520. Visibility First, Autonomy Second: AI's Real Value in Procurement

<p>In this episode of the Transform Now podcast, host Michael Marchuk sits down with Chad Gaydos, CEO of Procurify, to explore how AI is fundamentally shifting procurement from a back-office cost control function into a strategic advantage. </p><p><br></p><p>With nearly 30 years of software experience, including 18 years at SAP, Chad breaks down why settling for cost control is a massive missed opportunity. We dive into why simply automating a broken process is a dangerous trap, and how true AI intelligence forces businesses to ask whether a process should exist at all. </p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, you will learn:</p><p>• Why cost control is the &quot;floor&quot; for procurement, not the ceiling</p><p>• The real, unglamorous AI use cases that are driving measurable value today (and the autonomous hype to avoid)</p><p>• What the procurement organization of 2030 actually looks like </p><p>• The 5 metrics your Board should be tracking instead of raw savings percentages</p><p>• How to govern AI so that when the agent makes a mistake, the damage is small</p><p>• The #1 capability companies must build in the next 12 months to stay competitive</p><p><br></p><p>Whether you&#39;re a CFO, CPO, or business leader navigating the AI revolution, this episode delivers a practical, no-hype framework for building a future-ready organization.</p><p><br></p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>0:00 - Introduction &amp; Chad Gaydos’ background</p><p>1:40 - Why cost control is the floor, not the ceiling</p><p>3:50 - Real AI value vs. Hype: What actually works today?</p><p>6:30 - The trust gap in AI and data validation</p><p>8:20 - What procurement looks like in 2030</p><p>10:00 - The 5 Board metrics you should track instead of savings</p><p>12:30 - How to practically govern AI in procurement</p><p>15:00 - Automation vs. Intelligence: Don&#39;t encode inefficiencies</p><p>18:30 - The #1 capability to build in the next 12 months</p><p>20:00 - What the future of AI possibilities excites Chad most</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Visit us on our socials:</p><p>🦾 Get started with SS&amp;C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU</p><p>🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp</p><p>✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G</p><p>🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz</p><p>📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf</p><p>💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP</p><p>🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX</p><p><br></p><p>To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!</p>