AI Purchase Order Confirmation: Report and Recommendation We invest millions in ERPs, but run our supply chains on Outlook and Excel. EDI handles our strategic partners. Portals suffer from low adoption. As a result, the messy reality of Purchase Order confirmations, date changes, and exceptions defaults right back to email. Despite having best-of-breed software systems (ERP, MRP, planning tools), most manufacturers hit the same wall when it comes to the messy reality of communicating and collaborating with suppliers. A new report from Glacis puts a hard number on what this actually costs us. 👉Their data shows buyers spend 60-70% of their time just managing confirmations. For a $1.5B manufacturer, that translates to 30 FTEs and millions tied up in safety stock and expedites just to manage the delay. 👉Read the report here (safe link): https://docsend.com/v/6snj8/a_ja ✅ I had the chance to review the Glacies solution. They frame it perfectly: AI as the „Anti-Portal.“ Instead of begging suppliers to log into yet another system, their AI agent works with the existing tools: a company’s inbox. It extracts data from emails and attachments, validates it, and updates the ERP in real time. The brilliance is that it requires zero change from the supplier. Portals failed because they demanded adoption. I highly recommend reading the report if you are a procurement leader looking to drive real operational efficiency. Thanks and Kudos to Philipp Gutheim and the Glacis team.

ℹ️HANDELSBLATT CPO-SUMMIT 2026ℹ️ Der etablierte, von Einkaufsleitern und auch mir sehr geschätzte 3. Handelsblatt CPO-Summit für Einkaufs- und Procurement-Führungskräfte findet statt am: 📅 27.4 und 28.4.2026 in Düsseldorf Vom DAX-Konzern zum Mittelstand schauen wir branchenübergreifend auf die Themen, die den Einkauf bewegen. Sachlich, konstruktiv und kritisch. Insbesondere in Zeiten geopolitischer Umbrüche stehen Einkauf und CPO im Zentrum und müssen mehr denn je als strategischer Zukunftsgestalter agieren. Inhalte ✅Wie können Einkaufsstrategien widerstandsfähig und zukunftsorientiert gestaltet werden? ✅Wie wird AI zum Gamechanger für Einkaufsorganisationen? ✅Brücken bauen: Einkauf im Schulterschluss mit Vertrieb, Produktion, Entwicklung und Finance ✅Welche Rolle spielt der CPO als Treiber für Innovation und Transformation? ✅Wie gelingt der Spagat zwischen Nachhaltigkeit und Wirtschaftlichkeit? Das erwartet Sie ✔️Treffen Sie die Einkaufsentscheiderinnen und -entscheider großer und mittelständischer Unternehmen aller Branche in einem exklusiven Rahmen. ✔️ Internationale Einblicke durch Live-Schaltungen zu Handelsblatt-Korrespondentinnen und -Korrespondenten. ✔️Austausch auf Augenhöhe – tauschen Sie sich in vertraulichem Rahmen aus. ✔️ Erleben Sie mit vielen Best Practices, Powertalks, Panel-Diskussionen, Impuls-Vorträgen und unterschiedlichen Networking-Möglichkeiten Interessiert? Anmeldungen noch möglich! Über mich können Sie vergünstigt teilnehmen und 15% sparen. Einfach bei der Anmeldung den Vorteilscode 77D2502057 eingeben. https://live.handelsblatt.com/event/handelsblatt-cpo-summit/?utm_medium=ko&utm_source=77&utm_campaign=P1201199

📖“Successful CPOs TWO: Stories of Powerful Procurement Officers reaching for the Top“. 1️⃣At the end of 2024, I shared my experiences and perspectives on leadership in Procurement. „Successful CPOs; Stories of Powerful CPOs“ is a compelling compilation that draws on the rich experiences and insightful wisdom of over 35 global Procurement Leaders 2️⃣“Successful CPOs II“ is out now, and it’s another engaging collection of innovative articles that leverage the experiences and insights of over 30 Procurement Leaders. The book addresses a diverse array of both contemporary and timeless topics, such as leadership, sustainability, digitalization, design, competitive pricing, quality assurance, financial planning, team building, and much more. My contribution – the role of the CPO ✅The role of the CPO is fundamentally changing. The CPO of the future is no longer just a functional leader focused on sourcing and cost optimization. The role is a corporate strategist, co-creating enterprise strategy and shaping long-term value creation. However, in any case, one must earn the role through performance, innovation, courage, and value contribution. Not just demanding and complaining, and whining ✅Today’s CPO operates at the Board level, connecting market dynamics, innovation, resilience, sustainability, and digital transformation with corporate ambition. With more than half of corporate spend flowing into supply ecosystems, Procurement has a decisive influence on growth, risk exposure, ESG impact, and competitive differentiation. ✅ Future-oriented CPOs orchestrate innovation ecosystems, strengthen enterprise resilience through agile supply networks, and embed responsible growth into the core of corporate strategy. They leverage digital capabilities, AI, and data-driven governance to enable faster, smarter decisions across the organization. ✅This evolution requires Boards to rethink the role of Procurement to step beyond their traditional boundaries. It is an ambitious shift, but in an increasingly volatile and competitive global environment, it is not optional. The CPO is no longer executing the strategy. The CPO is co-creating the future. A rethinking of the role is therefore more than necessary. An excellent read for anyone aspiring a career in Procurement, as well as (Supervisory) Board members who are (re-) considering the positioning of their Procurement organization.Happy reading and discussing. Contact me for further discussions.