Smart Business Buying Podcast

How do government and nonprofit organizations tackle procurement and resource management challenges in the face of limited resources and strict compliance requirements? Hear from professionals at the City of North Miami Beach, Chickasaw Nation, and Vinfen Corporation as they share insights on navigating compliance, educating stakeholders, addressing food insecurity, and building scalable systems....

Ever wondered how organizations handle the urgent need to support people during global crises? This episode features Laura Shojaei from International Rescue Committee (IRC), who reveals how effective emergency procurement goes beyond everyday buying: requiring agility, strategy, and smart use of solutions like Amazon Business. Discover key takeaways on building supply chain resilience and supporti...

How can a procurement relationship evolve into something more? Michael Niehoff (Fresno Unified School District) and Doug Hassett (Amazon Business) reflect on how their collaboration sparked the creation of the Amazon Future Leaders Program. What started as a practical need evolved into a program that gives students hands-on logistics experience, builds critical soft skills, and opens doors to new...

What role do data-driven insights play in transforming procurement? Amy Hooker from Shaw Industries Group and Rajiv Bhatnagar from Amazon Business explore how leveraging analytics reduces inefficiencies, enhances compliance, and drives strategic decision-making across organizations. To learn more about Business Analytics, visit: https://business.amazon.com/en/solutions/spend-insights/business-anal...

What are the hidden costs of manual reconciliation? Kevin Permenter from IDC and Lak Palani from Amazon Business share insights from IDC research and explore how automation boosts productivity and transforms financial operations. For the full research, visit: https://business.amazon.com/en/campaigns/idc-reconciliation-infobrief. To learn more about solutions for fast, accurate reconciliation, visi...

How can procurement drive efficiency and economic impact? Today, Intuit takes us inside their procurement transformation story with Chief Procurement Officer Emma Chontos and Director of Procurement Kelly Mathis. From developing Swift – a simple, AI-powered entry point into procurement that routes requests, connects people to the right solutions, and helps them move with speed and clarity – to sup...

How can over 100 years of history meet cutting-edge innovation? Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington is showing the way. In this episode, Libby Johnson McKee, CEO and President of Evergreen Goodwill, shares how her team is redefining the circular economy through forward-thinking logistics, local recycling partnerships, and innovative reuse strategies. Learn how Evergreen Goodwill keeps 89 mi...

How can transit systems modernize their purchasing process to better serve their community? The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, also known as AC Transit, is the largest public bus-only system in California, the 3rd largest bus-only transit agency in the United States and currently serves 1.5 million East Bay Area residents. AC Transit’s mission is to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainabili...

How can procurement create more value for public agencies and their communities? In this episode, discover how Multnomah County's collaboration with Amazon Business evolved from emergency purchasing to supporting vital community programs through grant funding and strategic buying. Shawn Postera from Multnomah County shares insights on managing large-scale projects while creating value that aligns...

How is AI changing procurement? Pierre Mitchell from Spend Matters shares insights from the recent AI Leadership Guide and explores real-world examples of AI adoption across procurement. Tune in to learn practical steps for teams starting their AI journey and what’s next for leaders in this space. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast to stay up to date. For th...

How do hospitals and clinics work with suppliers to keep care running smoothly? When delivering exceptional patient care, reliable operations are essential. Dr. Michael Ash from Nebraska Medicine shares how their health system manages daily operations across multiple facilities while advancing medical care and research. In this episode, we’ll explore how they approach supplier partnerships, resour...

How have customers and Amazon Business helped shape each other's growth over the years? In our season two premiere, Ray Hsu from the University of Washington, one of our earliest customers, reflects on their decade-long journey with Amazon Business. Explore how this collaboration has evolved over the years, improving campus efficiency and maximizing resources. Plus, hear from Todd Heimes of Amazon...

Welcome to the second season of the Smart Business Buying Podcast. Host Brit Moorer and new co-host Kelly Rogers expand on last season's foundation with deeper insights into today's purchasing landscape. Join us bi-weekly as we connect with industry leaders, procurement experts, and peers to deliver fresh perspectives and explore tools and tips for smarter purchasing. Whether you're buying for wor...

Are your suppliers helping you stay on mission? In our first season finale, Greg Muller shares how UC San Diego sparks innovation and cultivates strong supplier partnerships to support the university’s vision and community. Tune in to hear about their strategic approach and how they’re also using technology to simplify processes. If you enjoyed this insightful discussion, follow the Smart Business...

What if having full visibility into spending data can help your organization save tens of thousands of dollars? In this fourth episode of the season, Barb Lowman from CUNA Strategic Services explores economic trends and purchasing challenges within the financial services industry. Discover how credit unions empower their branches with smarter purchasing by using data-driven insights and strategic...

How can universities maximize their resources? In this third episode of the season, Jamon Hill shares how the University of North Texas System looks beyond cost savings to create long-term value through cooperative procurement. Learn how they're collaborating with other institutions to make more impactful purchasing decisions. If you enjoyed this great discussion, follow the Smart Business Buying...

What does it take to successfully expand a company's purchasing footprint globally? In this second episode of the season, Katherine Vaillancourt shares how Samuel, Son & Co., Limited — a leading metals and industrial products manufacturer, processor, and distributor — successfully expanded its purchasing operations across North America. Katherine highlights the key drivers and strategies that...

What skills will define the future of procurement? Host Brit Moorer sits down with Vaibhav Sahgal (Economist Impact) and Oloyede Olumide (Amazon Business) to discuss findings from the recent Economist Impact "Procurement skills for the future" report. This first episode of the season covers how priorities in procurement are shifting, the impact of technology adoption, and the challenges organizati...

Amazon Business introduces the Smart Business Buying Podcast, a new podcast series designed for purchasing professionals. From trends to solutions and stories, Amazon Business will bring insights from industry experts and leaders to help you make better decisions when buying for work. New episodes air weekly. Follow to stay up to date.