Blog

Stop Begging for a "Seat at the Table" (This Fortune 500 CPO Says It's Fake)

40-year procurement veteran John Dickson explains why the function is at a critical inflection point. He argues against begging for a "seat at the table," urging leaders to earn credibility by deeply understanding business needs. John shares strategies for aligning with finance on value metrics, using category strategies to build stakeholder trust, and why CPOs must actively learn AI.

Building Digital Twins: How AI is Reshaping the Procurement Workforce

In this episode of Proc N Roll, Conrad, Natasha, and Zach debate AI's workforce role, from automated assistants to "digital twins" handling volume. They also explore structuring procurement operating models using various archetypes and service layers. Their golden rule: leaders must align their operating model with broader enterprise goals before ever starting to build the actual org chart.

What Are We Trying to Achieve? The Shift to Outcome-Based Procurement

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.

The True Cost of Dirty Data in Procurement

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.

How to Write a Supplier Management RFP That Actually Reveals the Best Platform

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.

Top Procurement Software for Consumer Goods Brands

Procurement in consumer goods is rarely simple. Brands manage large supplier networks, fast-moving SKUs, and constant demand shifts, all while protecting margins.

How Consumer Goods Companies Use Supplier Portals for Collaboration

Learn how leading CPG brands use a supplier portal for consumer goods to drive innovation, sustainability, and supply chain speed.

2026 Guide: Best Supplier Validation Software for Consumer Goods Compliance

Discover the best supplier validation software for consumer goods companies. Compare tools that verify suppliers, manage compliance, and reduce supply chain risk.

CRO vs. CMO vs. CDMO: A Procurement Guide for Life Sciences Teams

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.

GxP Vendor Management: How to Build an Audit-Ready Procurement Process

Learn how to build an audit-ready procurement process for GxP environments. This playbook covers vendor onboarding, risk assessment, and continuous compliance.

21 CFR Part 11 for Procurement Teams: What to Require From Vendors

In the pharmaceutical industry, procurement is no longer just about cost savings and supply chain resilience; it is about regulatory gatekeeping.

Use of AI in Procurement: AI Readiness Needs to Match AI Usage

Learn how AI is being used in procurement and why AI readiness matters. Discover how data quality and standardized workflows can determine AI success.

Procurement Maturity: Why Does it Have to be Speed vs. Security?

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?

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 to Connect ChatGPT or Claude to Live Supplier Data via MCP

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).

Can AI Agents Access Supplier and Vendor Data Securely?

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.‍

How Do I Use AI to Search My Suppliers?

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.

The Big 50: Practical Steps to Building the Procurement Model of the Future

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.

Make vs Buy: Navigating AI Tool Development in Procurement

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.

The Death of Procurement Middle Management (And How to Survive AI)

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 16-Hour OpenClaw Obsession: Why You Need to Start Today

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.

Escaping Procurement Island: Building a Global Community

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.

Will Agentic AI Kill Orchestration Suites?

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

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)

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?

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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