In this Zycus-hosted session, we will get procurement leaders to break the status quo and take bold steps that unlock real strategic value. Together, we’ll cut through complexity and focus on high-impact actions across digital innovation, ESG, talent, and risk — equipping ourselves with fresh ideas to lead procurement boldly and win in today’s fast-changing world.

Procurement leaders face rising costs, fragile supply chains, and growing ESG demands, all under tighter budgets. This workshop explores how forward-thinking teams are using technology, AI, and smarter supplier collaboration to build more resilient, agile, and data-driven procurement functions.  John Ferry will present Accenture’s experience in integrating AI into their procurement processes and contracting, highlighting the successes, the key challenges they faced and the opportunities that emerged.

This workshop will focus on: 

• Identifying contract bottlenecks and risk exposures 
• Mapping contract data to procurement KPIs 
• Managing multi-tier supplier risks and compliance across EMEA 
• AI in Procurement: Practical Wins and the Road Ahead 
• Operationalising Contracts with AI for Real-Time Obligation Management 

Whether you're navigating ESG mandates, supplier diversity goals, or global sourcing challenges, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to elevate your procurement function through leveraging your contract data and supply chain insights

Procurement teams are under pressure to move faster, cut risk, and prove impact, all while managing increasingly complex supplier ecosystems. Generic AI tools can’t solve these challenges, but procurement-focused AI agents—purpose-built for the real work teams do each day—can.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll dive into common pain points for procurement teams and the high impact AI agents use cases that solve for them. Learn the core principles of agents design and leave with practical insights on where agents can drive the greatest value in your workflows.

Procurement is entering a transformative era where agentic AI is reshaping strategies, redefining roles, and accelerating data-driven decision-making.

Join us for an interactive, roundtable-style workshop that will focus on collaborative discussion and vision-building, giving participants and expert facilitators a chance to share wisdom, benchmark approaches with peers, and the ability to register their interest for a trial of SAP Ariba’s Category Management, infused with AI.

In this session, we’ll explore:

• Operating Models – How will AI continue driving structural change and new ways of working?
• Skills, Roles & Talent Building – What are the capabilities and mindsets that will thrive in an AI-enabled procurement function?
• Use Cases: Efficiency vs. Effectiveness – how AI delivers value today, and how to balance speed with strategic outcomes?
• Risk, Security & Safe Experimentation – How to embed trust, robust data strategies, and governance into AI adoption?

Participants will be able to benchmark themselves for AI readiness, and participants will leave with practical ideas to apply immediately.

SAP intends to provide participants with the ability to register their interest for a trial of SAP Ariba’s Category Management, infused with AI,  allowing you to go through the practical steps to create a category strategy leveraging AI use cases within the tool, bringing the value of AI to life.

Timing is a strategic asset in today's unstable climate, not just a financial consideration. This interactive session examines how rethinking payment timing in procurement can unlock business value. Learn how faster liquidity can improve supplier relationships, why even "on-time" payments can have hidden costs, and what resources are available to transform your payment terms into a source of leverage, resilience, and long-term savings. This workshop presents a fresh perspective on capital, teamwork, and competitive advantage, supported by actual cases and useful frameworks. 

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how payment timing affects supplier performance, cost, and risk. 
• Spot hidden losses caused by slow but “on-time” payments. 
• Learn how tools like supply chain finance and early payment programs drive results - without sacrificing working capital. 
• See why new payment reforms are accelerating the need for better timing strategies. 
• Walk away with practical ways to turn payment terms into a competitive edge.