812: Procurement's Path Through an Era of Polycrisis W/ Baber Farooq

“The greatest challenge facing the world today isn't tariffs or monetary uncertainty – it's stagnating productivity.” - Baber Farooq, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing SAP Ariba & SAP Fieldglass

Navigating today's interconnected global business landscape has thrust procurement directly into the heart of strategic risk management. Supply chain disruptions, new AI-driven realities, looming ESG regulations, and shifting diversity initiatives pressure leaders to redefine procurement’s strategic impact.

In this episode, Baber Farooq, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing SAP Ariba & SAP Fieldglass, joins Philip Ideson to unveil pivotal findings from the latest SAP Economist Impact report: “The Resilient Edge: Procurement in an Era of Polycrisis.” 

Baber shares why procurement leaders everywhere must proactively align their operating models to evolving global challenges – especially in preparation for generative AI, stringent sustainability standards, and shifting supply chain landscapes.

Baber covers how to:

• Navigate escalating supply chain and geopolitical risks
• Prepare teams for an inevitable AI-driven procurement environment
• Prioritize ESG initiatives to anticipate regulatory impacts effectively
• Apply advanced spend analytics to move beyond simple reporting and drive actionable insight

Links:

• Baber Farooq on LinkedIn
• Optimizing Procurement’s Source-to-Pay Strategy
• Bridging the Confidence Gap to Achieve the Best Business Outcomes
• Learn more about SAP
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• Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube