After a full day of sessions at DPW New York, procurement leaders, innovators, and tech partners gathered at the Silver Lining Lounge at the Moxy Lower East Side for an evening of candid conversations, shared lessons, and plenty of networking. In partnership with Sievo and ORO Labs, Archlet hosted a side event designed to take the discussion beyond the hype, focusing instead on the real-world wins and missteps that shape AI adoption in procurement.

Our Panel: Lessons from the Field

The evening kicked off with a warm welcome from Matthias of DPW, followed by brief introductions from the teams at Archlet, Sievo, and ORO Labs. Then it was time for the main event: a lively panel discussion moderated by Dr. Elouise Epstein, Partner at Kearney, who set the tone by encouraging honest stories and a willingness to share both the good and the bad.

Joining her on stage were Travis Johnson, CEO Region Americas at Chain IQ; Renee Falk, Procurement Strategy Leader at Hormel Foods; Tamer Doyuran, Transformation Director, Digital Procurement at PepsiCo; and Walter Charles, former GM CSL Plasma and 7X Fortune CPO.

The conversation began with the failures—projects where AI didn’t deliver as expected. Panelists reflected on challenges such as stakeholder resistance, data quality issues, unrealistic expectations, and the tendency to push forward despite early warning signs. They shared moments when they realized a project had truly gone off track, and how they balanced the pressure to “innovate fast” with the reality of organizational change.

From there, the discussion shifted to the aha! moments, the successes that demonstrated AI’s real potential in procurement. Panelists shared the best promises AI had kept, from speeding up complex decision-making to delivering unexpected insights that unlocked new value. They closed with one-sentence pieces of advice for leaders driving digital transformation, emphasizing patience, stakeholder engagement, and the importance of learning from both wins and missteps.

Networking in the Heart of New York

Following the panel, guests stayed to enjoy a relaxed networking session over drinks and food. The Silver Lining Lounge proved to be the perfect backdrop for deeper conversations, new connections, and plenty of laughter after a day packed with content at DPW New York.

It was a reminder that the most valuable insights often happen in informal settings when people have the space to speak openly, share experiences, and explore new ideas together.

Looking Ahead

The DPW New York side event was a testament to the value of bringing together the procurement community in smaller, focused settings alongside major industry conferences. We’re grateful to our partners at Sievo and ORO Labs for helping make it happen, and to everyone who joined us for a night of honest stories, practical insights, and a few good laughs.

Stay tuned for our upcoming events as we continue the conversation on AI, data, and the future of procurement.

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