At first glance, procurement across the Nordics seems united: everyone is under pressure to transform, digitize, and drive value beyond cost. But as the EBG | Xperience 2025 workshops revealed, the journey looks very different inside each organization.
During the mapping exercises, participants placed themselves along two axes:
– Structural fit: from siloed processes to integrated, supportive models
– Transformation in motion: from slow-moving intent to rapid adaptability
The outcome was striking: instead of clustering in one direction, participants spread out across all four quadrants. Some teams are experimenting and learning quickly in pockets (“emerging flow”), while others are still wrestling with structures and clarity (“clarifying path forward”). Only a minority felt truly “transformation-ready.”
As the post-workshop survey concluded:
“Procurement maturity is not a linear journey. It’s shaped by internal buy-in, structure, mindset, and context — not just strategy.”
Survey Data Confirms the Challenge
The CPO Outlook 2025 Pre-Summit Survey echoes these findings. Among 37 Nordic companies who responded so far (Oct 1st):
– 68% struggle with disconnected systems and 81% with low-quality or missing data, blocking AI and digital progress
– 84% rate their digital maturity as only “developing” – some digitalization in place, but limited integration and automation
– When asked what would make their roles more impactful, one leader noted:
“Having earlier cross-functional alignment and a single source of truth for data would ease the workload.”
What’s Next at CPO Outlook 2025
On October 15–16 in Stockholm, CPO Outlook 2025 will go deeper into these realities. Expect peer-led discussions, case-based learning, and benchmarking grounded in both survey data and lived experience.
This year’s survey also highlights what delegates most want to learn and discuss:
– AI in practice – some theory, but also real use cases and adoption paths
– Balancing ESG with cost and risk – in a regulatory landscape that keeps shifting
– How to build capabilities when every skill feels critical at once
The spring Xperience workshops showed that no one has all the answers. But the willingness to share candidly — about both successes and frustrations — is what accelerates collective progress.
As one participant put it:
“I left with hope, not because we’re ahead, but because we’re not alone.”
Join the Dialogue
🔹 Secure your seat at CPO Outlook 2025 to exchange insights with peers navigating the same messy middle.
🔹 Take part in the pre-survey to see how your challenges and ways forward compare (you will get a link to share your views after registering).
📅 October 15–16, 2025 | Stockholm
👉 cpooutlook.com
Sources:
[1] EBG Xperience Post Workshops Report 2025 by EBG Network
[2] CPO Outlook 2025 Pre-Summit Survey (September-October 2025) – Results to be shared during the summit on October 15th & 16th and as a report to those taking part after