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Welcome to the Graphite Connect Blog. Check in for frequent articles that will help your team operate at the highest possible level.

Will Agentic AI Kill Orchestration Suites?

Will Agentic AI Kill Orchestration Suites?

Podcast

In this episode, the team discusses how AI agents are transforming procurement from a "gatekeeper" of processes into a strategic enterprise "conductor". They argue for a shift from siloed goals to enterprise KPIs like revenue and margin. The focus must be on outcomes rather than bureaucratic ego , using technology to automate operations while humans handle critical, high-level decision-making.

Beyond Logic: Why Relationships are the Real Procurement Engine

Beyond Logic: Why Relationships are the Real Procurement Engine

Podcast

The team explores Stakeholder Management through the lens of Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Zach argues that "people's feelings really matter" and emotional safety must precede logic. Natasha advocates for a 90-day "listening tour" and using a Stakeholder Map to prioritize relationships. They conclude that procurement succeeds by being an enabler, not a gatekeeper.

"Don't Worry, We Got It" (The $25 Million Mistake)

"Don't Worry, We Got It" (The $25 Million Mistake)

Podcast

The hosts revisit the 2026 "Enterprise Mindset" prediction. Natasha warns against "hobby buyers" who just "end up" in procurement, while Zach fears "compliance bots" lacking business context. They explore the "Power of And" (savings + value) and the CPO’s fiduciary duty to know exactly where every $25M goes.

Is Your SRM Program Just Useless Theater?

Is Your SRM Program Just Useless Theater?

Podcast

The hosts discuss why SRM hasn't evolved in 20 years and debate the Amazon-UPS split. Natasha argues QBRs are "useless theater" without buy-in, while Conrad advises starting small. They explore how "Data Gods" help non-technical leaders win.

Why Layoffs Are Like “Open Heart Surgery” (And Other Hard Truths from a Global CHRO)

Why Layoffs Are Like “Open Heart Surgery” (And Other Hard Truths from a Global CHRO)

Podcast

We often talk about talent in generic terms: “We need to hire the best.” We often talk about layoffs in financial terms: “We need to cut costs.” But what if we are looking at both completely wrong? In this week’s special “Jam Session” episode of Proc & Roll, hosts Natasha Gurevich and Zachary Bachir welcomed their inaugural CHRO guest, Lucien Alziari. With a resume that includes leadership roles at Prudential, Maersk, Avon, and PepsiCo, Lucien brought a masterclass in organizational discipline that bridges the gap between HR and Procurement.

Supplier Insurance Fraud: The Procurement Blind Spot Costing Companies Millions

Supplier Insurance Fraud: The Procurement Blind Spot Costing Companies Millions

Blog

Modern procurement teams track supplier insurance compliance diligently. They collect certificates of insurance, track expirations, and check if insurance is compliant with their requirements. Most teams fail at determining one critical issue: whether the insurance certificate in your supplier’s file is actually real.

“My Data Sucks”: The Hard Reality Check Most Procurement Teams Need Right Now

“My Data Sucks”: The Hard Reality Check Most Procurement Teams Need Right Now

Podcast

Everyone wants to talk about AI. But when it comes to the “unsexy” work of fixing the data that feeds it, the room suddenly gets very quiet. In this week’s episode of Proc & Roll, hosts Conrad Smith, Zachary Bachir, […]

“You’re Only as Good as Your Last Failure” : Former Meta S2P Leader Talks Credibility

“You’re Only as Good as Your Last Failure” : Former Meta S2P Leader Talks Credibility

Podcast

Stop Speaking “Procurement”: Lessons from the Former Head of Source-to-Pay at Meta Why do stakeholders roll their eyes when you walk into the room? According to Ted Baumuller, former Global Leader of Source-to-Pay at Meta, it’s probably because you are […]

Building a Hardware Industry Procurement Strategy That Balances Cost and Speed

Building a Hardware Industry Procurement Strategy That Balances Cost and Speed

Podcast

Hardware procurement is all about striking a balance between cost and efficiency. Components need to arrive on time to keep production flowing, but without a solid hardware industry procurement strategy, you risk: These days, most industries move fast. When your […]

AI vs. The Experts: Who Actually Predicted the Future of Procurement?

AI vs. The Experts: Who Actually Predicted the Future of Procurement?

Podcast

2026 Predictions: Will Procurement Teams Shrink? It’s that time of year! On the latest episode of Proc & Roll, hosts Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zachary Bachir fired up the crystal ball to look ahead at 2026. But before looking […]

I Love Proc ‘n’ Roll: The First Anniversary Special

I Love Proc ‘n’ Roll: The First Anniversary Special

Podcast

Happy 1st Birthday to Proc & Roll! 🎂🎸 Can you believe it has been a whole year? In this special anniversary episode, hosts Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zach Bachir put aside the interview scripts to reminisce on the journey […]

The Industrial Mindset: How to Engineer Better Indirect Procurement

The Industrial Mindset: How to Engineer Better Indirect Procurement

Podcast

“We basically jumped off the cliff and collected the plane as we were falling down.” That is how Arnaud De Brux, Head of Indirect Procurement at BIC, describes one of the most defining projects of his career. It wasn’t a […]

Start Me Up: MVK’s Guide to “Start Small, Fail Fast” with AI

Start Me Up: MVK’s Guide to “Start Small, Fail Fast” with AI

Podcast

The procurement technology market has exploded. What used to be a landscape dominated by two or three major players 15 years ago is now a crowded field of thousands of solutions, ranging from massive end-to-end suites to niche AI point […]

Mastering the Third-Party Risk Management Lifecycle in 2026

Mastering the Third-Party Risk Management Lifecycle in 2026

Blog

Your business now runs on a web of vendors, partners, cloud services, and contractors. That reach creates leverage, but it also expands your attack surface and operational exposure. Many risk leaders already rank third-party risk among the top five threats […]

Top Benefits of Using Automated Procurement Systems for Supplier Management

Top Benefits of Using Automated Procurement Systems for Supplier Management

Blog

Manual supplier management worked when your vendor list was short and your risk surface was small. Today, teams juggle global suppliers, compliance evidence, contract renewals, and cross-functional reviews, while trying to hit launch dates and stay audit-ready. The result? Email […]

Retail Procurement Strategy for Faster Onboarding

Retail Procurement Strategy for Faster Onboarding

Blog

Retail moves fast. Promotions shift weekly, seasons overlap, and a single product delay can ripple across stores, ecommerce, and marketplaces. In that environment, supplier onboarding is either a competitive advantage or an anchor. A modern digital retail procurement strategy treats […]

Energy Procurement Strategy: A Practical Playbook

Energy Procurement Strategy: A Practical Playbook

Blog

Volatile energy costs are affecting everyone, including retail, manufacturing, higher education, and healthcare. Budgets shift, forecasts bend, and sustainability targets create extra forks in the road. In plain terms, energy procurement is the discipline of buying electricity and/or natural gas […]

Better, Faster, Stronger: The Power of Agentic Workflows

Better, Faster, Stronger: The Power of Agentic Workflows

Podcast

Can you build a fully functional AI procurement agent without writing a single line of code? In this special “Show and Tell” episode of Proc & Roll, host Zachary Bachir proves it’s possible. He rolls up his sleeves to demonstrate […]

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