Art of Procurement

"Procurement now gets to decide where to play, who does the work, and how much of that work is done by humans versus agents." - Viji Doraiswamy, VP Product Marketing, Coupa
Senior procurement leaders are under pressure to deliver much more than just savings. The next advantage lies in the intelligent orchestration of processes, where agentic AI not only automates intake, but enables teams to truly focus on value and strategy.
In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Viji Doraiswamy, VP of Product Marketing at Coupa. Drawing on hands-on experience with large-scale clients, Viji explains what's actually working with agentic AI, how companies are overcoming trust barriers, and why orchestration (not just digitization) holds the key to operating model transformation. She also shares specific use cases where teams are already realizing ROI and freeing up time for strategic work.
In addition to sharing proven tactics for building adoption, assessing risk, and unlocking the next level of procurement impact, Viji discusses:
How to separate intake from orchestration and why orchestration drives impact
How to shift your procurement operating model for greater control and delegation
Building confidence in agent-driven outcomes with explainability and phased rollouts
Where most companies start on the agentic AI journey and where they get the greatest ROI
Links:
Viji Doraiswamy on LinkedIn
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In a world defined by volatility, procurement leaders need more than gut instinct to navigate supply chain risks. From regulatory pressure to sudden trade disruptions, organizations can't afford blind spots. This is why risk intelligence and AI-powered efficiency are climbing the CPO agenda.
This week, Harald Nitschinger, co-founder and CEO of Prewave, joins the ProcureTech Insider podcast to discuss how their platform helps organizations move beyond basic supplier visibility to real-time, actionable risk insights. Built with both ESG compliance and resilience in mind, Prewave's approach helps procurement teams anticipate – not just react to – new threats and opportunities.
Harald shares how deep supply chain mapping, scenario planning, and seamless integration with procurement tools have set Prewave apart with over 250 global brands.
Listen to the full episode to hear Harald's insights on:
Uncovering ways to map and monitor risk across all supplier tiers in real time
How Prewave's approach balances compliance, sustainability, and operational resilience
How leading procurement teams are automating risk identification and avoiding survey overload
What's next for AI-driven supply chain intelligence and how CPOs can get ahead
Links:
Harald Nitschinger on LinkedIn
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Learn More About Prewave in AOP's Provider Directory

"In the AI regime, things are going to be disrupted. So be ready to be disrupted." - Dr. Swapnil Dubey
In a market as complex and fast-changing as India, procurement's role has transformed from tactical to strategic… and fast. As global manufacturers shift operations and Indian firms chase world-class performance, the need for advanced procurement leadership has never been greater.
In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, Philip Ideson speaks with veteran procurement leader Dr. Swapnil Dubey, whose four-decade career spans India's procurement evolution, from the early days of shared service centers to today's digital and AI-driven frontier. 
They discuss how Indian procurement teams are matching their global peers, why AI could upend white-collar work, and where new career opportunities are emerging for the next generation. Swapnil also explains how local strengths, regulatory shifts, and new tech are shaping India's overall procurement landscape.
Listen to the full episode to hear Swapnil's perspective on:
Why executives at every level are now championing procurement
The true drivers (and blockers) of digital transformation in Indian firms
How AI will reshape talent, roles, and upskilling
Diverse career journeys to today's CPO seat
Links:
Dr. Swapnil Dubey on LinkedIn
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"What you think of as the data isn't the right data." 
This observation from FineTune COO Brian Gamble shines an (uncomfortable) spotlight on one of procurement's biggest challenges: AI has the potential to completely transform the function (in a good way) and drive a significant amount of value for the business, but only if organizations first acknowledge how inadequate their current data actually is.
In the twenty-ninth episode of "Buy: The Way...To Purposeful Procurement," Philip Ideson, Rich Ham, and Kelly Barner reflect on recent conversations with procurement tech pioneer Jason Busch and category expert Brian Gamble. They explore the troubling reality that procurement's future with AI depends almost completely on having the right data, while most organizations don't even know what the right data looks like.
This conversation exposes the gap between what practitioners call "the data" and what actually constitutes useful information for decision-making. Invoice details, contracts housed in various systems, and perhaps some quarterly business review reports make up most of what the average procurement professional considers their data foundation. 
Suppliers have systematically reduced invoice transparency over the years, removing fields that enabled auditing, all under the guise of creating "easier to read" formats, and procurement is left to deal with the fallout. 
The episode also connects back to Buylaws 5 and 6, prioritizing comprehensive high-quality data and developing expense-specific systems of measurement, while simultaneously setting up the next conversation about how compensation models and hiring practices must evolve for procurement's uncertain future. 
Links:
Rich Ham on LinkedIn
Learn more at FineTuneUs.com

"Change is the only constant today. Disruption is happening more frequently, and procurement has to be ready for the unknown." - Jon Jensen, Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners
Procurement leaders are facing more disruption, pressure, and technology change than ever before. Resilience, agility, and the smart use of AI are now table stakes, but only a handful of teams are turning these shifts into real business advantage. 
How are the best-in-class CPOs getting ahead?
In this episode, Amit Mahajan and Jon Jensen, Partners at AlixPartners, reveal insights from the 2026 CPO Executive Insights Report. They share how top teams are shifting from a cost focus to value creation, why indirect procurement is becoming a growth engine, and what's really holding back AI adoption in procurement.
You'll also hear practical guidance on balancing quick AI wins with long-term ROI, and how leaders make disruption work for them instead of against them.
In this episode, Amit and Jon cover:
The core disruptions shaping CPO priorities in 2026
Approach AI adoption with practical use cases, not expectations for perfection
Engage suppliers and stakeholders with new strategies
Links:
2026 CPO Executive Insights Report
Amit Mahajan on LinkedIn
Jon Jensen on LinkedIn
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