EP 13: Making Sense of the Procuretech Landscape: Practical Insights for CPOs W/ Samir Khushalani

"The biggest risk today is not making the wrong AI decision. It is making no decision at all while everyone else is learning." Samir Khushalani, Senior Advisor, Art of Procurement

Procurement leaders now face more technology choices than ever, with new AI-enabled solutions emerging constantly. In this environment, picking the right tools can be overwhelming, and procurement often struggles with knowing where to start, how to avoid analysis paralysis, and ensuring their tech choices drive real business outcomes. 

In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Samir Khushalani, Art of Procurement Senior Advisor and a former McKinsey digital procurement leader. Samir has guided Fortune 500 companies and is helping to shape the ProcureTech100, the industry's top guide to procurement technology. He breaks down how to navigate a fragmented market, balance risk and urgency, and scale impact without getting stuck in "pilot purgatory." 

In this episode, Samir covers how to:  

-Take practical steps to avoid technology indecision  

-Identify true AI-native solutions versus "AI-wrapped" legacy tools  

-Partner with providers who aim for business impact, not just automation  

-Build a flexible procurement tech stack for lasting competitiveness

 Links:

Samir Khushalani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samirkhushalani/ 

Art of Procurement Welcomes Samir Khushalani as Senior Advisor: https://artofprocurement.com/blog/blog-art-of-procurement-welcomes-samir-khushalani-as-senior-advisor 

Download the 2025-26 ProcureTech100 Yearbook: https://artofprocurement.com/procuretech100-2026 

Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe 

Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement