🔍 EBG | Xperience CPH | AI-Powered Procurement Transformation
Why This Workshop Matters — Now More Than Ever
Across the Nordics and beyond, procurement leaders agree: AI and GenAI will reshape how organizations operate. But most also acknowledge they are far from ready.
According to BCG’s 2024 report “GenAI Complacency: The Costly Inaction in the Nordics”,
63% of Nordic business leaders say they have not yet begun integrating GenAI capabilities into their organizations — a significantly higher share than the global average of 38%. Just 15% of Nordic companies report realizing tangible benefits from GenAI so far, compared to 26% globally.
Meanwhile, The Hackett Group’s 2024 study “Understanding Generative AI in Procurement” reveals that:
- 64% of procurement leaders believe GenAI will transform how procurement teams work within five years.
- Yet, most are still in the pilot or investigation phase, facing persistent roadblocks like data quality, fragmented systems, and lack of AI-ready skills.
- With procurement workloads projected to grow 10%, but budgets rising only 1%, AI is viewed not as a luxury—but a critical lever to do more with less.
And it’s not just theory. In GEP’s Outlook 2025, 87% of supply chain and procurement leaders say they’re prioritizing digital transformation, but fewer than half have moved beyond foundational steps. The vision is there. The urgency is clear. The path forward, however, is still being defined.
That’s why EBG | Xperience in Copenhagen matters.
This workshop will offer both strategic insights and grounded, real-life discussions—from agent-based automation to operating model design, from data dilemmas to use-case prioritization. It’s designed not for those who have it all figured out, but for those asking the hard (and shared) questions:
Where should we start? What’s realistic? What value should we target—and how do we measure it?
The problem? Most say “we’re not there yet.”
This is exactly why EBG | Xperience in Copenhagen exists.
What Makes This Day Different?
🧠A mix of market-leading insights and real-life experiences
đź’¬ Highly interactive, roundtable-based format
👥 One delegate per company—maximizing experience exchange among businesses
đź“Š Pre-event survey to match you with peers facing similar challenges
This is not a conference. It’s not about showcasing perfection.
It’s about learning together—what’s working, what’s worth testing, and how each company can take its next step.
Agenda overview
🔹 Market Pulse: What’s Driving Procurement Transformation in 2025?
Speaker: Vicky Kavan | The Hackett Group
The day kicks off with a grounded reality check. Based on Hackett’s latest research, Vicky will outline how leading companies are navigating GenAI, where they are seeing real value—and what’s getting in the way.
Key insights:
- Procurement workload is set to increase 10% with only a 1% budget increase.
- 64% expect GenAI to transform their function within 5 years, but most are still in exploration mode.
- Top performers operate at 21% lower cost with 32% fewer FTEs—thanks to smart digital strategies, not bigger budgets.
🔹 From Confusion to Clarity: Making Procurement AI-Ready, One Step at a Time
Speaker: Jochen Werner | Zycus
AI isn’t something to “get ready for”—it’s already improving how we search, buy, contract and track. But jumping from Excel and legacy systems to “autonomous procurement” is a leap most aren’t ready for.
Jochen will show how AI can already:
- Enhance guided buying
- Recommend suppliers
- Streamline contract authoring
- Support decision-making with less manual effort
The key takeaway: You don’t need a rocket. Start with a Volvo.
🔹 AI Agents in Procurement: From Automation to Intelligent Decision-Making
Speaker: Lars J. Andersson | Carve Consulting (formerly Maersk)
Lars will introduce a powerful but approachable concept: AI Agents designed to support real procurement tasks within fragmented, multi-ERP landscapes.
Meet the Agents:
- 🛡 Compliance Agent: Monitors contracts & flags risks
- đź“Š Supplier Performance Agent: Aggregates KPIs & spots early warning signs
- đź“ś PO Creation Agent: Reduces manual validation work
- âš– Dispute Management Agent: Detects and prevents conflicts
Roundtable discussions will explore:
- Where could AI Agents add real value?
- What would make them more approachable?
- What do we need to consider around data, governance, and change?
🔹 AI Strategy for Procurement: Aligning Objectives & Organizing for Success
Speaker: Christian Overgaard Lund
AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a strategic enabler. But it only works if you know what problem you’re solving.
Christian will lead us through:
- How to align AI adoption with business goals (cost vs. speed)
- Why many processes aren’t ready for full automation—but are ready for AI-assisted efficiency
- Whether AI should be led by a CoE, embedded in functions, or championed by key individuals
Group discussion will explore:
- What pain are we really trying to solve with AI?
- Which processes are worth automating—and which are not?
- How should we structure AI adoption inside procurement?
🔹 Real-Life Reflections: ISS & DFDS Share Their Journeys
Speakers: Peter Højgaard, Head of Supply Chain and Procurement, Europe at ISS World Services A/S & Søren Hvalsøe Sondrup, Head of Procurement Technology, Sustainability & Operations at DFDS A/S
Two major Danish enterprises will share where they are today, what they’ve tried, and how they’re thinking about the next steps with AI and GenAI.
This is your chance to hear from peers—not just theory, but lessons from the field.
🎯 Who Should Attend?
This day is designed for:
- Procurement leaders facing complex data and systems
- Digital process owners who want practical use cases
- Those exploring GenAI but unsure how to move from pilot to value
- Anyone saying “we’re not there yet”—but knows they can’t afford to wait and you who have begun but want to take the next steps with confidence
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