CPO Outlook 2025 Themes
Agenda structure to enable the most possible experience exchange
Agenda changes may occur as the days unfold and due to incidents beyond EBGs control
Transform while performing.
Procurement leaders today must balance performance, transformation, compliance, and innovation — all at once. At CPO Outlook 2025, we explore nine strategic focus areas shaping the global procurement agenda — supported by insights from EY, Hackett, BCG, GEP and McKinsey. The data points are estimated and deducted by EBG – see each study for verification.
🎯 Strategic Leadership & Value Creation
Themes focused on mindset, organizational influence, and procurement’s evolving role in business strategy.
- From Fragmented to Forward
→ Positioning procurement as a strategic, insight-driven partner - Leadership Under Pressure
→ Leading confidently through uncertainty and constant change - Operating Model Redesign
→ Redefining roles, structures, and governance to scale performance
🤖 Digital & AI-Driven Transformation
Themes exploring the impact, implementation, and scaling of digital tools and GenAI in procurement.
- GenAI & Intelligent Automation
→ Moving from pilots to performance across categories and processes - Digital Risk, Cloud & Compliance
→ Managing exposure and accountability in a platform-first world
👥 People, Skills & Collaboration
Themes addressing evolving capabilities, team design, and supplier relationships.
- Talent, Skills & Role Evolution
→ Building future-ready teams while maintaining performance - Procurement Excellence & Supplier Lifecycle
→ Creating value through structured SRM and lifecycle visibility
🛡️ Risk, Resilience & Sustainability
Themes that confront today’s most pressing challenges in a volatile world.
- Resilience and Risk
→ Proactively preparing for disruptions, regulations, and volatility - Indirect Procurement Mastery
→ Bringing visibility and control to fragmented, high-leakage spend
🔹 Theme 1: From Fragmented to Forward — Procurement as a Strategic Navigator
Why it matters:
Procurement must evolve from siloed, reactive functions into integrated, insight-driven partners. But most leaders lack real-time visibility, cross-functional alignment, and influence at the strategy table.
Insight:
Only 24% of CPOs say they have the data and tools needed for strategic decision-making.
– EY Global CPO Survey 2025
Discussion prompts:
- What prevents procurement from being seen as a strategic business partner?
- How can leaders create visibility using fragmented systems and data?
- Who owns procurement insights — and should that change?
- To what extent can procurement influence upstream business priorities?
🔹 Theme 2: GenAI and Intelligent Automation — From Hype to Integration
Why it matters:
Generative AI and automation can unlock real value, but most organizations are stuck in pilot mode. The opportunity lies in structured scaling — with use cases, governance, and leadership.
Insight:
80% of CPOs plan to use GenAI, but only 36% have started implementation.
– EY Global CPO Survey 2025
Discussion prompts:
- What GenAI use cases are ready to scale in procurement today?
- How can we implement AI without overwhelming teams or compliance?
- Who should lead GenAI adoption — procurement, IT, or both?
- To what extent is your team and data ecosystem ready for AI?
🔹 Theme 3: Talent, Skills & Role Evolution — The Future-Ready Procurement Team
Why it matters:
Digital transformation is accelerating, but hiring and development still focus on legacy roles. Leaders must rebuild the procurement skillset — and support evolving career paths.
Insight:
84% of CPOs say talent development is critical to value creation, yet few have a clear roadmap.
– EY Global CPO Survey 2025
Discussion prompts:
- What capabilities are missing from your team today?
- How can you upskill while managing workload and change?
- Who is ready to lead digital, ESG, or AI transformation?
- To what extent does your current structure reflect the future of procurement?
🔹 Theme 4: Sustainability in Action — Accountability, Visibility & Shared Value
Why it matters:
Sustainability is no longer just a reporting line or a brand value — it’s a regulatory, reputational, and operational mandate. From the Omnibus Directive to CSRD, DPP, and EUDR, procurement is expected to lead on traceability, data quality, and supplier alignment across multiple tiers. But true sustainability requires more than compliance. It demands collaboration, investment, and new ways of defining value — including who bears the cost: buyers, suppliers, or customers.
Insight:
74% of procurement leaders believe sustainability is critical to competitiveness, but only 28% say their supplier data is ready for regulatory scrutiny.
– Source: CPO Outlook Research + BCG/WEF 2025
Discussion prompts:
- How do you manage sustainability demands across supply tiers with limited visibility?
- Who owns ESG data, compliance costs, and performance measurement?
- How do you navigate the gap between long-term sustainability goals and short-term margin pressure?
- To what extent can procurement drive sustainability without losing agility or increasing supplier burden?
🔹 Theme 5: Resilience and Risk — Building Control in a World That Won’t Slow Down
Why it matters:
From economic volatility to ESG regulation, procurement is on the frontlines of risk and continuity. But most organizations lack real-time data and forward-looking frameworks.
Insight:
Resilience ranks among the top 3 procurement priorities, yet only 35% feel equipped to manage it effectively.
– EY + Hackett 2025
Discussion prompts:
- What risks are becoming systemic across your categories and geographies?
- How can you balance agility and compliance without increasing complexity?
- Who owns supply continuity and mitigation strategy?
- To what extent do you use scenario planning to prepare for future shocks?
🔹 Theme 6: Procurement Excellence & Supplier Lifecycle — From Tactical Spend to Strategic Partnerships
Why it matters:
Organizations are under pressure to manage cost, risk, innovation, and ESG — all through suppliers. Yet most lack structured supplier segmentation, performance management, or lifecycle visibility.
Insight:
71% of leaders believe supplier collaboration will drive innovation — but only 23% have full lifecycle insight.
– Hackett + EY 2025
Discussion prompts:
- What defines SRM maturity in your organization?
- How can supplier data and relationships drive value, compliance, and performance?
- Who owns the supplier ecosystem and lifecycle visibility?
- To what extent are suppliers integrated into strategic planning?
🔹 Theme 7: Operating Model Redesign — Performing While Transforming
Why it matters:
CPOs are being asked to do more with less — requiring new ways of working, leaner governance, and smarter tech integration. Traditional procurement structures are under strain.
Insight:
Procurement faces a 9% “efficiency gap” — 10% workload growth vs. 1% budget growth.
– Hackett CPO Agenda 2025
Discussion prompts:
- What must change in your procurement model to stay fit for 2026?
- How can you simplify processes without losing control or value?
- Who owns operating model transformation — and are they empowered?
- To what extent have you shifted decision rights, roles, or platforms?
🔹 Theme 8: Indirect Procurement Mastery — Visibility and Control Across the Tail
Why it matters:
Indirect spend — especially services, SaaS, and tail — remains opaque, fragmented, and unmanaged in many companies. Yet it holds significant potential for value, control, and risk reduction.
Insight:
Only 13% of companies have digitized end-to-end indirect procurement.
– BCG Indirect Spend 2025
Discussion prompts:
- What categories or processes in indirect spend are still unmanaged?
- How can you bring structure without blocking flexibility?
- Who owns indirect governance — and do they have authority?
- To what extent is your indirect landscape visible and optimized?
🔹 Theme 9: Leadership Under Pressure — Confidence Without Clarity
Why it matters:
Procurement leaders must steer teams through transformation, performance pressure, and uncertainty — all while being asked to set direction without full visibility.
Insight:
75% of CPOs say they’re under increasing pressure to lead transformation without full strategic clarity.
– GEP Outlook 2025
Discussion prompts:
- What mindset shifts are helping leaders thrive under pressure?
- How can you balance transparency with decisiveness?
- Who supports leadership alignment and calm in your organization?
- To what extent can you lead transformation while managing ambiguity?
🔹 Special Formats to Ensure High Engagement & Real-World Learning
✅ 🔥 Deep-Dive Roundtables: Senior procurement leaders share insights in confidential, interactive discussions.
✅ 🚀 Practical Insights: Real-world experiences—what worked, what didn’t and why.
✅ 🤝 Leadership Workshops: Hands-on training for procurement teams on AI, sustainability and risk management.
✅ 🔍 Peer Benchmarking Sessions: Compare strategies with other procurement leaders in the Nordics.
The annual agenda is continuously updated – changes beyond EBGs control may occur
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