Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE New York 2024: Day Two Recap

June 11, 2024

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Sponsored by ProcessUnity, the Supply Chain Risk & Resilience Panel

Day Two of Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE New York featured a number of engaging discussions relating to AI, risk management and supply chain innovation

This year's edition of Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE New York, staged on 5-6 June, was an enriching virtual event for procurement and supply chain leaders in the US and Canada.

After a successful opening day, the event continued with an agenda packed full of engaging and informative sessions.

Participants enjoyed insights from top industry experts on AI, sustainability, Scope 3, digital transformation, logistics, risk and resilience, strategic sourcing and supplier diversity.

Exploring the landscape and managing risks

Among numerous insightful discussions on Day Two was the Procurement & Supply Chain Transformation Panel, sponsored by Lytica, which explored the dynamic landscape of procurement and supply chain management in the digital era.

Executives from Alberta Health Services, the University System of New Hampshire, Lytica and Aon discussed leveraging technology, enhancing efficiency and fostering innovation for transformative changes.

Meanwhile, the Supply Chain Risk & Resilience Panel, sponsored by ProcessUnity, included:

Wayne Bell, Head of Procurement & Contract Management at Royal British Legion
Kinga Buda, Head of Procurement at Wasabi
Matthew Everett, Senior Vice President, Global Procurement at Regeneron

This panel shared strategies and best practices for mitigating risks, enhancing resilience and driving transformation in supply chain operations.

Each panellist emphasised the necessity of a thorough and proactive approach to risk management across supply chains. This involves identifying potential risks, assessing their impact and developing mitigation strategies to ensure continuity and resilience.

They also highlighted the need to leverage advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to predict and manage risks. These technologies provide real-time insights and predictive analytics, aiding in more informed decision-making and risk mitigation.

For attendees, these sessions offered invaluable insight into the creation of sustainable and agile supply chains in a rapidly-changing business landscape.

Mike Schanker's keynote addressed the current confidence crisis in supply chain management,

Conquering today's confidence crisis

Day Two had opened with a keynote from Mike Schanker, EVP of Strategy at Coupa, who spoke on ‘Conquering Today's Confidence Crisis: Using AI to Manage Through Uncertainty and Change.’

Schanker highlighted the confidence crisis in supply chain management caused by rapid changes like inflation, economic disruptions and geopolitical challenges. These factors increase complexity and pressure on professionals, leading to margin erosion.

Schanker stressed the need for comprehensive action across supply chain, procurement and finance functions to bridge the gap between optimal operating models and current practices. By breaking down silos and leveraging collective intelligence, organisations can better navigate changes and improve margins.

Expert sessions and panels

Following Schanker's presentation, attendees heard from several other leaders, including:

Patricia Mendoza Rodriguez, Vice President of Procurement at Reynolds American
Ed Thomas, Senior Vice President at ProcessUnity
Marco Braga, Chief Procurement Officer and Global Inbound Logistics Director at VALE
Thiago Braga, Senior Programme Officer at Alberta Health Services
Joshua Dubroff, Chief Procurement Officer at the University System of New Hampshire
Ken Bradley, Chief Strategy Officer at Lytica