JAGGAER addresses priorities for CPOs at a series of industry roundtables in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Artificial Intelligence and ESG highlighted as the most important considerations for Chief Procurement Officers

Gartner survey revealed that strategic sourcing and leveraging money are the most significant challenges for CPOs in 2024

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,(Press Release) 11 June, 2024: JAGGAER, the global leader in strategic sourcing and procurement, has held a series of roundtables in Saudi Arabia and the UAE to address the top priorities for Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs). The events brought together key industry leaders to discuss the strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of procurement and supply chain management.

During the roundtables, which took place in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, several focus areas were discussed including artificial intelligence (AI), cost optimisation, supplier risk mitigation, procurement talent and environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, with AI and ESG emerging as the most important considerations for the industry at present.

Hany Mosbeh, Senior Vice President – Middle East and Africa, JAGGAER said: “At JAGGAER we remain committed to empowering CPOs with innovative source-to-pay technology, enabling them to navigate complexities, unlock efficiencies and achieve sustainable growth. Our roundtables have underscored the top priorities for CPOs with ESG emerging as a particularly significant trend.”

JAGGAER software plays a pivotal role in integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into procurement strategies, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon footprints, conserve resources, promote sustainable practices, eliminate forced or child labour from supply chains, and prevent fraud.

This integration underscores the critical role of ESG factors in assessing and mitigating risks across the supply chain. It also highlights how ESG strategies can help organisations achieve long-term business benefits by effectively engaging with all stakeholders, including not only suppliers but, increasingly, consumers who expect companies to pursue ethical business practices.

According to recent research from JAGGAER, procurement professionals see many benefits of implementing generative AI technology. They include streamlining source-to-contract processes by providing quick access to valuable insights, simplifying product demand analysis, and automating bid evaluations while reducing administrative burdens. In addition, AI enhances supplier management, risk assessment, and negotiation processes, serving as a central communication hub to streamline procurement workflows.

Research conducted in the USA by Gartner in 2023 outlined the top three priorities for CPOs and other procurement leaders in 2024. According to the survey, ‘Strategic sourcing and leveraging spend’ was the most important consideration, with 56% of respondents pinpointing this as their number one priority. ‘Procurement talent and skill development’ and ‘Identifying and Mitigating Supplier Risk’ ranked as the second and third focus areas, respectively.

The research also highlighted several challenges, including persistent inflation and increased cost pressures, which make it more challenging for CPOs to achieve cost savings.

Survey respondents also pointed out that higher contract renewal prices contribute to this challenge. According to the survey, only 14% of CPOs believe they have the necessary talent to meet the function’s future performance requirements, indicating a gap between the required skills and the available talent.