Every product a company ships depends on thousands of tiny decisions happening deep inside the supply chain. But most organizations are still making those decisions using stale spreadsheets, fragmented systems, and guesswork.

In this episode, we explore how AI-driven procurement intelligence is changing the game – moving teams from reactive firefighting to proactive supply chain planning.

Our guest today is Shardul Shah, cofounder of VeritosAI. He breaks down the hidden risks inside modern supply networks, why so many companies still lack real-time component and supplier visibility, and how better data can prevent shortages, backorders, and costly redesigns before they happen.

We discuss:

• Why most organizations still rely on Excel for procurement decisions
• The real reason supply chain disruptions keep catching teams off guard
• How AI and real-time data can alert teams to risks ahead of time
• The growing need for operational visibility across engineering, finance, and sourcing
• How procurement becomes a strategic advantage, not just a cost center

If you’re responsible for building products, managing vendors, scaling hardware, or supporting manufacturing operations, this conversation will change how you think about supply chain intelligence and the future of procurement.

Key Moments:

• 0:00 Who Shardul Is & Why This Matters
• 2:10 The Problem That Sparked VeritosAI
• 6:06 Why Procurement Visibility Is Broken
• 15:55 How VeritosAI Works (High-Level Overview)
• 19:40 Why Supply Chain Is So Hard to Manage
• 22:30 Identifying Alternative Parts & Replacements
• 26:43 Real Example: The Power of Component Visibility
• 29:00 The Role of AI in Modern Procurement
• 35:15 The Current State of Procurement (And Its Challenges)
• 38:50 The Biggest Skill Gap in Procurement: Understanding Cost
• 46:00 The Disconnect Between Engineering & Procurement
• 50:40 The Future: AI-Powered Procurement Command Centers

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