“To increase confidence within the C-suite, procurement must show it can work within the business to address internal risks and create value. Procurement teams need to meet their internal stakeholders where they are and break down the barriers that prevent them from achieving the best outcomes for the business.”

The global procurement landscape is rapidly evolving to better align with the strategic vision and mission of the organization. Business leaders value the impact that procurement teams can have in their organizations, and they’re especially pleased with procurement’s ability to tackle external risk. However, confidence wanes when they consider procurement’s ability to collaborate internally.

At SAP Sapphire 2023, Philip Ideson had the opportunity to speak with Baber Farooq, Senior Vice President and Head of Market Strategy for SAP Procurement Solutions. They discussed the findings of a new research study by Economist Impact: Decoding Confidence in the Procurement Function. The study surveyed 500 executives, including CFOs, COOs, CPOs, CSCOs, and CHROs in early 2023 and the resulting report explores how these executives perceive procurement’s performance today and how it needs to evolve for the future.

During the conversation they discussed:

• Key priorities and challenges facing the procurement function today and tomorrow, and what is needed to optimize results
• How senior leaders view procurement’s role in the enterprise
• Ways procurement can prepare to meet challenges and trends such as supply chain disruption, rising costs, growing macroeconomic uncertainty, and increasing ESG expectations