Unlock the Secret to Smarter Procurement with AI and Data

08/08/2025

When Pierre Vignaud first took on the procurement transformation, he inherited a data nightmare: 42 ERPs, siloed systems, and no single source of truth. The result? Blind spots, supply chain surprises, and slow, reactive decisions that cost time and money.

Today, his team is rewriting the rules.

In this candid conversation, the Head of Sourcing, Procurement & ESG at Country Foods shares the behind-the-scenes of how his procurement function is using unified data and AI-powered tools to make faster, smarter decisions and why this shift is no longer optional for senior leaders.


Here’s a quick taste of what you’ll learn:

  • The Data “Link” that changed everything: What it took to finally connect the dots across systems and why having “one live dataset” changed the way procurement talks to finance, risk, and the board.
  • No more guesswork: Why spend analysis is now done in minutes, not months, helping spot savings faster including in unexpected categories like telecom and logistics.
  • Smarter risk management: How they track floods, strikes, and geopolitical risks in real time to pre-empt disruptions and why generative AI is becoming a core part of that strategy.
  • Contract automation with real ROI: AI that reads contracts, flags risky clauses, and recommends negotiation levers is no longer a moonshot, but already rolling out.
  • Real-time operational insight: Using live data tools like Power BI in daily reviews is transforming decision-making, enabling teams to instantly drill into costs and analyze cross-functional impacts across supply chain, finance, and logistics.
  • Building an AI-Ready Workforce: Discover their innovative approach to fostering a data-driven culture, including integrating AI tool usage into KPIs and a unique mentorship model pairing seasoned professionals with tech-savvy recruits and interns.


“It’s not going to replace our employees. It’s going to help them go the next step faster, with more data, and with smarter decisions.” - Pierre Vignaud

Watch the full interview to see how Pierre and his team are building a future-ready procurement engine.

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