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Procurement and Finance Outlook Intelligence

EBG | Xperience in Copenhagen

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Ready to revolutionize procurement with AI? Discover real-world tools for automation, predictive insights, and overcoming digital transformation challenges. Join us now!

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AI-Powered Procurement Transformation in Copenhagen

When: May 8th 2025

Start-Finish: 09:30-15:00

Welcome reception
Introduction
Topic Insights & Reflections I
Group Discussions x 2
Lunch
Topic Insights & Reflections II
Group Discussions x 2
Summary

Where: Radisson Collection Royal Hotel, Copenhagen City Centre (In person event only)

Who: Senior procurement professionals (practitioners), maximum 1 participant per company and registration may be subject to evaluation (given role, industry and possible registrations from same company) This workshop is not open for consultants/service provider etc to register to.

Cost: No cost but registration is binding, your presence can be substituted by a colleague

Topic overview: The three workshop overviews are suggestions, final content to be developed together with sponsors and speakers

Register to join EBG | Xperience in Copenhagen

AI-Powered Procurement Transformation speakers

Vicky Kavan

Director, Procurement and Purchase to Pay Advisory

The Hackett Group

Peter Højgaard

Head of Supply Chain and Procurement, Europe

ISS World Services A/S

Søren Hvalsøe Sondrup

Head of Procurement Technology, Sustainability & Operations

DFDS A/S

Lars J Andersson

Partner

Carve

Jochen Werner

VP EMEA

Zycus

Christian Overgaard Lund

Mathematician with an affinity for real world applications

AI-Powered Procurement Expert Organization

Procurement’s AI Reality Check: Hype vs. Real Impact

The AI Transformation: Where Are the Real Gains?

AI is reshaping procurement conversations, but how much of it is real today? Many procurement leaders struggle to see tangible benefits, while AI-driven tools and platforms promise to reduce workload, automate tasks and enhance decision-making.

But do AI solutions—especially AI agents—actually work in procurement today? Or are they adding complexity rather than solving problems?

At EBG | Xperience CPH, this workshop will move beyond the AI hype to explore practical realities, helping procurement teams:

✔ Understand where AI is delivering results today (and where it isn’t).
✔ Evaluate whether AI agents can truly reduce workload or just shift tasks elsewhere.
✔ Decide whether to adapt existing tools or invest in AI-driven platforms.
✔ Overcome data, security, and integration challenges to make AI work

Key Workshop Topics

1. AI in Procurement Today: What’s Actually Working?

  • Real-world use cases of AI in procurement (e.g., spend analysis, supplier risk management, contract management, supplier discovery).
  • Why procurement leaders haven’t seen clear benefits yet—and what’s missing.
  • Discussion: Have procurement teams actually saved time or reduced workload with AI?

2. The Role of AI Agents in Procurement

  • What are AI agents, and how are they different from standard AI tools?
  • Can AI agents automate procurement workflows—or do they require too much oversight?
  • Examples of AI agents being used in procurement today (if any).
  • Discussion: Where would AI agents make the biggest impact—and what’s needed for them to succeed?

3. Procurement Technology Choices: Adapt or Transform?

  • Can AI be embedded into existing tools, or do companies need AI-first platforms?
  • Are AI agents more effective in standalone applications or integrated platforms?
  • What procurement teams should consider when evaluating AI-driven solutions.
  • Discussion: Do AI-enabled platforms truly reduce workload, or do they add complexity?

4. AI Strategy for Procurement: Aligning Objectives & Organizing for Success

Where Should Procurement Start and How Should AI Efforts Be Structured?

AI in procurement is not just about automation—it’s about having a clear strategy that aligns with business priorities. Whether an organization’s key challenge is cost pressure or growth, AI should be deployed with a purpose-driven approach:

🔹 If margins are the priority → Focus AI on reducing cost per task/process.
🔹 If speed and agility are the priority → Use AI to reduce time per task/process.

But AI’s success in procurement isn’t just about strategy—it’s also about structuring efforts correctly. Should AI knowledge sit inside each function, or should there be a Center of Excellence (CoE) to guide AI adoption across departments?

Christian Overgaard Lund will share his insights on:

AI Strategy as a Business Enabler: How procurement should align AI adoption with cost reduction, efficiency, or agility.
AI Readiness in Procurement: How data maturity and process structure impact AI success—and what to do when processes aren’t ready for automation.
AI as a Support Tool, Not Just Automation: How AI can enhance procurement teams’ efficiency even when full automation isn’t possible.
Organizing AI & GenAI Efforts: Should AI competencies be built within procurement, finance and supply chain functions or centralized in an AI Center of Excellence?

📌 Abstract Discussion: Defining the Value of Procurement Processes

  • How do you currently assign value to procurement tasks and processes?
  • What is the real pain point AI should solve in your organization?
  • What factors should be considered before deciding to structure a process for AI-driven automation?

📌 Concrete Discussion: Prioritizing AI Adoption

  • Which procurement processes are structured enough to be handed over to an AI Agent today?
  • Which processes are not mature enough for full automation but could benefit from AI-enhanced efficiency?
  • How should procurement structure AI adoption—CoE-led, function-led, or through a champions model?

Why This Workshop Matters

For many procurement leaders, AI still feels abstract, and AI agents are an even newer concept. This workshop will bring together real experiences, challenges and future considerations to help leaders:

✅ Understand what’s real vs. what’s hype in AI-driven procurement.
✅ Evaluate whether AI agents can actually reduce workload—or if they’re just another tool.
✅ Decide whether to adapt existing tools or move toward AI-driven platforms.
✅ Address data challenges that impact AI effectiveness.
✅ Build a practical AI adoption roadmap that makes sense for their organization.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed for:

  • Procurement leaders wondering how to automate and improve decision making using technology ahead (incorporating AI/GenAI or not?)
  • Procurement Managers seeking practical applications for AI.
  • CPOs and Procurement Leaders navigating AI-driven transformation.

About Zycus

Zycus is the pioneer in Cognitive Procurement software and has been a trusted partner of choice for large global enterprises for two decades. Zycus has been consistently recognized by Gartner, Forrester, and other analysts for its Source to Pay integrated suite.

Zycus powers its S2P software with the revolutionary Merlin AI Suite. Merlin AI takes over the tactical tasks and empowers procurement and AP officers to focus on strategic projects; offers data-driven actionable insights for quicker and smarter decisions, and its conversational AI offers a B2C type user-experience to the end- users.

Zycus helps enterprises drive real savings, reduce risks, and boost compliance, and its seamless, intuitive, and easy-to-use user interface ensures high adoption and value across the organization. Learn more via zycus.com

Start your #CognitiveProcurement journey with us, as you are #MeantforMore.


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