Why the Finance & Payments Panel is Vital for Procurement

Procurement teams are under increased pressure as a result of inflationary stress and fragmented data; the traditional silos between finance and procurement are no longer just an inconvenience, they are a financial risk.

The Finance & Payments Forum, in association with Coupa, at Procurement and Supply Chain: The US Summit, will see finance and procurement leaders convene to discuss payments, working capital and financial strategy. The session focuses on improving efficiency, reducing risk and aligning procurement processes with business goals.

The mandate for leadership is clear: to transform spend management from a back-office necessity into a high-octane profit accelerator.

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The invisible drain

While direct procurement often receives the lion's share of executive attention, a silent crisis is brewing in indirect spending, the IT, marketing and professional services that keep the lights on. Recent data reveals a startling lack of oversight:

• "85% of CFOs and CPOs admit that more than a quarter of their indirect spend occurs without any financial control."
• Only 19% of leaders are "fully confident" they have an accurate picture of their total expenditure.
• 93% identify "Maverick Spend"—purchasing outside approved channels—as a major threat to their margins.

When nearly half of total corporate spend is treated as "background activity", businesses miss out on volume discounts, pay above-market rates and unknowingly breach contract terms. The Forum will address how to elevate indirect spend to a strategic function managed with the same rigour as direct procurement.

To combat this fragmentation, industry leaders are turning to unified platforms that replace guesswork with intelligence. Coupa has redefined the ecosystem by leveraging a unique US$8tn community-driven dataset. This isn't just "big data"; it is a global network of 10 million buyers and suppliers fuelling intelligent automation.

By integrating autonomous AI agents that adapt to specific business patterns, Coupa enables:

• Fluid connections: Breaking down the walls between companies and customers.
• Automated accuracy: Moving away from manual, error-prone invoicing toward optimised, intelligent transactions.
• Margin multiplication: Shifting the perception of procurement from a cost centre to a strategic enabler of growth.

The path to total spend visibility

The most advanced AI tools in the world are only as effective as the teams using them. Success in modern spend management depends on organisational alignment. Modern enterprises are discovering that controlling costs and driving sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation. The Finance & Payments Forum will highlight the necessity of:

• Shared Dashboards: Ensuring Finance, Procurement and Operations view the same real-time insights.
• Integrated Workflows: Removing the friction that slows down decision-making.
• Cultural Adoption: Implementing change management strategies so that technology is embraced, not just installed.

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Meet the speakers

A representative from Coupa will take part in this panel, who is due to be announced closer to the event.

Adam Paul, Senior Director, WW Procurement at Analog Devices 

Adam Paul, PMP, is a seasoned supply chain leader with a proven track record of managing high-stakes global procurement operations. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Worldwide Procurement at Analog Devices, Adam previously held key leadership roles at Apple, where he was the Global Supply Management Lead for iPhone.

His extensive background spans the full product lifecycle, from his early days as a Quality Engineering Intern and Supplier Quality Engineer at Eaton to overseeing complex, worldwide procurement strategies. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Adam combines technical rigour with strategic sourcing expertise to drive operational excellence.

Secure your place now for The US Summit.