but we sometimes get stuck. How can tech help? And where do people and mindset play a role?

Procurement automation is on the rise, especially in P2P and sourcing. With smart tools, professionals can shift focus to higher-value tasks.

Rebates are a rich source of procurement savings, but contentious with Finance. They shouldn’t be, with the right post-signature contract management.

Are traditional Source-to-Pay suites in danger of becoming extinct with the new breed of Intake & Process Orchestration tools? It depends…

SAP for procurement is a challenge, especially with stakeholders and intake. How to integrate a user-friendly front end with SAP’s powerful interface.

Looking for all the tech companies serving the SME, Mid-Market or Enterprise on one graphic for each? Listen to how we put them together.

It’s no coincidence that big, bloated consultancies partner with big, bloated legacy S2P suites. Deploying complex software works to their own interests.

The subservient CPO of yesteryear doesn’t cut it. Driving digital transformation requires a bold, visionary leader at the nucleus of an organisation.

How relevant will the Category Management-centric approach be in a future where tech and generative AI can do much of the heavy lifting?

Procuretech is heavily weighted towards solutions for indirects. Direct spend increasingly requires a different approach and specialist tech.

We explore how technology is shaping the L&D landscape, and how my guest Jonathan O’Brien sees it as more of an evolution rather than a revolution.

Think of procurement, and long processes and approval steps spring to mind. Entrepreneurial procurement is a mindset shift towards pragmatism over process

Front line procurement jobs can be unrelenting, and sometimes lead to burn-out. Are you contemplating a transition into procuretech? This one’s for you.

Generic No Code tools like Airtable, Glide, ClickUp and Softr have some handy use cases for Procurement, and they also remove any budget issues.

Generic No Code tools like Airtable, Glide, ClickUp and Softr have some handy use cases for Procurement, and they also remove any budget issues.

Who’s out there shaking things up in the procurement tech market? We take a closer look at 25 of the hottest European procurement startups and scaleups.

Who’s out there shaking things up in the procurement tech market? We take a closer look at 25 of the hottest American procurement startups and scaleups.

A critique of a recent Guardian article. Is enterprise software the problem? Or is down to implement and configuration, as well as the end user’s mindset.

We hear all the time that technology is the future of procurement. Many CPOs seem to be behind the curve though. Here’s a recruiter’s perspective.

Procuretech doesn’t have to be expensive. Yes, the big, enterprise suites are pricey. But there’s so much more out there without a six-figure price tag.

Not all procuretech is equal. Understanding the specific problem you want to solve is key, to ensure you purchase the right apps for your challenges.

How has the arrival of Generative AI changed the game for S2P? And how can it enhance processes that existing RPA automation or OCR tech struggles with?

Best of lists, review sites, as well as our very own Tech Maps are of limited use. Relying on them solely for your research is bad, and we explain why.

Making procurement fit for 2030 may require ditching some category manager roles, and replacing them with roles to support and elevate a Cat Man’s impact

We’re so focused on the sexy stuff in procuretech that we often forget the basics. Successful invoice automation can save a lot of unnecessary waste.

AI is often misunderstood. In this episode, we explore how most folks shouldn’t be worried, and instead, should see it as an opportunity.

Apple and Google have been very successful with their app stores. Will SAP Ariba and Coupa become the overlords the same way in the procuretech space?

As market leader in the intake software space, ZIP is now focused on intake-to-pay. Is it a credible alternative to traditional S2P suites?

One of the biggest challenges to buy procurement tech is actually getting the budget. We look at how to justify the investment and ROI.

There are lots of exciting developments and the market is rapidly changing. Simon Geale and James Meads discuss what we’re seeing.

Initial results and findings shared by Rosslyn from their recent trials using Generative AI to perform complex spend classification.

Driving digital transformation within mid-market European businesses can be painful. Resistance to change persists. What are some ways to speed this up?

We take a look at how AI and machine learning can be used to predict sourcing and procurement decisions, enabling us to reach the right decisions faster.

Consultancy services: traditionally a tough area for sourcing teams to have a meaningful impact. Can tech help to change this, breaking Big 4 dominance?

Spendwise has grown organically since 2013 with no funding. The secret? A competitively-priced solution which can replace administrative employees.

Procuretech and digital procurement tools are fast-paced and constantly changing. This is our twice-yearly look at the current and emerging trends.

Choosing the right procurement software is a increasingly complex. What is driving the decision nowadays, and how much influence does Procurement have?

Can procurement leaders become better influencers through the power of coaching? And if so, what are the necessary skills and mindset to succeed?

Guided buying is moving beyond just an enterprise solution. Airbase’s new module, targeting mid-market and growing procurement teams seeks to fix this.

Growing a procurement tech startup in the Middle East has enabled Penny Software to develop a Source-to-Pay product that resonates beyond its borders

Existing Contract Lifecycle Management software doesn’t focus enough on implementation and performance measurement. Birdseye strives to fix this.

How much can generative AI do in the supplier discovery space. And at what point do you need to add humans to the process to ensure we get the most value?

Services procurement can be muddy. There’s a risk of cost creep. Smart contracting can improve visibility and control. That’s what trueLedger does

I interview 3 corporate procurement leaders and discuss the latest trends and their strategies for digitisation of procurement

Leo is the Founder of one of the few growing Latin American procurement technology startups. We discuss trends in the LatAm procuretech ecosystem.

We feature 6 different procuretech startups and 1 stalwart who were exhibiting at Procurement Summit and who’ve not been guests on the show before

Supplier risk management is critical to any modern procurement team. Is it necessary to invest in best-of-breed software, or can your S2P suite cover it?

Every company knows its customers. Not many know their suppliers. Canopy and Unispace share a great case study showcasing their success together.

Pivoting from consultancy, to formal training, to online courses and now to software-as-a-service, Positive Purchasing and Jonathan have seen it all

Sheldon explains how Suppeco aims to make ESG data and compliance certification more visible to those who run day-to-day operations in a business

The metaverse isn’t just gaming. Clive takes us into the future, explaining how the procurement metaverse will drastically change the way we work

Resources and budgets are scarce. User adoption, UI/UX and time to implement are critical factors which must be prioritised more by buyers.

Tom shows us why personal branding is not just relevant for influencers and business owners, and explains why our profession needs to modernise

Struggling as a startup to get funding? Or looking to buy procurement tech and want to know the signs if a startup is in trouble. This one’s for you

Change management in digital procurement transformation is a key factor. But what’s the difference between readiness to change and capacity for change?

Skills in procurement are transferable. Want a career change, but wondering how to build a personal brand and grow your network? Sarah’s got you covered.

The most critical factors when selecting a source-to-pay suite are ignored by “best of” lists and research houses. Fear not, we’ve covered them here!

A lot has changed since our first episode 3 years ago. We kick off series 4 with a look at the direction and trends we see in the procuretech industry.

Tech challenges in developing countries can be as simple as stable wifi and learning from a smartphone, not a PC. We explore procurement training in MEA.

How do you get to grips with managing risk and increasing compliance requirements? If data is poor, then how to focus on the highest priorities?

Graham meets lots of procurement pros. Organisation maturity and industry sectors may differ, but what’s changing in the digital space across the board?

A few years ago, digital transformation meant implementing an all-in-one suite. Business necessities now drive a more agile approach to procuretech.

Negotiations rely on soft skills, so to what extent will buyer and supplier negotiations be automated? Where are we now, and how far could we go?

Having the fortune to work in both buy-side roles, consultancy and content creation gives you a unique view of the digital procurement ecosystem

We look at how a mindset for continuous growth and learning is key to staying bang up-to-date with the latest procurement technology and trends

Can agile principles be compatible with legacy procurement processes in a conservative function? If so, when can it be applied vs. a traditional RFP?

E-actions DO work, but it’s so much more than just running an online event. It’s the end-to-end setup and the way suppliers and stakeholders are managed.

Procurement and Supply Chain are coming much closer. Technology and affordable online learning are making both professions much more accessible.

Creating content and growing a community in procurement can bring transferable skills for being a solid communicator in a corporate procurement role.

There is no talent shortage. There is plenty of procurement talent. It just probably isn’t located on your doorstep, or looking for permanent employment.

Poor systems and clunky technology have long been a cause of inefficiency in procurement. How can the modern tech stack drag us out of the past?

Tackling dirty data is key to digital transformation success. How much human involvement is necessary? And how useful really are spend analytics tools?

Procurement and finance: In reality, we’re allies. Company financial performance can be improved with a collaborative working relationship.

At Procurement Summit, I got to meet 10 early stage German and Swiss procurement startups who are making waves in this space

Source-to-pay suites for private enterprise don’t often serve the needs and requirements of the public sector. But what are those key differences?

Having spend dashboards and taxonomies is one thing. But in smaller organisations, actionable tips can complement these and drive savings much faster.

Incredibly, CEOs spend almost zero time meeting suppliers. But procurement counts for 50-60% of company revenue. What if the CEO was more engaged?

Category strategies were always seen as being just for enterprise. Thanks to low code apps, strategic procurement is now also in reach of smaller orgs.

We tackle the ongoing debate of whether supplier-maintained master data or pulling from external sources is best. Here’s the argument for the former.

My guest Joël is a veteran of source-to-pay implementations for digital procurement transformation. He shares valuable tips, advice & future projections.

Every procurement tech solutions provider will claim to be the best. It’s only when asking key questions that you’ll understand what differentiates them

Tracking cargo is critical. But what about the peace of mind to know what’s lurking in the different tiers of your supply chain in the first place?

In an increasingly hybrid world with best-of-breed seemingly gaining the upper hand, how can well-established suite providers adapt, thrive and prosper?

In a large enterprise with a legacy suite, managing tactical and tail spend can be frustrating. Lhotse enables agility and avoids maverick spend issues

Strategic RFPs are one thing, but what about leveraging AI and bots for operational, spot buys of high spend items. One such example: spot ocean freight.

From one of the most established providers to the mid-market, we explore what drives adoption and trends in this sector and what to expect in future.

Elouise needs no introduction as an industry expert and multiple times published author. We delve into procuretech’s past, present and future in this chat

Procurement and Legal often fall out due to cumbersome internal contract processes. This could become a thing of the past, with tech to help us.

Procurement pros who don’t have a strong legal background dread having to go through contracts. We may not have to do this on our own for long.

Supplier partnerships go beyond the stick approach and also embrace the carrot. Beyond audits and compliance, SRM can do so much more to drive value.

Working with suppliers on top-of-pyramid activities such as innovation and joint R&D is a game changer. Managing it in email and Excel isn’t a good idea.

Finding procurement software shouldn’t be complicated. Especially for mid-market businesses that don’t have a deep knowledge of the market.

Working with suppliers on top-of-pyramid activities such as innovation and joint R&D is a game changer. Managing it in email and Excel isn’t a good idea.

Think that blockchain is just for cryptocurrency? Think again. It has many advantages for contract transparency and compliance, and responsible sourcing.

Direct spend has been more difficult to shift out of managing through ERPs. Ravacan aims to change this with their complete solution for direct materials.

Spendency was recently acquired by Onventis. Spend analytics + a mature source-to-pay offering now form a powerful suite for the mid-market

akirolabs was incubated through Vodafone’s world class procurement organisation, taking leading processes, connecting them and driving improved visibility

Early stage procuretech startups face the same issues. Limited marketing resources and a similar target audience. Supplytechs’ mission is to solve this.

Too much focus on tech? Digital transformations, change management and procurement orgs of the future will only succeed with the right people strategy.

Procurement software solutions often feature AI. But how good is it? What are its benefits and flaws, and what questions must we ask to software vendors?

Sievo launched in 2003, but by leveraging big data and adding features based on customer feedback, they’ve defended their position despite the competition

A successul case study of SEG Automotive’s digital journey after their spin-off from Bosch in 2018, implementing best-of-breed solution Ignite Procurement

oboloo is a great example of how procurement tech also helps small businesses increase compliance and reduce cost through a simple but effective solution

Adding new vendors in corporate procurement teams is often a painful, email based process taking weeks, not days. Simple software can avoid this madness.

Enterprise level suites used to be pretty much the only game in town for procuretech. This has changed. Best-of-breed now looks to have the upper hand.

Historical data of e-auctions can be leveraged for new customers: How established platforms can stay relevant, and use their data lake to their advantage

Start off with simple, pay-as-you-go e-Sourcing. Add more sourcing and vendor management modules as your digital procurment journey matures. A good mix?

What is the sweet spot between price, features and seamless functionality? Upstream and downstream Vendor Management functionality all in one app

Major challenges to adaptation of an e-Sourcing tools are complexity and user experience. Trading features in favour of simplicity is a bold strategy

Objectively examining non-price data, and using AI and algorithms to score total value and risk, is potentially game-changing in the e-Sourcing space

Spend Matters 50 To Know and 50 To Watch are published each year. ProcureTech100 is a new listing. How are they put together, and how useful are they?

The last of our 3-part series featuring early stage startups exhibiting at Procurement Summit in Berlin: this one features Services procurement solutions

The second in a 3-part series featuring early stage startups exhibiting at Procurement Summit in Berlin: AI and Game Theory procurement software

The first in a 3-part series featuring early stage startups exhibiting at Procurement Summit in Berlin: ESG and risk management procurement software

Tactical spend takes in up a disproportionate amount of time but often delivers little bottom line value. Simplifying the process brings many benefits.

Where can you utilise AI in procurement? Cleaning material master and spend data is one case, and it should be priority. But how effective is AI for this?

How to make better, faster project implementation? Bring stakeholder collaboration & supplier relationships under a real-time platform. Ditch the emails!

Services spend means highly strategic corporate contracts, but also the long tail of local vendors and one-time buys. Can you manage both, digitally?

Strategic supplier relationships are more than just hard KPIs, especially for indirect procurment. We need vendor performance in an easy-to-use platform.

Bid Ops has turned auctions and e-sourcing on their head through the use of AI and game theory to generate faster, successful outcomes for procurement.

Procurement professionals spend far too much time in our inboxes managing email overload. A thoughtfully designed SaaS app seeks to solve this.

Implementing a digital procurement solution isn’t the answer to all your prayers. It often fails – because you also need a data strategy to complement it.

Process mining meets spend analytics to help procurement teams to efficiently identify process waste, non-compliance and cost savings opportunities.

Tail spend in procurement is non-strategic and can be a nuisance. Lots of suppliers, issues, too many stakeholders to please. There’s a tech solution.

Having the flexibility to work with innovative suppliers can be a challenge for corporate procurement due to red tape! But it can deliver great results…

Indirect employee expenses – i.e. printing, copying, mobile phone usage – are great areas for quick procurement cost savings if you have usage data.

Expense reduction and spend management doesn’t just happen. Having procurement technology with a great UX helps increase visibility and manage spend.

Leveraging machine learning and AI for spend analytics enables category managers to act more quickly. But where is the human touch still necessary?

Good, solid negotiation preparation is essential. But time is scarce and perfect knowledge for procurement pros is tough. Tech is helping to solve it.

Accounts payable issues are commonplace. Procurement’s role is usually as a troubleshooter. Automating poorly designed or broken AP process can fix this.

Recruitment is changing and so is how procurement teams are structured. Keep ahead of the technological trends and ensure that your skills stay relevant.

Recognition for procurement’s value delivery beyond just hard savings is a challenge. But good software plus collaboration can go a long way.

We take a bird’s eye view on how a large scale digital procurement implementation should be approached from beginning to end, with all the watch-outs!

Knowledge is power: AI can make procurement professionals’ lives easier and save us all lots of time when it comes to supplier scouting and discovery.

Marketing procurement often has huge untapped potential. We discuss print media, and how to optimise the sourcing process through technology.

How to get the most from your contract management processes: how human ingenuity and digital procurement solutions can deliver the best combo.

What to consider before choosing a Source-to-Contract (S2C) or Procure-to-Pay (P2P) digital procurement solution. All the pitfalls and watch-outs.

Group Purchasing Organisations (GPOs) can deliver value in untapped corners of spend, freeing up “sourcing heroes” to perform value added activities.

Procurement and Supply Chain go together like a BBQ and a hot summer’s day. Our chat covers digital trends, collaboration and technological changes.

Cleaning your procurement data is the bedrock of implementing any digital procurement software solution. It doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated.

TealBook making waves and becoming a real game-changer in the space of vendor master data as a single source of truth for procurement teams.

Procurement data and analytics are vital, but you need to know what to do with it and look at analytics and data mining with an outcome-driven mindset.

How a digital procurement kanban board for project teams can remove the need for emails between procurement and key stakeholders pre-PO.

Freight sourcing is tricky with traditional e-sourcing platforms. But a specialised digital procurement tool can offer unique advantages.

Showcasing stories of digital procurement transformation & interviews with software providers. Hosted by digital procurement expert James Meads.