Procurement at IA Week 


SSON’s Intelligent Automation Week (IA Week) conference is your one-stop-shop for procurement content. We’ve compiled 3 days of the best speakers and sessions for you to share with other procurement professionals from the United States. Register today to join this growing community and find ways you can enhance overall business performance.



Why Attend?


Unlock the full potential of intelligent automation in procurement at Intelligent Automation Week, a pivotal conference tailored for professionals specializing in revolutionizing procurement practices. Dive into key themes such as workforce optimization, process automation, and holistic business evolution. In a business landscape reshaped by remote collaboration, the urgency to digitize procurement processes is paramount for unleashing innovation. This conference provides a dynamic agenda designed to address diverse procurement challenges, offering an unparalleled platform to explore, collaborate, and connect with industry visionaries. For those committed to unraveling the transformative potential of intelligent automation within procurement, Intelligent Automation Week stands as the definitive forum to foster creativity and stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape. Join us to shape the future of procurement through a focused lens on intelligent automation.


Key Topics and Themes


  • Optimizing Procurement Operations with Generative AI
  • Enhancing Automation Interoperability & Connectivity
  • Strategic Technology Alignment for Procurement
  • Cost Savings through Citizen Development Programs
  • Efficient Vendor Management Automation
  • Improving Supply Chain Management with Generative AI
  • Effective Collaboration for Successful Automation


Featured Sessions


Use Case: Utilizing Generative AI to Transform & Improve Procurement Operations

Technology C-Suite Panel Discussion: Aligning Your Digital Transformation Programs With the Technology C-Suites’ Strategic Vision

Use Case: Utilizing Generative AI to Enhance Supply Chain Management Efficiency

In this session, we'll dive into a real-world use case that demonstrates how generative AI was utilized within the procurement functional area and reshaped procurement operations, optimized efficiency, and improved strategic decision-making by provided highly valuable predictive insights to market trends and risks, enabling proactive procurement decisions. In this use case session, you will learn more about:

  • Optimized sourcing strategies by analyzing vast datasets to identify optimal suppliers, negotiating terms, and reducing costs
  • Built robust supply chains by identifying alternate sourcing options and mitigating disruptions
  • Enhanced vendor relationships by automating routine communications

To ensure a competitive edge, most organizations are in full throttle mode of planning or implementing a wide array of digital and business transformation initiatives, as well as developing their long-term strategic initiatives, across the business as well as on a functional level. In turn, technology C-Suites are under a lot of pressure to develop impactful technology and automation roadmaps, strategies, and performance measurements for their various teams, which are directly tied into the organization’s other functional C-Suite’s strategies and KPIs. That said, not only do automation and digital transformation executives need to know what technology C-Suite’s have planned for the organization and what their top priorities are, yet functional leaders also need to know, as automation and digital transformation programs are led by them as well. In this session, a variety of technology C-Suites will be asked the below questions:

  • What are your core objectives with respect to utilizing intelligent automation and generative AI
  • What areas of the business should we use our technology budgets towards
  • Which functional processes should we focus our automation and digital transformation efforts?
  • Which types of technologies are you heavily investing in, mid to long-term?

In this session, we'll dive into a real-world use case that demonstrates how an organization transformed their supply chain management operations through the strategic deployment of automation and generative AI technologies. This session will explore how embracing automation and generative AI can elevate supply chain operations, drive cost efficiencies, enhance agility, and improve overall customer satisfaction. In this use case session, you will learn more about:

  • How generative AI analyzed historical data and market trends to deliver highly accurate demand forecasts
  • Improved inventory management and reduced carrying costs
  • Streamlined supplier communications, order processing, and quality control - Improved logistics and delivery performance


    All Procurement Sessions


    • C-Suite Panel Discussion: Aligning Automation Initiatives With the C-Suites’ Digital & Business Transformation Strategic Vision

    To ensure a competitive edge, most organizations are in full throttle mode of planning or implementing a wide array of digital and business transformation initiatives, across the business as well as on a functional level. However, with technology advancing at record speed, C-Suites are finding they need to develop their long-term digital and business transformation strategic plans much earlier than its standard timeline. Better understanding their mid and long-term strategic objects and how they intend to accomplish them undoubtable effect current, near-term, and long-term automation and business transformation initiatives, on a program buy-in, investment, and support basis. That said, before moving forward with your own automation and business transformation projects, may they be at a silo or functional level, hear their thoughts on the subject so you can align your programs with theirs, and in turn focus your attention and budgets towards projects that are aligned with your organization’s mid and long-term objectives.


    In this session, a variety of functional C-Suites will be asked the below questions:

    - Which areas of the business have you found automation and generative AI have the potential to provide the greatest business outcomes?

    - Which automation and generative AI technologies do you feel are worth the short, mid, and long-term investment?

    - What are your core objectives with respect to utilizing intelligent automation and generative AI for your respective functional area?


    • Panel Discussion: Determining Which Processes to Automate & Could Offer the Greatest Business Impact

    Before any functional area process or processes can be automated, there are many steps that must be taken first and as a team collaboration between automation teams, the functional area in need of an automation roll-out, as well as many other parties, such as governance and oversight, IT, audit, and much more, so to ensure program feasibility prior to launch.


    In this session, topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:

    - Which areas of the business need to get involved, so to help identify which processes can or should not be automated

    - What needs to be identified, reviewed, and analyzed prior to an automation program roll-out

    - Effectively collaborating with various functional area leaders to determine if a potential automation program meets the required technical, infrastructure, workforce, audit, governance, and other business requirements

    - How to determine which processes would provide the greatest business outcomes and ROI


    • Interactive Discussion Group (IDG): Increasing Automation Interoperability & Connectivity

    - Implementing automation interoperability and connectivity in phases, starting with the most critical systems

    - Adopting open standards to help ensure different systems can communicate with each other properly

    - Optimizing middleware usage


    • Use Case: Utilizing Generative AI to Transform & Improve Procurement Operations

    In this session, we'll dive into a real-world use case that demonstrates how generative AI was utilized within the procurement functional area and reshaped procurement operations, optimized efficiency, and improved strategic decision-making by provided highly valuable predictive insights to market trends and risks, enabling proactive procurement decisions.


    In this use case session, you will learn more about:

    - Optimized sourcing strategies by analyzing vast datasets to identify optimal suppliers, negotiating terms, and reducing costs

    - Built robust supply chains by identifying alternate sourcing options and mitigating disruptions

    - Enhanced vendor relationships by automating routine communications


    • Technology C-Suite Panel Discussion: Aligning Your Digital Transformation Programs With the Technology C-Suites’ Strategic Vision

    To ensure a competitive edge, most organizations are in full throttle mode of planning or implementing a wide array of digital and business transformation initiatives, as well as developing their long-term strategic initiatives, across the business as well as on a functional level. In turn, technology C-Suites are under a lot of pressure to develop impactful technology and automation roadmaps, strategies, and performance measurements for their various teams, which are directly tied into the organization’s other functional C-Suite’s strategies and KPIs.

    That said, not only do automation and digital transformation executives need to know what technology C-Suite’s have planned for the organization and what their top priorities are, yet functional leaders also need to know, as automation and digital transformation programs are led by them as well.


    In this session, a variety of technology C-Suites will be asked the below questions:

    - What are your core objectives with respect to utilizing intelligent automation and generative AI?

    - What areas of the business should we use our technology budgets towards

    - Which functional processes should we focus our automation and digital transformation efforts?

    - Which types of technologies are you heavily investing in, mid to long-term?


    • Fireside Chat: Citizen Development Programs to Reduce Process Handling Costs

    Citizen Development programs have certainly bridged the automation talent shortage gap in recent years. Additionally, they have also offered many areas of the business increased process efficiency, and in turn, reduced process handling times. That said, if you’ve been tasks to reduce your functional area’s processing costs, looking to low code/no code Citizen Development programs might be a good option, or at least worth looking into.


    In this session, topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:

    - Determining which functional areas could benefit from Citizen Development programs, so to offer cost savings

    - Potential Citizen Development use cases

    - Processes that are NOT good candidates for Citizen Development programs – due to matters relating to risk, audit, governance, and compliance

    - Choosing the best fit low code/no code applications for a variety of Citizen Development programs

    - Governance and CoE involvement


    • Fireside Chat: Automation to Enhance Vendor Management Processes & Find Areas to Reduce Vendor Costs

    Vendor management is the process of overseeing and managing the relationships between an organization and its vendors. It can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, but automation can help to save money and improve efficiency. There are several ways automation can be used to save money on vendor management. By doing so, organizations can free up resources to focus on other areas, such as strategic planning and innovation. Overall, automation can be a valuable tool for organizations that are looking to save money on vendor management.


    In this session, topics of discussion will include, yet will not be limited to:

    - Automating such processes as sourcing and onboarding new vendors, which can save time on research, negotiations, and much more

    - Creating, negotiating, and managing contracts with vendors

    - Automated vendor invoicing processes and paying vendors, which can reduce errors, improve efficiency, and improve cash flow

    - Utilizing data analytics and visual dashboards to analyze vendor management processes, and in turn find areas for process improvement and potential discounts and savings


    • Use Case: Utilizing Generative AI to Enhance Supply Chain Management Efficiency

    In this session, we'll dive into a real-world use case that demonstrates how an organization transformed their supply chain management operations through the strategic deployment of automation and generative AI technologies. This session will explore how embracing automation and generative AI can elevate supply chain operations, drive cost efficiencies, enhance agility, and improve overall customer satisfaction.


    In this use case session, you will learn more about:

    - How generative AI analyzed historical data and market trends to deliver highly accurate demand forecasts

    - Improved inventory management and reduced carrying costs

    - Streamlined supplier communications, order processing, and quality control

    - Improved logistics and delivery performance



        Speaker Spotlight





        Additional Resources


        Optimize Procurement Processes and Add Business Value with IA

        Intelligent automation (IA) has emerged as a game-changing technology that can help streamline and optimize the procurement process, resulting in increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved supplier relationships. Download the article and discover five real-world examples which demonstrate the wide-ranging benefits of IA, from automating purchase requisitions to streamlining invoice processing.


        A Conversation With ChatGPT About Careers

        Exploring the evolving sentiments of U.S. workers on work and life, the report introduces a new survey question prompting respondents to define a career. Delving into historical perspectives with insights from ChatGPT, it traces the transformation of the term from its 1920s definition tied to traditional gender roles to today's emphasis on adaptability and work-life balance. The report sheds light on the human relations movement's role in laying the foundation for contemporary discussions on job satisfaction. Aligned with ChatGPT's historical context, the report underlines the modern view of careers as not just income but integral to personal identity and lifelong self-improvement. In a workforce where only half feel successful, the report's value lies in guiding organizations to align with the evolving expectations of their employees.


        Maximizing Cost Savings Through Intelligent Automation

        Intelligent Automation (IA) has become a game-changer for businesses looking to improve their operational efficiency and reduce costs. In this article, we'll delve into the potential cost savings that IA can generate across different enterprise functions such as finance, HR, procurement, and business operations.

        • IA automates manual and repetitive tasks, saving time and resources for businesses
        • With IA, businesses can allocate more resources to areas that provide greater value, leading to improved efficiency and reduced costs