Vibe Coding 101: How to Build Your Own Procurement Tech

In this week's Proc N Roll, Conrad and Zach dive deep into the world of Artificial Intelligence and how it is revolutionizing the way procurement professionals work. They discuss how the "language barrier" of traditional coding is gone, meaning anyone can use plain English to build complex systems like a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tool. The duo also debates the new "Build vs. Buy" reality, the importance of clear requirements when working with AI agents, and why human imagination remains irreplaceable. Timestamps: (00:00) - Cold Open: The language barrier is gone, and English is the new coding language. (01:05) - Intro: Conrad welcomes Zach from London for a jam session on AI in procurement. (02:27) - Zach discusses the rapid evolution of AI over the past 18-24 months and how enterprises are adapting. (03:40) - Conrad shares his journey from struggling with early AI tools to easily building a CLM system using open AI models. (13:19) - Zach explains why providing clear scope and requirements is crucial so AI doesn't over-engineer your app. (20:50) - The importance of spending time upfront on design and documentation before rushing into "vibe coding". (27:23) - The new "Build vs. Buy" dilemma: When should procurement teams build their own tools instead of spending $150,000 on software? (36:27) - Evaluating the cost of failure: Why you shouldn't build your own ERP, but building a CLM or RFP tracker is low risk. (46:06) - Zach shares his massive learnings from iterating and building an autonomous procurement agent. (51:18) - Why AI won't take all our jobs: Humans still need to bring imagination, learning, and decision-making to the table. (54:36) - Outro: Upcoming AI workshops, a potential meetup in London for DPW, and an invitation to reach out. About Proc and Roll: Proc and Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we explore the cutting edge of supply chain, digital transformation, and how tools like AI are reshaping the enterprise landscape. We are passionate about helping procurement professionals learn, innovate, and automate their workflows.