EVENT REVIEW
AI-powered spend management transforms procurement into a strategic advantage The keynote, by Coupa SVP Product Marketing and Chief Evangelist Tricia Miller, painted an interesting picture of how AI is transforming procurement at a time of unprecedented global disruption.
With supply chains under pressure, inflation straining margins and regulations shifting, she argued that traditional models can no longer cope.
Backed by US $ 8tn worth of community spend data from more than 3,100 customers, Tricia demonstrated how Coupa’ s AI agents are already driving measurable results – cutting costs by up to 7 %, slashing approval times, improving accuracy and turning procurement into a true strategic asset.
Tricia cautioned that, with 95 % of AI pilots failing, technology alone is not enough. Real success demands cultural change, cross-functional collaboration, continuous skills development and a willingness to embrace human-machine partnerships.
Building resilient supply chains through culture, strategy and adaptability Siemens ' Alexander Tschentscher challenged leaders to rethink supply chains not as static systems but as living cultures that must evolve to survive disruption.
Drawing on Siemens’ vast expertise, he argued that the future of supply chains will be shaped as much by regulation, sustainability and workforce transformation as by technology.
He emphasised the importance of resilience, adaptability and strategic thinking at every level, urging leaders to integrate collaboration, integrity and questioning into their daily practices.
Alexander warned that, without robust cultural foundations, even the best strategies falter, leaving organisations exposed to risk and delay.
He showed how Siemens is cultivating strategic thinking through initiatives like Logiversity and strategy bootcamps to strengthen resilience and accelerate transformation.
Those present gained an insider’ s view of how to design tomorrow’ s supply chains with purpose and adaptability.
46 October 2025