The Infrastructure Gap: Why Direct Procurement is at a Breaking Point

Most companies aren't struggling with procurement because they're spending too little on technology. They're struggling because they're building intelligence on top of fragmented data, disconnected workflows, and outdated operating models.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and Karin Bursa are joined by Mark Schenecker, VP of Manufacturing Industries at Coupa, for a data-driven conversation on the future of direct procurement. Drawing from Coupa's State of Direct Procurement 2026 report, Mark unpacks why procurement leaders are pulling away from the pack and why AI alone isn't the differentiator many organizations think it is. From fragmented data and disconnected workflows to the growing importance of supplier visibility and risk intelligence, the discussion explores what separates companies that react to disruption from those that anticipate it.

Together, they explore why clean, connected data must come before AI, why leading organizations have moved beyond price-only sourcing decisions, and why procurement deserves a strategic seat at the table.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(01:04) Why procurement is becoming a strategic competitive advantage

(01:17) Moving away from a 1986 approach to procurement

(02:41) Meet Mark Schenecker: Three decades of supply chain innovation

(07:13) Behind the State of Direct Procurement 2026 report

(08:01) The critical leap from generative AI to agentic AI

(09:13) How a digital front door simplifies the employee experience

(13:46) The $16 million cost of operating on fragmented infrastructure

(17:02) Why sophisticated analytics on messy data just produces more noise

(21:36) The three-pillar framework: Infrastructure and foundation first

(26:17) Moving beyond unit price to build supply chain resiliency

(28:25) Shifting from passive reporting to active decision intelligence

(30:09) Closing the procurement influence deficit at the executive table

(35:08) Breaking down the hidden silos between direct and indirect spend

(39:36) Real-world outcomes from Albemarle, Glencore, and ADM

(48:20) Key takeaways, maturity assessments, and closing thoughts

Additional Links & Resources:

• Connect with Mark Schenecker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schenecker/
• Learn more about Coupa Software: https://www.coupa.com/
• Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
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• WEBINAR- AI that moves at velocity: Cut through latency with agentic workflows: https://bit.ly/4x4626t

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/infrastructure-gap-direct-procurement-at-breaking-point-1600

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