The Procurement Show

We celebrated a huge milestone last week – The Procurement Show #podcast recorded its 50th episode! 🎧🎂 In true podcast style, we marked the occasion with a big cake, plenty of champagne 🥂 and giant balloons (our '0' balloon decided to break free and fly away so we could only celebrate '5' episodes for a while, until we ran out to get another🤣) The marketing team were also in the studio with us and made a special cameo on the episode. A huge shoutout to the talented team at Fresh Air Studios Ltd for always delivering top-notch production! 👏 We can’t wait to see where our podcast journey takes us next. Paul Philpott Martin Burgess-Moon Sydney Jenkin Melanie Babbage. #2024podcast #procurementpodcast #procurement

When it comes to improving the cocoa industry, Tony's Chocolonely knows that it is crucial to create trust with cocoa farmers. 🌍 In an industry where audits are often feared as a path to punishment, Tony’s Chocolonely takes a different approach. They show up not to criticize or condemn, but to collaborate and solve problems. They have found that eliminating the fear of repercussions opens the door to honest conversations and genuine partnerships with cocoa farmers. 💡 As Pascal Baltussen, Chief of Impact and Operations at Tony’s Chocolonely, explains, “If we find something that’s not okay, we don’t punish. We embrace it and work together towards a solution.” This mindset shift has enabled them to build lasting, trust-based relationships in their supply chain and work toward lasting change. Want to learn more about how Tony’s Chocolonely navigates these challenges? Listen to the full episode with Pascal here: https://lnkd.in/grqACuM. #Sustainablechocolate #ethicalcocoa #fairtrade #sustainableprocurement #purchasing

We had a fun-filled day yesterday filming with Fresh Air Studios Ltd. We had lots to celebrate, including: 🎙️ Recording our 50th episode 🚀 Four years since we launched 🎧 Spotify wrapped 2024 announcement Watch the video below to hear all about it! Jonathan O'Brien Paul Philpott. #2024podcast #spotifywrapped #procurementpodcast #procurement

This month's episode is for the chocolate lovers (and the changemakers)! 🍫 For years, the cocoa industry has been linked to exploitation and unethical practices. Many people are likely unaware of its dark side! For example: 💠 More than 1.5 million children in cocoa-growing households are involved in child labour. 💠30,000 people are victims of forced labour. 💠60,000 hectares of tropical forest have been cleared for cocoa production in the last five years. But thankfully, there are companies out there flipping the script. Enter Tony’s Chocolonely, the brand making chocolate not just tasty but radically ethical. This month on The #Procurement Show, we sat down with Pascal Baltussen, Chief of Impact and Operations at Tony's Chocolonely. In the episode, we discuss: 🍫 What Tony’s Chocolonely does differently. 🍫 Why others in the industry aren’t following their lead (yet). 🍫 Whether co-host Paul Philpott ate all the chocolate in the studio… This episode will make you think differently about every bar of chocolate you buy. 🎙️ Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eY-ffBh. #Sustainablechocolate #ethicalcocoa #fairtrade #sustainableprocurement #purchasing

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re planning some exciting updates for The Procurement Show #podcast! We plan on bringing more fun (as always), a dash of mischief, and of course, the latest procurement insights from industry leaders. If you’re a keen listener, you’ll know we love a bit of a laugh, with the odd procurement-related pun thrown in. As we plan to refresh the podcast for 2025, we want to hear from YOU! 🗳️ Vote in our poll and let us know your top reason for tuning in to The Procurement Show… after all, it’s our listeners that make this podcast worth doing!). 💡If you love it all, let us know in the comments! 1️⃣ The polished production (we like to keep things smooth!) 2️⃣ The lively tone (Paul Philpott and Jonathan O'Brien’s cheeky chemistry?) 3️⃣ The quality of our special guests 4️⃣ The fun features and creative segments throughout such as 'Ask Jonathan’ Want to highlight something not on the list? Just drop a comment below… Paul and Jonathan might just read it out loud on the show. 🙂 Your feedback will help us shape the future of the podcast. With our 50th episode just around the corner, expect more insights, more laughs, and definitely a few surprises! Thanks for being part of our journey! #Procurementpodcast #TheProcurementShow #poll #podcastcommunity

💡 AI is a powerful tool that still needs a human touch. In this month’s episode of The Procurement show, we’re joined by Luká Yancopoulos, CEO of Grapevine Medical Supply & Procurement, to discuss how #AI is reshaping healthcare #supplychains. But with a critical reminder: #AI isn’t a magic wand. It’s a tool and its’ true potential is unlocked when guided by human logic and strategy. In the episode, Luká shares how Grapevine started as a small idea in his bedroom during the pandemic and has grown into a game-changer for healthcare supply chains. Over $60 billion in annual losses are caused by inefficiencies like fragmentation, manual processes, and rising costs, but Grapevine tackles these issues head-on. By leveraging AI and data, Grapevine ensures providers avoid supply delays, inflated costs, and operational silos - empowering the healthcare industry to deliver timely, quality care. 🎧 Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about innovation, resilience, and the human-AI connection in the US healthcare system: https://lnkd.in/grqACuM. #data #datainsupplychain #digitalprocurement #spend

What if you could turn frustration into innovation? That’s exactly what Luká Yancopoulos did from his home in Pennsylvania during lockdown. 💡 After seeing his parents struggle with healthcare #supplychain breakdowns that impacted patients and frontline workers, Luká founded Grapevine Medical Supply & Procurement - a company on a mission to transform how the world tackles medical supply challenges. Using tech and #data, Grapevine is reimagining solutions to prevent future shortages and improve resilience in critical supply chains. 🎧 Don’t miss this inspiring story on our latest episode! Discover how Grapevine is making a difference and the power of data-driven innovation: https://lnkd.in/grqACuM. #data #datainsupplychain #digitalprocurement #spend

Exciting sneak preview of our new studio set-up! 📹

This month's episode explores why procurement technology often fails and the psychology behind successfully implementing it! 💡 Our guest, Matt Palackdharry, CEO of Kinetic Talents and Advisor to Apty, shares some insightful examples, like when Facebook rolled out its new interface. Despite adding more functionality, users initially resisted the change, which also happened with Snapchat! People resist new interfaces, even if they offer better features, simply because they're accustomed to the old way of doing things. Does this sound familiar? The same applies to procurement tech. Organizations must recognize the learning curve and invest in making the transition smooth for users. Want to learn more about overcoming these challenges in your procurement transformation journey? 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/grqACuM. #procurementtechnology #digitaltransformation #softwareimplementation #procurementinnovation #procurementtraining

🚨 What are the biggest challenges currently in procurement? During this month’s episode of The Procurement Show #podcast, our CEO Jonathan O'Brien poses a critical question to the attendees at DPW: What are the biggest challenges procurement is currently facing? The discussions revealed several key themes, but here are the standout challenges: 1. How do we implement digitization? As businesses embrace technologies like #AI, #machinelearning, and automation, they are still grappling with how to implement these tools effectively. It’s not just about adopting technology; it’s about ensuring these tools integrate with existing systems and add value to human-led decision-making. The ultimate goal is not automation for the sake of it, but creating smarter workflows that empower teams to become more strategic and agile. 2. Aligning the procurement function with the wider business strategy Another key challenge identified was aligning procurement with the wider business strategy. Too often, procurement is seen as an isolated function, working in silos. However, as we evolve, procurement must gain the confidence to strategically drive broader business outcomes. 3. Aligning data across the procurement function Data is one of procurement's most powerful assets, yet many businesses are still struggling to make sense of it. Aligning data across the procurement function is critical to gaining actionable insights and making informed decisions. However, valuable information can remain siloed without a centralized, integrated data strategy, preventing organizations from achieving true procurement excellence. You can hear from lots of people that Jonathan met at DPW in the full episode, but most prominently he talks to Michelle Baker, CPO of Virgin Money about a wide range of procurement topics, with a key focus on technology and AI. Listen to it here: https://lnkd.in/grqACuM. #procurementtechnology #digitaltransformation #softwareimplementation #procurementinnovation #procurementtraining