Amer Iqbal delivers “Adopting AI” keynote at Procurement Leaders Congress
Amer Iqbal, Founder & CEO of 5 Ways to Innovate
Instead of a 2025 AI prediction, here is my 2024 reflection: focusing on AI tools is irrelevant.
Late last year I presented the keynote at Procurement Leaders APAC Congress. The audience was around 300 Chief Procurement Officers from across a broad section of industry verticals in the Asia Pacific region. When it came time for Q&A, most of the questions were some version of "Which AI tool is best for <specific task in my specific industry>?"
My answer: "I don't know, let's ask AI" - and that's kind of the point.
For any task you can think of, there are probably 10 AI tools or platforms out there that will do the job. Next month there will be 10 more. Eventually the thousands of apps and tools out there will become consolidated into a few very large enterprise platforms. SFDC, AWS, GCP, Microsoft 365 etc. have done this with other emerging technologies like cloud and collaboration tools in the past, and AI is no different.
A “work in progress” market map of Generative AI tools currently available. Source: Sequoia
My advice to leaders out there: instead of asking which tools to use, go out and ask your employees which tasks could be done better / more efficiently. Then find a tool that does it and give them permission to use it right now.
It's all going to change next month anyway, so you may as well get started.
Procurement Leaders is a global community dedicated to advancing the procurement profession through knowledge sharing, networking, and innovation. The organisation provides a wealth of resources, including research reports, industry insights, and best practice case studies, aimed at helping procurement professionals enhance their strategic capabilities. With a focus on fostering collaboration among members, Procurement Leaders hosts events and forums that facilitate dialogue and the exchange of ideas on the evolving landscape of procurement. Their commitment to professional development ensures that members are equipped to navigate challenges and drive value within their organisations. Find out more at https://procurementleaders.com/
5 Ways to Innovate is a forward-thinking consultancy focused on empowering businesses to embrace creativity and drive transformative change within their organisations. With a commitment to fostering an innovative culture, the company provides a range of services, including workshops, strategy development, and tailored training programs. By leveraging industry insights and best practices, 5 Ways to Innovate helps clients identify new opportunities and implement effective solutions that adapt to the evolving marketplace. Their neutral approach ensures that businesses can navigate the complexities of innovation while aligning with their core values and objectives. Find out more at https://5waystoinnovate.com/
