Who is responsible for the success of procurement's digital AI transformation?

Analysts, Providers, and Practitioners - Which group should take the lead and responsibility for procurement's digital AI transformation success?

“Gartner states that 85% of AI projects fail due to unclear objectives and obscure R&D project management processes. Also, 87% of R&D projects never get to the production phase, while 70% of clients indicated minimal or even no impact from AI. Nov 6, 2023” – Neurons LabShould analyst performance be assessed by the successful implementations of the providers they list in their Dynamic Analyst…

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DraftKings for procurement: A fly-on-the-wall update

Are you ready for the first Dynamic Analyst Solution Map?

This past Saturday, I wrote the post Why we need a DraftKings for the procurement world. As with any post, I never seek consensus, only meaningful dialogue that satisfies one of my main objectives being “I would rather get it right than be right!” To that end, I am going to share the following excerpt from just one of the many comments within a growing discussion stream on LinkedIn. Chris…

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A visual illustration of vendor rationalization

when does vendor rationalization make sense in 2024?

You go to two different grocery stores – Store A and Store B. Which product do you buy? Store A Store B Beyond price, which one of the two provides the best value? Now, how would you respond if you were told that you could only buy from Store B because they are a preferred store? Vendor Irrationalization Before answering that question, read the following excerpt from an April 2009 paper,…

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Why we need a DraftKings for the procurement world

With what should we replace solution provider maps?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Today’s post is inspired by an energized discussion on LinkedIn prompted by a post by Michael Lamoureaux. Join in using the following link. Michael Lamoureux, you make excellent points. We are not even talking about the companies that are not on the radar screens but have been out there for 20 to 30 years and have a solid and loyal client base. Let’s take ESG providers (see image…

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When it comes to BI and AI, A should always follow B!

How do conflicting KPIs undermine AI Business Intelligence initiatives?

Earlier today, I attended a LinkedIn Event hosted by Evalueserve. I came across it by accident, but I am glad that I did. Titled “Revolutionize Your BI: Digital Transformation Stories from the Real World,” the panel included Whirlpool’s Gowri Namboodiri, Caterpillar‘s Ben Newman, and Coyote Logistics‘ Director, Supply Chain Engineering & Analytics Jay Zaleski. The moderator was Evaluserve’s Vice…

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As a procurement professional, what do these three graphs tell you?

Can you solve the chocolate mystery?

EDITOR’S NOTE: According to some reports hashtag#cocoa output is likely to shrink by 11% this season and contribute to the 40% increase in costs per kilogram seen by some manufacturers. – David Bateman, Mintec LinkedIn Post Do you like chocolate? Perhaps a better question would be, “Who doesn’t like chocolate?” As a chocolate lover and consumer, when I read the above post, I had a few…

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What do AI, a Model T, and a Bugatti have in common?

Which of these three apples represents AI?

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following post was originally published on the Scoutbee Blog on April 15th, 2024. At first glance, you might think today’s question is somewhat whimsical, and perhaps it is a little. However, an undeniable, underlying connecting thread runs through the title. Regardless of each car’s year, model, and technology, they are only useful with an experienced driver. The lack of an…

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From Material Management Director in the U.S. Army to Senior Vice President - Global Indirect Sourcing at Mondelēz

Do you have any good "Buyer to C-Suite" stories to share?

Last week, I shared the post Buyer to C-Suite Story of the Month: Meet Harris Teeter‘s Xavier Hare. In that same post, I talked about Frito-Lay and PepsiCo CEO Steven Williams, who also began his career as a buyer – https://bit.ly/49z6M7b My original plan was to post monthly on similar “buyer to C-Suite” paths. The thinking was that seeking out these examples of success would indicate the…

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It seems that not everyone is enthusiastic about AI

What do AI and grizzly bears have in common?

Before watching this short 11-second video, answer this question: What do AI and grizzly bears have in common? @nathanmacintosh We were doing fine without it! Am I crazy here? Full special ‘Down With Tech’ out now on youtube #comedy #tech #jokes #funny #ai ♬ original sound – Nathan Macintosh If you have 6:39 to spare, here is the link to the entire comedy bit: Nathan Macintosh Stand-Up: Tech…

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What is "Supply Chain Orchestration?"

On April 23rd, Vineet Khanna, the former Global Head of Supply Chain at Nestlé, will share his roadmap to Supply Chain Orchestration Success. In the meantime, these are my thoughts; please share yours. Here is an excerpt from a post I wrote in 2007 about Supply Chain Orchestration – back then, we referred to it as agent-based modelling within a dynamic Metaprise – https://bit.ly/3Q2fLpQ “In…

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TealBook’s Stephany Lapierre’s BIG News

What's old is new again - and why it is definitely something to which you should pay very close attention.

This week, I received an email from TealBook regarding “the first iteration of their Supplier Data Platform (SDP), helping customers enrich and improve their supplier data across all of their systems and tools.” Here is what they sent. What are your top takeaways from reading this? By the way, I share my thoughts at the end and hope you will share yours in the comment section. Hello…

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Buyer to C-Suite Story of the Month: Meet Harris Teeter's Xavier Hare

What is the best way to go from buyer to C-Suite?

EDITOR’S NOTE: It is always encouraging and exciting to see procurement professionals’ success in finding their path to the C-Suite. These trailblazers remind us of what is possible and available in terms of opportunities and impact. Here is the brief story about Harris Teeter’s Xavier Hare, who started out in the company as a part-time cashier and became the Director of Procurement and, in 2023,…

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Procurement, AI, and Two Critical Questions

How do you build a bridge between Traditional AI and Generative AI?

I just sat in on the Spend Matter webinar Navigating the Future: Meet AI in Procurement. Right off the bat, it was a very well-run 60-minute webinar that provided succinct insights on various elements of AI and its impact on Procurement. Having attended two different webinars in the past 48 hours, I can clearly see a difference between how a provider presents AI and the analyst approach. While…

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What are the top 3 causes of shipping errors and how can AI eliminate them?

It’s Sunday morning. The sun is shining, and the snow from this past week’s snowstorm has melted into a beautiful spring day. With a hot cup of coffee – that first sip is always the best, and the faint sound in the background of the Commodores singing “Easy like Sunday morning,” a lighthearted look at our industry seems appropriate. How would AI prevent the “shipping” issues like the one that…

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How would you answer the question: how do I apply AI in procurement?

The above question is nothing unique except for one thing—it is the perfect example of the power of peer-to-peer social engagement and interaction. It is also the perfect example of how solution providers should pause and listen to become a part of the practitioner dialogue versus trying to control it by pumping out “look at us” information or touting the features, functions, and benefits of…

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Ryan Meonske, well done. Greg Tennyson nails it!

What is Harry S. Truman's advice on digital transformation success?

EDITOR’S NOTE: In response to my post yesterday regarding Databricks and ZIP, Greg Tennyson’s response summed up perfectly the underlying message of that post when he simply wrote: “Ryan Meonske well done.” In today’s post, I will tell you why Greg’s words were on the mark. “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets credit.” – Harry S. Truman Exactly right, Greg…

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Why did Databricks choose ZIP - no, really, why?

Databricks and ZIP - Why?

Those who have been following me on this blog for some time know that I am not overly impressed with “come on in the waters great” press releases announcing new customer wins. Nor does a panoply of awards and endorsements, on their own, sway me one way or another. Besides reports of greenwashing and now the Wall Street Journal’s recent article on the emergence of “AI washing,” the reality is…

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