CPO Jan Grothe reports on how he and his team are further developing the procurement function in a challenging environment and making it more strategically effective. Join us on DB Procurement's transformation journey and gain an overview of key levers for process optimization and organizational development!

Chief Procurement Officer – the role is currently changing faster than ever. New means, such as digital transformation, but also new challenges, such as global delivery bottlenecks or CO2 neutrality, require additional skills and an expanded repertoire. What is the best positioning of the CPOs of the future? What characteristics and leadership skills are particularly required for this role?

The demands on procurement managers have increased massively in recent years, but so have the opportunities. Purchasing has never been in a better position to prove its value to a company than it is today. Mastering the challenges requires teamwork, both with internal and external stakeholders. Only with collaborative approaches can the right course be set together and economic, social and ecological improvements realised in the supply chains.

In our panel "Head to Head": Direct and Indirect Procurement Competing for Efficiency and Value’, we will discuss in detail how direct and indirect procurement face each other and compete for efficiency and value. We will highlight the different strategies, challenges and potentials of these two types of procurement and offer insights into their impact on organisations.

Here we discuss how the integration of modern technologies such as IoT, AI and big data is changing the purchasing process and what role human expertise plays in this. Will automation and AI make procurement more efficient or jeopardise human jobs?

"Cow PV" is an innovative approach within agrivoltaics, combining solar power generation with cattle farming on the same land. This system involves the use of solar panels that provide shade for the cows, improving their well-being and potentially increasing agricultural productivity by enhancing soil moisture and pasture quality. How this double harvest works in real life near a factory in sunny Bavaria will be explained by Gaby Symonds.

We bring together a software start-up, corporate IT and procurement to find ways in which all parties involved can achieve their goals.

In this presentation, we will shed light on the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of procurement. We question whether the use of AI is actually bringing a revolutionary change or whether it is just a passing trend. We provide insights into specific use cases at Deutsche Bahn, such as the automatic generation of content in the procurement process. We will also discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of AI and provide concrete examples from practice. Let's find out together whether AI in procurement really is more than just a hype!

Our panel invites you to explore the transformative impact of diversity in procurement. We will share how different perspectives, backgrounds and skills can strengthen innovation and drive sustainable growth. Learn how an inclusive procurement strategy not only sets ethical standards, but also increases the competitiveness and resilience of organisations.

This discussion examines how geopolitical developments and trade conflicts affect global supply chains and how companies can respond to them.

In no phase of history has there been a comparable surge in innovation as in our time. As a result of the new technical possibilities, the world is growing together into a networked global system of great heterogeneity. Opportunities and risks are closely intertwined. Dealing with the new in society has become a major challenge. At this high pace of innovation, citizens are looking for ways to understand the new and to recognise social and technical processes in context. We are currently experiencing a transition from a ‘considerate’ to a ‘cautious’ society when it comes to dealing with the new.

I will use many examples to illustrate our changed approach to the new and show ways of creating a culture of change.