As AI becomes central to business transformation, every function is eager to implement its own AI tools. But without a unified approach, the result is fragmented initiatives, inconsistent risk profiles, and missed opportunities for value creation. Procurement sits at the intersection of innovation and governance, enabling the business to make smart, scalable decisions on AI investments. The role now extends beyond merely finding the best price—it’s about enabling business transformation while managing entirely new risks. This session explores how one procurement leader represents the business on a cross-functional AI committee, focussing on evaluating AI agents, assessing risks, optimizing processes, and building smarter contracting strategies for AI. In this session, you will gain practical insights on how procurement professionals can take true leadership when buying AI solutions, establishing clear evaluation criteria, managing risks and costs, coordinating across business silos, and ensuring measurable outcomes. In this session, you will learn:

• How to coordinate choosing and purchasing AI solutions across the business?
• How to assess risks, security, and hidden costs when buying AI?
• How to balance fast AI adoption with building high-quality, trustworthy outcomes?

With inflation, tariffs, and geopolitical disruptions reshaping global markets, procurement teams face a tough challenge: negotiating contracts in a pricing environment filled with uncertainty. Suppliers often pass on estimated cost increases—sometimes without knowing the real impact themselves. This workshop explores negotiation tactics that help buyers push back effectively, question assumptions, and build flexibility into contracts without damaging relationships. We’ll discuss real-world approaches to mitigating price hikes, increasing transparency, and navigating unpredictable cost structures.