"We are seeing a labor-for-technology swap as organizations become much more dependent and scalable, and what's driving that scale and that productivity is technology." – Christopher Sawchuk, Principal and Global Procurement Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group

Procurement is no stranger to change. Over the last decade or more, procurement has seen significant shifts in priorities, in their role in the business, in how they are measured, and even in their daily processes and workflows. This change has brought countless new opportunities for impact, but it has also brought disruption, uncertainty, and challenges.

In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with long-time procurement colleague and regular AOP guest Christopher Sawchuck, Principal and Global Procurement Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group.

Chris shares key findings from The Hackett Group's 2025 Key Issues Report, which reveals how procurement leaders are responding to today's most pressing challenges, like balancing increased workloads with lean teams and a growing demand for technology investment.

In this episode, Phil and Chris discuss:

The evolution of procurement in the 21st Century, from basic supply assurance to cost management and now to broader value value creation and the demands this puts on CPOs to redesign their operating models
The critical gap between increasing workload and decrease in staffing and how procurement is leveraging technology to keep their heads above water
The ways AI and automation will transform procurement within the next 3-5 years, driving both efficiency and effectiveness gains

Links:

788: The Hackett Group's 2025 Key Issues Study: Insights on Procurement Priorities, Technology, and Operating Models

Art of Procurement

788: The Hackett Group's 2025 Key Issues Study: Insights on Procurement Priorities, Technology, and Operating Models