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

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. 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. In this episode, you will learn: • Why cost control is the "floor" for procurement, not the ceiling • The real, unglamorous AI use cases that are driving measurable value today (and the autonomous hype to avoid) • What the procurement organization of 2030 actually looks like • The 5 metrics your Board should be tracking instead of raw savings percentages • How to govern AI so that when the agent makes a mistake, the damage is small • The #1 capability companies must build in the next 12 months to stay competitive Whether you'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. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & Chad Gaydos’ background 1:40 - Why cost control is the floor, not the ceiling 3:50 - Real AI value vs. Hype: What actually works today? 6:30 - The trust gap in AI and data validation 8:20 - What procurement looks like in 2030 10:00 - The 5 Board metrics you should track instead of savings 12:30 - How to practically govern AI in procurement 15:00 - Automation vs. Intelligence: Don't encode inefficiencies 18:30 - The #1 capability to build in the next 12 months 20:00 - What the future of AI possibilities excites Chad most Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!