EIGHTY4

Articles and whitepapers

Insights

Practical perspectives on procurement that creates value. Explore articles and whitepapers by Bjoern Frese on leadership, organisation, data and transformation.

Perspectives from practice

4 articles

Speaker in a navy suit during a talk at Apadua’s Indirect Procurement Days 2026.

Article

Are We Implementing Technology or Are We Prepared to Change Procurement?

New technology goes live. The same arguments remain. Why? This article explores what procurement transformation really demands of leaders: clearer decision rights, the courage to stop old work, and ownership that lasts beyond go-live. Through a familiar purchasing scenario, it asks what must change around the technology for everyday work—and results—to improve.

  • Procurement transformation
  • Leadership & accountability
  • Technology adoption
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Original cover: silhouette against a dark stage with the words “One more thing...”.

Article

How to Build “Procurement like Apple” – Business Lessons Every CPO Can Steal

What can procurement learn from Apple’s business model? The article applies two principles to direct materials and indirect spend: designing suppliers as an ecosystem and shaping collaboration around stakeholder needs. Practical examples show how clear partner roles, accessible entry points and appropriate service channels work together. A phased roadmap connects initial workshops and pilots with data quality, integration and metrics for resilience, innovation and user experience.

  • Supplier ecosystems
  • Stakeholder experience
  • Procurement transformation
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Bjoern Frese against a black background with the statement “The future procurement team has no buyers. Really.”.

Article

The Future of Procurement Is Now: Build the Team You’ll Need Tomorrow

Traditional procurement roles are no longer enough for an environment shaped by permanent disruption, AI and rising sustainability requirements. This article describes five core roles for a procurement team focused consistently on business outcomes: from value partnering and supplier ecosystems to data-driven decisions, automation and integrated compliance. It explains how operational tasks can be organized in the future, how cross-functional squads take shape and which practical steps companies can take over the next 90 days.

  • Procurement organization
  • Capabilities & roles
  • Transformation
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Bjoern Frese alongside the statement “If data isn’t part of your DNA, you have no place in Procurement anymore.”.

Article

Your Biggest Procurement Problem Isn’t AI - It’s Leaders Who Don’t Get Data

Automation and AI need more than new software: they need reliable data and leaders who understand its value. Drawing on a specific project experience, Bjoern Frese sets out eight priorities for procurement leaders, from clear data ownership and consistent master data to metadata and daily quality checks. The article explains why data competence belongs at the core of procurement and how practical automation and AI use cases can build on that foundation.

  • Data literacy
  • Leadership
  • Automation & AI
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