EBG | Network welcomes Candex as a first-time exhibitor at CPO Outlook 2026. This tail spend management specialist brings a global solution to one of procurement’s most persistent operational challenges.
Tail spend remains a blind spot for many procurement organizations. The numbers from EBG | Network surveys tell a consistent story. Resource overload affects 62% of procurement teams. Data chaos troubles 60%. System fragmentation creates friction for nearly half. Much of this stems from managing thousands of small and one-time vendors that consume disproportionate time and attention.
Candex addresses this directly. The approach is straightforward. Large companies can make purchases from small and one-time vendors through an automated process – using existing P2P workflows and approved POs.
The Impact in Numbers
The math is worth noting. By directing only 5% of indirect spend through Candex, clients typically remove 70-80% of vendors from their vendor master. It reflects the reality that a small percentage of spend often drives a large percentage of supplier complexity.
The reporting consolidates all tail vendor information in one place. For procurement teams drowning in fragmented data across categories and systems – a challenge highlighted across EBG | Xperience and CPO Outlook surveys – this brings visibility where it often does not exist.
Why This Matters
Indirect procurement challenges consistently surface in EBG | Network discussions. Building high-impact indirect procurement teams. Creating visibility across fragmented categories. Moving from chaos to clarity without adding bureaucracy.
Tail spend sits at the intersection of these conversations. It is often left unmanaged not because organizations do not care – but because the operational cost of managing thousands of small vendors exceeds the value of controlling them through traditional methods.
Candex offers a different approach. Rather than onboarding each small vendor into your ERP and vendor master, purchases flow through Candex as a single consolidated supplier. The solution is available with local coverage in 45+ countries – relevant for Nordic organizations with global operations.
About Candex
Candex, co-founded by Jeremy Lappin (CEO) and Shani Vaza (Chief R&D Officer), is a tech-based master vendor that provides an easy, fast, and compliant way for large companies to make purchases from small and one-time vendors. All purchases through Candex are automated and under approved POs using an existing P2P process – often delivered as a punchout catalog. The impact of Candex’s technology is significant. By directing only 5% of indirect spend through Candex, clients are able to remove 70-80% of the vendors from their vendor master. The Candex reporting style consolidates all tail vendor information in one place, thereby bringing in transparency in the organization. This brings harmony, simplicity and consistency to a part of the supply chain that until yesterday was a major pain point and operational challenge. Candex is a leader in tail spend management and a truly global solution available with local coverage in 45+ countries.
Learn more via candex.com
What Sets EBG | Network Apart – and How to Engage
EBG | Network has enabled peer exchange since 2010. Over 15 years of summits – from Source 2 Pay Summit and Sourcing Outlook to today’s CPO Outlook – we have gathered procurement professionals to share what actually works. And what does not.
The format matters. Roundtables limit seats deliberately. Workshops prioritize discussion over presentation. Pre-summit surveys surface the real challenges organizations face – resource overload, data quality, supplier visibility – so conversations start from shared understanding.
Expert organizations like Candex join not to pitch – but to contribute. They bring perspectives from working with procurement teams globally. Participate in discussions. Share practical approaches tested across industries and geographies.
How to engage ahead of CPO Outlook:
- Sign up for updates at cpooutlook.com to receive news – registration is open!
- Review EBG | Network survey insights and reports – they frame summit discussions
- Reach out to EBG | Network directly with questions
CPO Outlook brings together procurement leaders facing similar challenges. The value comes from honest exchange – not polished presentations. That is how it has been since 2010. That is how it continues.