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.
Conrad and Zach explore AI's rapid evolution in procurement. They highlight "vibe coding," proving anyone can build custom tools using plain English. Still, Zach stresses that clear human requirements and judgment are irreplaceable.
Learn what ACH fraud protection is, common ACH fraud red flags, dispute and recovery options, and how businesses can prevent fraudulent ACH transactions.
How long does an ACH wire transfer take? Learn ACH transfer times, how ACH compares with wire transfers, and which payment method is faster.
Discover the future of B2B payments and the top trends shaping procurement, including AI, automation, supplier verification, cross-border payments, and digital transformation.
Conrad, Zach, and Natasha debate AI's impact on executive decision-making. Natasha argues humans must remain the "master" to prevent intellectual laziness. Zach champions autonomous AI agents, believing human roles will naturally evolve to manage tech. Conrad warns against "autopilot" leadership, urging leaders to retain their intuition and accountability.
What is payment fraud? Learn how payment fraud works, common fraud schemes, warning signs, and the controls procurement leaders need to prevent fraudulent supplier payments.
Learn what vendor theft is, the most common vendor fraud schemes, warning signs, and how procurement teams can prevent supplier fraud with stronger verification processes.
Learn how to build an efficient supplier payment process with automation, stronger approval workflows, verified supplier data, and fraud prevention best practices.
Learn what a vendor payment system is, how the vendor payment process works, common challenges, key features, and how automation helps procurement teams improve payment accuracy and security.
Navigate the complexities of outsourcing in life sciences. Learn to differentiate between CRO, CMO, and CDMO models to optimize procurement, ensure GxP compliance, and build resilient supply chains.
Learn how to build an audit-ready procurement process for GxP environments. This playbook covers vendor onboarding, risk assessment, and continuous compliance.
In the pharmaceutical industry, procurement is no longer just about cost savings and supply chain resilience; it is about regulatory gatekeeping.
Learn how AI is being used in procurement and why AI readiness matters. Discover how data quality and standardized workflows can determine AI success.
Explore procurement maturity and learn why speed and security don't have to compete. See how mature procurement teams build processes that support both.
What is an MCP server for procurement? Discover how the Model Context Protocol enables "Bring Your Own Agent" (BYOA) strategies, vendor-neutral AI connectivity, and secure access to your validated supplier data.
How do I connect ChatGPT or Claude to supplier data? Follow our step-by-step guide to secure, real-time AI access to your procurement records using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Discover how AI agents can securely access and manage supplier data. Learn about AI-driven risk assessment, the AI Paradox, and how MCP (Model Context Protocol) ensures procurement security through Contextual Governance and HITL safeguards.
Learn how to use AI to search your suppliers using the Graphite Connect MCP Server. Discover the power of agentic procurement and "Bring Your Own Agent" to securely query validated supplier data with Claude, ChatGPT, and more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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