Corporate responsibility, ethical sourcing, and digital transformation were key focus points for the procurement profession in 2018.
From Cargill’s decision to cease trading with a Guatemalan palm oil supplier in January, to endless reports on how procurement is ripe for digital transformation, it is clear that the procurement profession is undergoing a metamorphosis.
With the New Year bells fading in the distance, it is time to put noses to the grindstone and focus on what is to come in 2019.
At ProcurePort, we believe collaboration is the key to innovation and progress. There is no better chance to collaborate than at trade events where global procurement leaders can come together and flex their collective procurement muscle.
Time is at a premium, and when we are spending it out of the office and often away from home, professional events need to give good ROI. Here we explore the top upcoming global events in the procurement calendar for the coming year.
Procurement Leaders™ Americas Procurement Conference 2019
March 14 – 15 2019
Eden Roc, Miami, USA
This year’s Americas Procurement Conference focuses on digital transformation and automation. The agenda is designed to address the most pressing issues affecting procurement leaders surrounding optimizing workflow and digitalization. From ways to implement technology and how to drive operational excellence to data management best practice, this two-day conference should prove inspirational. The conference is followed, as always, by the Americas Procurement Leaders Awards on the evening of 15th, where procurement excellence is celebrated. The shortlist will be announced on February 7, 2019.
ProcureCon Canada
April 9 – 10 2019
Intercontinental Toronto Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ProcureCon Canada is the only peer-led procurement conference in Canada, appealing to a broad spectrum of seniority levels across the procurement profession, from CPOs to rising stars and start-ups. The agenda includes how to select a procurement software partner and keynote Speakers Farukh Javed and Manny Satija from CSA Group are presenting the results of a case study entitled Digital Transformation: Procurement’s Path Forward: AI & Cognitive Procurement In 2019 And Beyond. The conference also includes various networking events, and the new EPIC awards, for which nominations are still open.
Procurement Leaders World Procurement Congress
May 15 – 16 2019
Intercontinental, London, UK
Another Procurement Leaders event, the World Procurement Congress, takes place at the Intercontinental in London in May 2019. The main theme shaping the agenda is a competitive advantage. Benchmarking, people development, technology, supplier relationship management, and risk management are all covered by the agenda. Again, the conference is followed by the World Procurement Congress Awards on the evening of the 16th.
Ovation
July 11 – 12 2019
Chantilly, France
This July, by invitation only 50 CPOs will come together in Chantilly, France, to form a hivemind and discuss the future of procurement. Big things are expected, with CPOs from global organizations like Bayer, IBM, Phillips, and Starbucks in attendance.
Agility and Transformation Forum
September 12 – 13 2019
Chicago, Illinois, USA
The agenda for the 2019 Procurement Leaders Agility and Transformation Forum includes the importance of investing in people and building capabilities and skills to meet business demands, and how collaboration and insights lead to innovation. With ‘ask an expert’ sessions, CPO think tanks, and roundtables, the event is all about sharing knowledge to drive efficiency and value.
ProcureCon Europe
October 15 – 17 2019
Barcelona, Spain
ProcureCon Europe brings together procurement professionals responsible for a spend of €250m+. This year’s focus is all about digital transformation and agility. Keynote speakers from BMW, Sony, Thales, Airbus, and Nestle are all on board and the networking events promise to be an interactive and intimate opportunity for collaboration and making impressions.
2019 promises to be another year of change and progress
According to the agendas of most of these key events in 2019, digital transformation, AI and automation certainly seems to be the unsurprising focus for us all over the coming year. The global procurement business agenda focuses heavily on how to keep up with demands of globalization and digitalization, from implementing procurement software to upskilling personnel.
ProcurePort’s team of experts and suite of best in class procurement software are always on hand to help your business respond to the changing expectations from the c-suite and wider business community. To keep abreast of industry revelations and insights, why not subscribe to our newsletter.