“ProcureTech100 is the voice of the user. It's the voice of the customer. We want the perspective of those who are using these solutions every day, who have done proof of concepts, and who have seen the ROI.”
- Philip Ideson, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Art of Procurement
Procurement has reached a turning point.
As digital solutions and AI continue to reshape the function, CPOs and procurement leaders face an overwhelming array of options and a tidal wave of market entrants. The challenge is not just staying updated, but finding objective intelligence that cuts through provider claims to determine what works in practice.
That’s why this episode matters. In this episode of the Art of Procurement podcast, my co-founder, Kelly Barner, and I share why we acquired the ProcureTech100 and Founders’ Circle program and reveal how this move will benefit senior procurement leaders. We discuss what makes ProcureTech100 unique, why peer input is so powerful, and how the program will evolve.
Here are a few stand-out moments from that conversation:
A Sourcing Mindset Drives Real Relevance
“The ProcureTech100 is very important for procurement… If you think about a typical RFP, there's the quantitative pieces, but then there's that incredibly important peer element to bring, which is a more subjective point of view. It's based on a sourcing mindset.” - Kelly Barner
Peer perspectives, drawn from practitioners who live and breathe procurement tech daily, ensure that solutions are tested for reality, not just sales polish. Leaders need actionable intelligence grounded in real-world scenarios.
Objectivity Is Core… and Non-Negotiable
“I personally think that objectivity is also very important because people need to be able to trust the information they are given and know that all of the source material is coming from the right place.” - Kelly Barner
Trust matters. The ProcureTech100 draws its authority from a panel of experienced judges with broad backgrounds, rather than those with organizational or sponsoring ties. This stance preserves credibility and signals to leaders that recommendations can be relied upon.
Building Value Through Executive-Led Collaboration
“...it's really about creating this always-on source for peer-driven insight, which is procurement leaders who are using the technologies or who have challenges and who are taking advantage of opportunities to share their insight.” - Philip Ideson
The ProcureTech100 is a source of firsthand information for leaders looking to build the best tech stack for their organization, regardless of where they are on their maturity journey.
Inclusion and Diversity Shape Outcomes
“It's really important that there's a lot of diversity across the judges from industry, company size, and geographic perspectives. We're going to be looking at the judging panels to make sure that we preserve that diversity because that's ultimately what drives the value of the outputs.” - Philip Ideson
Procurement doesn’t look the same everywhere. Whether it’s a Fortune 100 firm or an emerging business, different experiences shape the conversation. Ensuring a broad, representative panel leads to insights that reflect today’s global, dynamic environment.
A Platform to Drive Smart Digitization
"We're exponentially increasing where we are today from a technology content perspective – what's working, what's not working, advice on building your tech stack, running RFPs for technology, and more.
We already have so much information available when we advise clients, so I do see that there'll be more focus on the digitization and enablement side of advisory." – Philip Ideson
Access to fresh, validated market data and real leader use cases equips procurement teams to make better tech decisions and delivers a measurable edge for their digitization strategies.
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