Love Procurement: The Podcast

As AI capabilities are added to an increasing number of SaaS platforms, procurement must ensure that their evaluation frameworks match solution strengths to enterprise priorities and also separate real progress from marketing spin. It is the evidence of impact and effectiveness, not talk or hype about it, that should drive decision-making about technology. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement p...

As this episode's guest explains it, AI is the jet engine, and supplier data is the jet fuel for procurement organizations looking to make the most of their supplier ecosystem. Performance aircraft will struggle to operate with substandard fuel in it, even if it is available in large supply. In practice, this means that taking a grounded, thorough approach to supplier data may be the best way for...

Direct materials sourcing sits at the center of operational performance, profitability, and supply chain resilience. Because even a single disruption can create ripple effects across both production and revenue, companies increasingly view direct materials sourcing not as a transactional activity, but as a cross-functional discipline that requires deep collaboration, strong data visibility, discip...

Procurement professionals find their way into the field from many different directions and in many different ways, so it is not unusual to meet 'accidental' procurement converts. At the same time, very few people end up in procurement because they participated in an implementation that was so impactful and transformative that they wanted to keep repeating the experience.  In this episode of the #L...

AI doesn't have to be flashy to be transformative. In fact, some of its biggest wins come from tackling the most repetitive, time-consuming work procurement faces every day.  The challenge for procurement is working with the tension between hype and reality, exploring how to thoughtfully experiment with AI, discover where it delivers real value, and recognize why (and when) human judgment still ma...

What does it take to build a meaningful procurement career while also navigating major life transitions and evolving priorities?  Most people are working in personal and professional comfort zones. While they provide much needed stability, they may also be holding us back. To escape this, we have to balance goals and support systems with a healthy attitude towards new opportunities and exploring t...

Tail spend usually consists of low-value, highly fragmented transactions, but its impact on procurement's performance is anything but small. Hidden within it are opportunities to improve visibility and streamline processes, as well as unlock untapped value and shine a light on risk.  Understanding and addressing tail spend can transform it from a persistent challenge into a strategic advantage.  I...

Procurement is gaining unprecedented momentum across the Middle East. Driven by large government-led "mega projects" and rapid digital transformation, procurement is becoming a central driver of economic development and private sector modernization. This shift is influencing talent, technology adoption, and the growing expectations placed on businesses and suppliers throughout the region. In this...

As procurement teams gain greater influence, they also face new challenges around data quality, trust, and the complexity of working across multiple functions and systems. Evolving expectations, affecting everything from fraud prevention to AI readiness, are reshaping procurement's priorities and what it takes to build the data foundation needed to support them. In this episode of the #LoveProcure...

How procurement thinks about the value suppliers provide to the organization has an outsized impact on the relationships they are able to form. Regardless of company size, procurement is a person-to-person effort, a reality that will either be embraced and lead to innovative, mutually beneficial relationships, or cap the potential experienced on the buy and sell sides. In this episode of the #Love...

As business changes, procurement must change with it. There are many voices that want to weigh in on how change happens, what it looks like, and where it is led from. Making sure those voices are heard, and that their message resonates in C-suites around the world, is an ongoing effort being supported by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS). In this episode of the #LovePr...

Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, but even though data is a critical input to AI, automation, and analytics, it remains a secondary (or tertiary…) priority for most procurement organizations. If they want to realize the full potential impact of cutting-edge tech, that prioritization is going to have to change. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Josep...

Making a change at the highest level of leadership a company has - the CEO - means that it is possible for unexpected consequences to follow. In the case of Ivalua, and the passing of the reins from David Khuat-Duy (who is now the company's Founder, Chairman & Chief AI Officer) to a new CEO, the transition has been smooth and seamless. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Philip Id...

Change is a given in life and in business. The nature and scope of each type of change, as well as how the people affected by it respond, determines whether it is an obstacle to growth or an opportunity. The most obvious example of this playing out today is the embrace (or avoidance) of AI. Some people are diving in head first while others wait to be forced, and the early ROI is starting to create...

All procurement journeys have to start somewhere, but the approach taken can lead each one in a different direction. While legacy companies often have plenty of resources, they also have well-worn ways of doing things that can be hard to change - unless, of course, the team leading the transformation has a clear vision for the future and takes an open mind on how to reach it. In this episode of th...

In most organizations, no one person knows everything there is to know about AI. That means everything related to its selection, implementation, use, and impact has to be managed in a team setting. This creates an opportunity for procurement to keep the business focused on their core objectives, and to properly and thoroughly evaluate every new piece of technology. In this episode of the #LoveProc...

For an in-person event to be a powerful gathering, the content and structure must reflect and support the needs of the attendee community. For procurement, this means actionable advice, connecting locally and globally, and keeping up with all of the changes they will have to face once the event is over. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Alex Saric to the s...

Q4 is always an interesting time of year - like standing between two worlds. On the one hand, everyone is pressing forward, trying to hit or exceed current year targets. On the other hand, it is very hard not to let your imagination wander ahead to the brand new year getting closer by the day.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Vishal Patel welcomes Ari Stone, Ivalua's Global SV...

If you are not prepared to deal with the unexpected and continually challenge yourself, then maybe procurement is not the right place for you to work. But… if you thrive on opportunity and adventure, there is no better part of the business to work in.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Jan-Hendrik Sohn to the show. Jan-Hendrik is Ivalua's Vice President of...

There has been no shortage of news headlines related to aerospace and defense in recent years, whether that is world events driving demand or news coming out of manufacturers themselves. This industry is used to dealing with risk, but it seems like the stakes - and procurement's role in finding a way forward - have never been higher. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Paul Zammit...

Italy is currently going through a time of accelerated change as companies embrace a second wave of procurement digitization. Now that the basics are in place, a large number of mid-market companies are building on their accomplishments by leaning into source to pay, supplier visibility, sustainability, and data capture. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes A...

Although many professionals have the opportunity to work with global colleagues, striking the right balance between international business management and local or regional culture and connections takes some additional effort. Fortunately, that is easily achievable when procurement and sales teams recognize what they have in common and what they can learn from each other. In this episode of the #Lo...

There are any number of news stories today that affect manufacturers, including global trade, regulations, and supply chain disruptions. At the same time, manufacturing is not a monolithic industry. Each segment has its own priorities and challenges - not to mention opportunities to take a leading position. Smart companies don't just plan or prepare for constant change - they optimize for it. In t...

AI is progressing and changing at a rate unlike anything we've seen before - and with this pace can easily come confusion. When are claims about AI as good as they sound, and when are they just well-placed smoke and mirrors? Procurement must be able to tell the difference, both for their own platforms and for the other technology spending they support on behalf of the company. In this episode of t...

When this episode's featured guest first stepped into his current role, he made a point of meeting with all of the different business units and support functions. He found that many of procurement's most transactional processes were almost entirely manual. Rather than seeing this as a problem, it was seized as an opportunity to improve efficiency and the company's supplier experience at the same t...