The Future of Spend Management with Visa

In response to sustained geopolitical instability, procurement and supply chain strategies are undergoing a fundamental transformation. For years the focus was on efficiency and cost reduction, but recent global volatility has made resilience a priority.

Leaders are now prioritising supply chain strength, directing spend to align platforms and data to minimise risk. In this new landscape, business transparency and the capacity to adapt have become critical for survival.

Spend management is a vital discipline that optimises purchasing decisions to maximise value, reduce business costs and mitigate financial risk.

A key component of spend management is visibility. It allows organisations to confirm funds are being directed to credible suppliers, helping businesses understand their supply chains more deeply. This allows teams to devise new strategies to optimise spend and bolster resilience.

If you are interested in learning more on the future of finance & spend management, a panel will be held with leaders during the Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Middle East Summit, with free tickets available. 

Changing strategies for supply chain resilience

The procurement focus has broadened from profit alone to a blend of profit and resilience. To achieve this, more procurement teams are focusing on technology and sustainability solutions.

This can involve investing in small or local businesses to diversify the supply base and generate economic impact.

Other organisations are focusing on investing in suppliers with clear sustainability strategies, building a more secure and ethical supply chain for the future.

This evolution sees businesses moving with purpose, using their purchasing power not just for operational needs but to build stronger, more adaptable supply networks. Technology is a key enabler in this transition, providing the tools for greater visibility and control.

Strengthening supply chain payments with Visa

Visa has been active in helping procurement teams make smarter and faster financial decisions, working with partners to build "the next-generation of finance".

Visa has created solutions to help automate payments and reduce operational costs for industries like freight and logistics.

In a venture with Transcard, Visa developed a platform specifically for the freight and logistics industry. By automating payment processes, it helps to reduce manual effort and errors.

Another partnership with Paysend aims to deliver faster cross-border payments for businesses, a critical function for managing international supply chains. These solutions work to eliminate bottlenecks and increase operational transparency within spend.

Expert insight on procurement and finance alignment

Anna Konoplianikova, Head of the CEMEA Global Sourcing team at Visa, is an expert in procurement transformation. She leads procurement across high-value spend categories in Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with more than 20 years in procurement and finance.

At Visa, Anna works to accelerate innovation and compliant growth. A key part of her approach is championing risk-resilient sourcing, supplier partnerships and automation.

When looking ahead to the upcoming Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Middle-East Summit, Anna says: “I’m excited to talk about the Future of Finance and Spend Management because procurement’s power move is partnering with finance. When we align on shared data, KPIs and workflows, procurement proves value—turning savings, cash and risk insights into outcomes the business can see and trust. I’ll share practical plays to build that bridge and show impact fast.”

Anna’s experience has enabled her to lead teams to success. In a previous role as Group Head of Procurement & Finance at Chalhoub Group, her strategy enabled her team to earn the CIPS “Best Procurement Team” award in the MENA region.

Through her work at companies including Coca‑Cola Hellenic and Amazon, she has built high-performing teams and embedded data-driven decision making.

Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Middle East Summit

With a packed agenda and stand-out speakers, the Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Middle East Summit stands out for its breadth of coverage – CSCOs, CPOs and CSOs alike will all take something valuable away with them. 

Whether you are refining supplier networks, developing digital tools or embedding ESG priorities, the event offers direct, practical guidance.

Registration is open through the event agenda page, where attendees can also customise their experience. Plus, there’s no travel needed – just insight streamed straight to your screen.

Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Middle East Summit
Dates: 3–4 February 2026
Format: Virtual
Location: Online
Register for free: https://next.brella.io/join/SPSCDUBAI