Agentic AI is rapidly moving beyond the narrow, task-specific agent model to become a single, dynamic capability that can specialize on the fly rather than requiring a new agent for every new problem.

In order to take advantage of this new agentic framework, procurement will need to consider "governed autonomy," human accountability, data privacy, and the role expertise will play in making agentic operating models smarter over time.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Paul Zammit to the show. Paul is a Senior Product Marketing Manager for AI and Platform at Ivalua, which includes the newly announced IVA and IVA Studio, the agentic operating model for procurement.

Paul explains the process of creating and using IVA:

• How IVA and IVA Studio are different from other procuretech approaches to leveraging agentic AI?
• IVA's ability to 'understand' the context of the user (role, permissions, business unit, and responsibility) and factors that into the work it does?
• How IVA works in environments where data lives across multiple systems
• Ensuring IVA meets enterprise safety and information security requirements to balance autonomy with accountability in an enterprise setting

Links:

Paul Zammit on LinkedIn

Introducing IVA Powered by IVA Studio: The Agentic Operating System for Procurement

The World Cup is more than the biggest sporting event in the world. It is also a rare global experience that brings together nations, cultures, and millions of fans around a shared passion. Beyond the action on the pitch, the tournament is a fascinating case study in logistics, commercialization, technology, and the economics of modern sport.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Vishal Patel welcomes Philip Ideson back to the show. Both are well-known for their love of football (or soccer, depending on your location) and take this opportunity to elaborate on one of their other great 'loves' - beyond procurement, of course.

Philip and Vishal discuss this year's World Cup from multiple perspectives:

• Why the World Cup fan experience is unlike any other sporting event
• The business behind football, from ticket pricing and sponsorships to commercial strategy and the growth of the game
• Whether technology has improved or diminished the sport.
• Surprising parallels between football and procurement, including teamwork, governance, logistics, and designing systems that guide behavior without getting in the way

Links:

Philip Ideson on LinkedIn

Vishal Patel on LinkedIn

As AI capabilities are added to an increasing number of SaaS platforms, procurement must ensure that their evaluation frameworks match solution strengths to enterprise priorities and also separate real progress from marketing spin.

It is the evidence of impact and effectiveness, not talk or hype about it, that should drive decision-making about technology.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Sandra Göttlinger and Max-Leonhard Böttrich to the show. Sandra is a Senior Manager and Co-Lead in Digital Procurement at Deloitte, and Max is a Senior Consultant on the same team.

Sandra and Max share their perspectives on:

• How AI impact is being assessed in source-to-contract provider evaluation and selection processes
• The most important dimensions or criteria to include in provider evaluation frameworks
• Ways procurement can evaluate AI capabilities fairly across providers, avoiding being misled by self-assessments or marketing claims
• ROI measurement, AI maturity, and where companies should focus next

Links:

Sandra Göttlinger on LinkedIn

Max-Leonhard Böttrich on LinkedIn

Sourcing & Procurement | Deloitte Deutschland

Deloitte_Selecting-Source-to-Contract-AI-Vendors.pdf

AI ROI: The paradox of rising investment and elusive returns

As this episode's guest explains it, AI is the jet engine, and supplier data is the jet fuel for procurement organizations looking to make the most of their supplier ecosystem. Performance aircraft will struggle to operate with substandard fuel in it, even if it is available in large supply.

In practice, this means that taking a grounded, thorough approach to supplier data may be the best way for procurement to deliver measurable returns from investments in AI.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Jarrod McAdoo back to the show. Jarrod is Director of Product Marketing at Ivalua, and was one of the first guests to appear on #LoveProcurement in season one.

In this episode, Jarrod returns to talk about the data and process considerations associated with having a successful supplier data management program:

• Why it is important for procurement to decide what a "supplier" actually is (e.g. parent company, site, business unit) and to communicate that to the business
• Ways procurement can bolster their supplier data without sending those suppliers an unnecessary number of requests
• Why procurement should see supplier data quality as a cross-functional project rather than a procurement clean-up exercise

Links: Jarrod McAdoo on LinkedIn

Direct materials sourcing sits at the center of operational performance, profitability, and supply chain resilience. Because even a single disruption can create ripple effects across both production and revenue, companies increasingly view direct materials sourcing not as a transactional activity, but as a cross-functional discipline that requires deep collaboration, strong data visibility, disciplined supplier management, and ongoing transformation enabled by technology and process improvement.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Douglas Keeley, Ivalua's Director of Product Marketing, to the show. With more than two decades of relevant experience he offers a practical, supply-chain-first perspective to the evolving role of procurement in manufacturing and product development.

Douglas and Kelly discuss the unique complexities and meaningful opportunities associated with transformed direct material sourcing:

• Why direct materials sourcing has become a strategic priority amid supply chain disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, and increasing pressure for resilience.
• How leading organizations are improving collaboration between procurement, engineering, supply chain, finance, and their supply base to support better product launches and sourcing decisions.
• The critical role that data, supplier visibility, and technology-enabled transformation play in managing risk, controlling costs, and strengthening supply chain performance.

Links: Douglas Keeley on LinkedIn

Procurement professionals find their way into the field from many different directions and in many different ways, so it is not unusual to meet 'accidental' procurement converts. At the same time, very few people end up in procurement because they participated in an implementation that was so impactful and transformative that they wanted to keep repeating the experience.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Vishal Patel welcomes Jose Bustillo to the show. Jose has held executive roles at companies like KPMG, BVLGARI, and LVMH, and is a digital transformation and change management advisor. He was won over to procurement through an Ivalua transformation several roles ago.

Jose shares his journey into procurement, and talks about his perspective on the current state and future potential of the profession.

As he points out:

• People (and not technology) ultimately determine whether transformation succeeds
• AI is a powerful enabler, but it doesn't replace the human element
• Most implementation failures come down to avoidable mistakes

Links: Jose Bustillo on LinkedIn

AI doesn't have to be flashy to be transformative. In fact, some of its biggest wins come from tackling the most repetitive, time-consuming work procurement faces every day.

The challenge for procurement is working with the tension between hype and reality, exploring how to thoughtfully experiment with AI, discover where it delivers real value, and recognize why (and when) human judgment still matters more than ever.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Alastair McDermott to the show. Alastair is the host of the Fewer Late Nights, Not Fewer Humans podcast. He is also an AI consultant, speaker, and trainer at HumanSpark.ai.

Alastair answers the following questions about the impact (and absorption) of AI:

• What's the gap between the hype and the reality in terms of how organizations are using AI today?
• Is there a risk that "boring" AI will be deprioritized in favor of flashier but less impactful use cases?
• What does a successful AI rollout look like, and how should we think about the role it can hold in our workflows?

Links: Alastair McDermott on LinkedIn

What does it take to build a meaningful procurement career while also navigating major life transitions and evolving priorities?

Most people are working in personal and professional comfort zones. While they provide much needed stability, they may also be holding us back. To escape this, we have to balance goals and support systems with a healthy attitude towards new opportunities and exploring the unknown.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Michaela Lippke to the show. Michaela is the Senior Director Regional Management and Process Management Indirect Procurement and Early Phase at Volkswagen.

• Michaela shares what she has learned on her journey to balance personal and professional opportunities:
• Growth is unlikely to happen inside a comfort zone
• Knowing what you want and communicating it clearly is critical to getting the right support and opportunities
• Mentors, managers, and peers can all play different roles, as can a wider network that complements their advice
• Success depends on setting clear priorities and focusing on what matters most, even as that changes

Links: Michaela Lippke on LinkedIn

Tail spend usually consists of low-value, highly fragmented transactions, but its impact on procurement's performance is anything but small. Hidden within it are opportunities to improve visibility and streamline processes, as well as unlock untapped value and shine a light on risk.

Understanding and addressing tail spend can transform it from a persistent challenge into a strategic advantage.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Arnaud Malardé back to the show. Fresh off of a wildly popular session at Ivalua NOW in Paris focused on - what else? - tail spend, Arnaud shares what new approaches and mindsets are being applied to this common and ongoing spend management challenge.

Arnaud talks about the causes of and cures for tail spend:

• Why tail spend continues to challenge procurement teams despite increasing maturity, digital advancement, and spend oversight
• How limited visibility and fragmented data make it difficult to identify and manage tail spend effectively
• Where the biggest opportunities lie to turn tail spend into a source of value and improved procurement performance

Links: Arnaud Malardé on LinkedIn

Procurement is gaining unprecedented momentum across the Middle East. Driven by large government-led "mega projects" and rapid digital transformation, procurement is becoming a central driver of economic development and private sector modernization. This shift is influencing talent, technology adoption, and the growing expectations placed on businesses and suppliers throughout the region.

In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Sara Omer to the show. Sara is Ivalua's Sales Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, and she has seen firsthand a sharp uptick in procurement influence and excitement.

Sara describes the vision and resulting transformation being seen across the Middle East:

• The effect all of this procurement-centered energy and attention is having on talent
• How small to medium-sized businesses are being supported and "incubated" so they are prepared to innovate at the rate desired by the government
• The role AI is playing in procurement and how willingly teams are adopting it

Links: Sara Omer on LinkedIn