Andy Hovancik

Hovanick joined JAGGAER in 2023 as its new CEO. Here, he explains his goals for the company, and the role he can play in a once-in-a-generation digital transformation. 

What was the appeal of joining JAGGAER?

My background is software, automation, and manufacturing. I was drawn to JAGGAER’s impact in B2B commerce and supply chain management and the generational transformation we are experiencing globally. It’s clear the future is bright, so I jumped at the opportunity to join the team.

Our Autonomous Commerce strategy aligns with the need to ethically harness smart technologies like AI to automate and risk-proof customer business systems to increase productivity, efficiency, and focus on the most pressing business objectives. 

It starts with eliminating manual effort, while providing insights and predictive power to make better business decisions. 

At a time marked by prolonged economic uncertainty, geopolitical upheaval and the challenge of climate change,the ability to manage and mitigate supply chain risk, maintain compliance, and transform enterprise commerce couldn’t be more relevant.

What is your vision for JAGGAER?

Our goal is to build a global company in our core of comprehensive source-to-pay (S2P) and supply chain management solutions, both for indirect and direct procurement to serve our customers, wherever they do business in the world. And we’re well on our way.

At our REV2023 event, we set out four pillars to our strategy over the coming years.

1.  AI and the digital transformation of procurement. That means reducing commercial friction, cutting costs, and accelerating the journey toward Autonomous Commerce.
   By leveraging a combination of improved processes, strategies and latest technology, including AI, our customers will experience smarter supplier selection, automated contract management, smart search and PO matching and the predictive analytics that will put them more fully in control.
2. Supply chain resilience, ESG and compliance. We will secure customers against supply chain disruptions, enhance their visibility, and enable them to streamline operations to reduce risk, ensure ESG compliance, meet carbon reduction goals, and boost profitability.
3. We continue to invest in improved S2P technology. Our goal here is to improve tech adoption, ensuring customers have a solution that can grow with their organization and integrate effectively with business systems.
4. Let’s not forget cost optimisation. We’re renewing and strengthening in areas such as strategic sourcing, complex categories and budgetary compliance. This has even greater urgency during a period of high inflation.

How will you contribute to JAGGAER’s vision?

We are going through a once-in-a-generation digital transformation. I am personally engaging with our management team to build a company focused on what the customer is trying to achieve – first and foremost. 

We build loyalty by assuring our customers get full value from our products - ultimately transforming their businesses. This requires working together to ensure all aspects of our business, processes and activities are done in support of what the customer is trying to accomplish. This is what matters to us.

What procurement innovations and trends excite you most?

We must consider how AI will affect our lives. Obviously, it is redefining how businesses operate and perform. People have concerns about what AI means for the future of work but within the S2Ppay space, I think it can be an important tool. It’s going to make procurement and supply chain management an exciting place to work and by embracing technology we will attract top talent to the function.

JAGGAER has already made significant investments in AI and generative

AI, in the areas of contracting, supplier management and sourcing. 

For example, our Contracts AI solution cuts manual effort in half and enables cross-functional teams to reduce revenue leakage and identify risks and obligations in ways that have been virtually impossible in the past.

What does success at JAGGAER look like to you?

When our customers succeed, JAGGAER succeeds. We strive to be a trusted partner and drive customer success by advancing our strategy. The more we can provide our customers with a frictionless, intelligent, integrated and incredibly efficient commerce experience, the more we can enable them to drive the highest levels of value for their organizations. 

Success means making a tangible and positive impact on customers’ operations and helping them solve today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

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