Welcome to the Graphite Connect Blog. Check in for frequent articles and podcast episodes that will help your team operate at the highest possible level.
Leverage preferred suppliers to improve efficiency and better manage spend.
It’s a scenario every procurement leader knows well: the proverbial 2 a.m. call from the CFO. The message is urgent: the quarter is bad, and the business needs savings, now. In that moment, procurement stands at a crossroads. Do you […]
Supplier onboarding sets the tone for your entire procurement operation. The right procurement tool transforms a traditionally slow, paper-heavy task into a streamlined digital experience. Your choice of platform can be the difference between weeks of back-and-forth emails and automated […]
Vendor relationships carry more weight than ever now. You need more than contact lists and spreadsheets to manage third-party risks, monitor compliance, and maintain supplier performance. A vendor management system (VMS) gives you the structure, automation, and shared visibility to […]
With nutraceutical procurement, sourcing ingredients is only the beginning. You must also be concerned about speed, compliance, cost control, and adapting to customer expectations in real time. The goal is to manage risk, monitor quality, and deliver value in an […]
While third-party vendors can be a huge asset to your business or organization, they also bring serious risks. If a vendor drops the ball on security or compliance, you’re the one who takes the hit. That’s why the Digital Operational […]
Learn how to identify the various stages of procurement maturity and how to grow your team’s impact to the next level.
You’ve spent weeks crafting the perfect RFP, but is the process itself fair? When a supplier invests hundreds of hours into a bid, there is a fundamental expectation of respect and transparency. Too often, however, unclear rules, biased requirements, and […]
Why the path to truly clean supplier data demands more than merging duplicates—and what to do instead. The Illusion of the Golden Record In the world of procurement and supplier management, few concepts are as appealing—and as misleading—as the idea […]
Compare the best supplier onboarding software for telecom companies, including features, integrations, compliance tools, and supplier management capabilities.
Learn what bank account verification is, how it works, and why procurement teams use bank account verification tools to prevent vendor payment fraud and validate supplier banking data.
Compare the top bank account verification services for preventing vendor fraud, validating supplier banking details, and securing ACH payments.
Learn how long bank verification takes during supplier onboarding, what causes delays, and how automated bank verification services help reduce fraud and accelerate approvals.
Learn what CEO fraud is, how executive impersonation scams work, common warning signs, real-world examples, and CEO fraud prevention strategies for procurement and AP teams.
Learn how wire transfer fraud targets procurement teams, common fraud schemes, prevention strategies, supplier verification best practices, and steps to reduce payment fraud risk.
Most supplier management RFPs ask the wrong questions. This guide gives you 67 specific questions — drawn from real enterprise RFPs — designed to surface the differences that actually matter.
Procurement in consumer goods is rarely simple. Brands manage large supplier networks, fast-moving SKUs, and constant demand shifts, all while protecting margins.
Learn how leading CPG brands use a supplier portal for consumer goods to drive innovation, sustainability, and supply chain speed.
Conrad and Omid Ghamami discuss why procurement's fatal flaw is buying "goods and services" instead of "business outcomes". Omid explains excess costs stem from poor end-user demand articulation, not weak negotiation. To deliver value, professionals must stop acting as policy police, become trusted advisors , and quietly solve problems without asking permission.
Conrad interviews Tealbook founder Stephany Lapierre about procurement data quality. She explains how messy vendor master data costs companies millions in endless manual cleanup. Stephany warns that generic AI cannot magically fix bad data—it just gives confident wrong answers. She advises leaders to pare big visions into actionable steps.
Conrad interviews Certificial CEO Peter Teresi on innovation and problem-solving. Peter notes true innovation requires moving past simple efficiency to transformative, foundational solutions. He advises leaders to carve out time for creative thinking, hire carefully, and execute their ideas without second-guessing.
In Ep 50, Conrad, Zach, and Natasha detail practical steps to build a procurement operating model. They argue leaders must first map the enterprise's structure and goals (the "skeleton") before focusing on spend or org charts. They also share personal use cases of AI agents automating admin tasks like org charts and calendars , urging teams to repurpose freed FTEs for strategic value.
This episode of Proc n Roll features Natasha and Zachary interviewing Jason Busch on AI's impact on procurement. Jason divides AI into copilots, agentic systems, and AI employees. He advises leaders to build AI digital twins instead of relying on legacy SaaS. Jason warns AI will soon replace knowledge work, advising kids to pursue manual trades like electricians.
Conrad, Zachary, and guest Tomas Wiemer explore the procurement operating model of the future. With AI agents automating tasks like RFPs and TCO models, the focus shifts from rigid processes to fast outcomes. They discuss how procurement roles will evolve into AI supervisors and why leaders must adopt an abundance mindset to architect this new era of tech-driven sourcing.
The hosts explore OpenClaw AI agents. Kasey shows how non-technical users can build agents like "Gavin" to automate contract compliance. The team predicts these AI tools will replace expensive procurement tech stacks. They urge professionals to start experimenting today.
Conrad and Shunit Kainy discuss the power of procurement communities. Shunit explains how she built an IT procurement network in Israel to combat professional isolation. They explore overcoming introversion, the generosity of peer knowledge sharing, and why procurement must step up to lead. Finally, they note that human imagination is the biggest barrier to AI adoption.
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.
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