In this episode of the Procurement Software Podcast, James Meads explores the rise of free B2B procurement software and what it really means for buyers. Joined by Tom Ruello, VP of Sales at SpendHound, the conversation unpacks how removing the price barrier can accelerate adoption—without compromising value.

Tom explains how SpendHound’s model works: offering a genuinely free SaaS management and benchmarking platform, monetised through aggregated, de-identified market data. The discussion tackles common procurement concerns—data privacy, commercial viability, and long-term product development—while highlighting the importance of transparency and a sustainable business model.

Key insights include:

1. Why free tools can outperform paid alternatives in mid-market and enterprise environments
2. The pros and cons of data-driven monetisation models
3. How benchmarking and AI-driven insights are transforming software renewals
4. What procurement teams should ask vendors before committing
5. Why time savings can be just as valuable as cost savings

Whether you’re budget-constrained or simply exploring smarter ways to manage SaaS spend, this episode provides a balanced view of risk, reward and opportunity.

[00:00:01] Introduction to free B2B procurement software.

[00:03:09] The origin of SpendHound’s free model.

[00:08:08] Monetisation through aggregated data.

[00:17:41] Mid-market vs enterprise adoption.

[00:20:05] AI-driven contract analysis and benchmarking.

[00:29:18] How to get started and implementation timeline.

And that wraps up another episode of The Procurement Software Podcast!

Thanks again for listening, and do please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. Every one helps!

We'll be back at the same time next month, so see you there.

If you want to learn more about Procurement Software, check out the useful links below.

1. Connect with Tom Ruello on LinkedIn
2. Check out SpendHound
3. Download our Tech Map for Enterprise
4. Download our Tech Map for Mid-Market
5. Download our Tech Map for SMEs
6. Find your perfect procurement tech solution in our

In this episode of The Procurement Software Podcast, James Meads welcomes Mike Cargiulo, founder of MJC Sourcing, for a conversation that challenges the tech-first narrative in procurement transformation.

Mike shares how MJC Sourcing supports mid-market organisations with hands-on, execution-focused procurement expertise. Rather than leading with slide decks, Mike and his team roll up their sleeves — delivering rapid results in complex sourcing, stakeholder engagement, and supplier negotiations. With a focus on flexible, expert resourcing, his firm fills capability gaps where internal headcount is stretched thin.

We explore how smaller, agile procurement teams — armed with the right mindset, strong processes, and modern tools — can deliver more value per head than traditional enterprise setups. Mike also shares why he believes process and people come before tech, and how AI is supercharging productivity without replacing human judgement.

Also discussed in this episode:

1. How to build procurement credibility in organisations with limited influence
2. Why bringing in A-players beats training average hires
3. The hidden risk of relying solely on internal category experts
4. How AI is helping sourcing professionals manage increasing workloads
5. Why agility and flexible talent are essential to future-proofing procurement

A compelling conversation on transforming procurement through smart resourcing, sharp execution, and a realistic view of technology’s role.

[00:01:09] Why MJC Sourcing was founded.

[00:03:05] Execution vs presentations in consulting.

[00:04:22] On-demand procurement expertise.

[00:07:36] Upskilling internal teams through collaboration.

[00:10:23] People, process and tech – in that order.

[00:13:45] Productivity gains with AI in procurement.

[00:16:10] Value creation beyond savings.

[00:21:02] Driving procurement influence in tough cultures.

[00:25:15] Data’s role in enabling procurement.

[00:29:21] Can small teams outperform enterprise procurement?

[00:30:30] What’s next for MJC Sourcing.

And that wraps up another episode of The Procurement Software Podcast!

Thanks again for listening, and do please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. Every one helps!

We'll be back at the same time next month, so see you there.

If you want to learn more about Procurement Software, check out the useful links below.

1. Connect with Mike Cargiulo on LinkedIn
2. Check out MJC Sourcing
3. Download our Tech Map for Enterprise
4. Download our

In this episode of The Procurement Software Podcast, James Meads is joined by Gregory Vider and Markus Sinz, co-founders of apadua, recorded live at their Indirect Procurement Days event near Frankfurt, Germany.

Drawing on their backgrounds as procurement practitioners and founders, Gregory and Markus share a grounded, thoughtful perspective on what AI really means for procurement. Rather than hype or job-replacement narratives, the discussion focuses on AI as an enabler that amplifies human capability, improves decision-making, and removes low-value administrative work.

The conversation explores apadua’s journey from a conventional sourcing platform to rebuilding an AI-native product from scratch, driven by deep user research rather than surface-level feature injection. James and the apadua team unpack why “human in the loop” remains critical, how procurement roles may shift towards more generalist and strategic profiles, and why differentiation in an AI-first world will come from people, not models.

Also discussed in this episode:

1. How to tell real AI capability from marketing noise
2. Why procurement adoption of AI will be gradual, not sudden
3. The future size and shape of procurement teams
4. Why apadua pursued ISO 27001 and what buyers should ask about cybersecurity

A reflective, pragmatic conversation on the future of procurement in an AI-enabled world.

[00:00] Podcast introduction and episode setup

[01:05] Final episode of 2025 and IPD event context

[02:45] Introduction to Gregory Vider and Markus Sinz from apadua

[03:20] Why AI creates confusion in procurement teams

[04:25] How to tell real AI capability from marketing hype

[05:45] AI as an enabler, human-in-the-loop vs automation

[12:15] Rebuilding apadua as an AI-native procurement platform

[15:50] How AI will reshape procurement roles and skill sets

[27:40] The future size and structure of procurement teams

[33:00] Cybersecurity, ISO 27001, and what buyers should ask

And that wraps up another episode of The Procurement Software Podcast!

Thanks again for listening, and do please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. Every one helps!

We'll be back at the same time next month, so see you there.

If you want to learn more about Procurement Software, check out the useful links below.

1. Connect with Gregory Vider on LinkedIn and Markus Sinz on LinkedIn
2. Check out apadua
3. Download our Tech Map for Enterprise
4. Download our

In this episode of The Procurement Software Podcast, James Meads welcomes Matthew Spencer, procurement veteran and founder of FlockScore, a newly launched startup rethinking how supplier performance is captured and shared across industrial supply chains.

Matthew brings a rare perspective as a procurement practitioner-turned-founder, having led SRM and sustainability at Bekaert Group before identifying a critical market gap: supplier scorecards were siloed, static, and lacked ecosystem-level insight. FlockScore aims to change that, offering a collaborative, AI-powered model for tracking supplier performance.

We unpack how FlockScore’s “open contribute-to-access” model lets procurement teams upload anonymised supplier performance data in exchange for aggregated, comparative insights. Matthew explains how AI agents enrich these insights by scanning public sources for issues like recalls, shutdowns, or delivery disruptions, without exposing contributor identity.

Also discussed in this episode:

1. Why supplier performance often takes a backseat to compliance and innovation
2. The limits of traditional scorecards and why category-specific metrics matter
3. How FlockScore enhances, not replaces existing SRM and S2P systems
4. Why soft supplier feedback from stakeholders should be part of every scorecard
5. What makes FlockScore different from review platforms and peer benchmarking
6. A fascinating deep dive into how collective intelligence and AI are reshaping supplier evaluation, built for procurement, by procurement.

[00:01] Intro to Matthew Spencer, FlockScore

[01:14] Matthew’s background

[02:18] FlockScore analogy

[03:44] The “aha” moment and data gap externally

[06:02] Why supplier performance management is underrated today

[11:27] Engaging stakeholders effectively

[13:04] Open contribute-to-access model and credits

[18:50] FlockScore’s AI and difference to traditional tools offerings

[23:37] Cultural and category differences, flexible taxonomy and future vision for procurement

And that wraps up another episode of The Procurement Software Podcast!

Thanks again for listening, and do please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. Every one helps!

We'll be back at the same time next month, so see you there.

If you want to learn more about Procurement Software, check out the useful links below.

1. Connect with Matthew Spencer on LinkedIn
2. Check out FlockScore
3. Download our Tech Map for Enterprise
4. Download our Tech Map for Mid-Market
5. Download our Tech Map for SMEs
6. Find your perfect procurement tech solution in our Software Finder app
7. Sign up for the Entproc Newsletter
8. Book an Intro Call and let’s talk all things Digital Procurement!

In this episode of The Procurement Software Podcast, James Meads is joined by Gaurav Sharma, Head of Procurement Centre of Excellence at MTN, with a background that uniquely combines procurement expertise and data science.

We explore how Gaurav’s journey from category manager to leading digital transformation has shaped his view on procurement technology, user adoption, and the need for more practical, cost-effective solutions. Alongside his corporate role, he introduces his side project, SuperNegotiate, designed to simplify sourcing processes and enable tool-less digitisation for procurement newcomers.

Gaurav shares why many e-sourcing tools fall short of addressing real category manager needs, focusing instead on vanity features. He explains how AI and machine learning are already transforming sourcing, paving the way for outcome-based pricing models and moving procurement away from traditional RFPs.

Other topics covered include:

1. Why data science skills are becoming essential in procurement
2. How current tools fail to deliver true user-centric functionality
3. The growing demand for tech-savvy procurement professionals
4. Why outcome-based pricing could reshape procurement tech contracts
5. How Super Negotiate offers a lightweight entry point for digital procurement

A must-listen for anyone interested in the next generation of procurement technology and the evolving skill sets that will define future teams.

[[00:00] Introduction to Gaurav Sharma and His Unique Skills

[01:14] Journey from procurement to data science

[04:34] The future of procurement skills and technology

[08:55] Critiquing procurement tech and vanity features

[13:56] In-house solutions vs. traditional procurement tools

[21:11] Super Negotiate: a new approach to sourcing

[30:11] The future roles of procurement teams

And that wraps up another episode of The Procurement Software Podcast!

Thanks again for listening, and do please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. Every one helps!

We'll be back at the same time next month, so see you there.

If you want to learn more about Procurement Software, check out the useful links below.

1. Connect with Gaurav Sharma on LinkedIn
2. Check out Supernegotiate
3. Download our Tech Map for Enterprise
4. Download our Tech Map for Mid-Market
5. Download our Tech Map for SMEs
6. Find your perfect procurement tech solution in our Software Finder app
7. Sign up for the Procurement Software Newsletter
8. Book an Intro Call and let’s talk all things Digital Procurement!
9. Connect with James on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Procurement Software Podcast, James Meads is joined by Oscar Fernandez, founder of ProCREWment and former Principal Procurement at mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) company FreeNow.

We dive into a compelling case study on building an effective procurement process using existing tools, without splurging on expensive enterprise suites.

Oscar shares how his small procurement team transformed chaos into clarity by leveraging Jira, Workato, and Yooz to automate intake-to-PO, approvals, and even contract renewals. This episode is a blueprint for procurement leaders operating in fast-growth environments with tight budgets and limited resources.

You’ll hear how Oscar turned Jira—typically used for IT support—into a fully functional procurement intake and requisition system, integrated with finance and legal workflows. Plus, why choosing a standalone e-sourcing tool like DeepStream delivered faster ROI than investing in an all-in-one platform.

Other topics covered include:

1. Why Jira became the backbone of their intake and approval flows
2. Using Workato to link tools and automate tasks across systems
3. How they structured parallel approvals to speed up decision-making
4. Automating contract renewals and spend visibility with Atlassian modules
5. Why DeepStream was the right sourcing tool for their needs
6. Tips for prioritising digitisation based on procurement maturity

A must-listen for procurement professionals seeking practical, flexible solutions to scale procurement operations.

[01:46] Meet Oscar Fernandez, his procurement journey

[03:45] Starting with manual-heavy processes at FreeNow

[05:43] Early chaos: approvals and email overload

[07:26] Spotting inefficiencies and team scaling challenges

[10:12] Cost barriers to adopting full suites

[13:18] Jira as a no-code intake and requisition tool

[17:47] Automating approvals and connecting tools with Workato

[23:45] Choosing e-sourcing over analytics or SRM

[27:16] Why DeepStream fit their sourcing needs

[32:09] Advice for procurement leads with limited budget

[33:22] About ProCREWment—Oscar’s consultancy initiative

And that wraps up another episode of The Procurement Software Podcast!

Thanks again for listening, and do please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. Every one helps!

We'll be back at the same time next month, so see you there.

If you want to learn more about Procurement Software, check out the useful links below.

1. Connect with Oscar Fernández on LinkedIn
2. Check out ProCREWment
3. Download our Tech Map for Enterprise
4. Download our Tech Map for Mid-Market
5. Download our Tech Map for SMEs
6. Find your perfect procurement tech solution in our Software Finder app
7. Sign up for the Procurement Software Newsletter
8. Book an Intro Call and let’s talk all things Digital Procurement!
9. Connect with James on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Procurement Software Podcast, James Meads welcomes Brajan Gatys, Procurement Operations Lead at Personio, to explore how lean procurement teams can build powerful systems without specialist procurement tech.

Recorded after James and Brajan met in person at the Wolf Pack Summit in New York, this episode is a masterclass in how low-code and no-code platforms can transform procurement operations at scale.

Brajan walks us through how Personio uses tools like Airtable, Make, and Jira to manage intake, automate purchasing workflows, and even parse contracts with LLMs, all without being locked into a single vendor. Instead of buying off-the-shelf procurement suites, his team has built over 250 automations tailored to their exact needs.

You’ll learn why agility, vendor flexibility, and team-wide tech fluency have been core to Personio’s success, and how other teams can adopt a similar mindset.

Other topics covered include:

1. Avoiding traditional P2P and orchestration suites in favour of low-code tools
2. Using Airtable as a central procurement database and workflow engine
3. How they integrate with Ironclad (CLM) and Workday (ERP system)
4. Automating contract parsing and clause extraction with AI
5. Building internal SRM scoring models based on vendor risk and importance
6. Creating a culture that blends procurement expertise with tech-savviness

A must-listen for tech-savvy procurement teams looking to do more with less.

[01:05] Meet Brajan Gatys, Personio

[03:30] Why they chose low-code over SaaS

[07:40] Airtable as the procurement engine

[10:20] Automating POs and vendor onboarding

[14:00] Sourcing and async vendor collaboration

[18:00] Contracts, Ironclad, and clause extraction

[22:30] SRM scoring and supplier risk

[27:00] Culture, mindset, and learning low-code

[32:00] Time-saving tips and breaking the “no capacity” cycle

And that wraps up another episode of The Procurement Software Podcast!

Thanks again for listening, and do please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify. Every one helps!

We'll be back at the same time next month, so see you there.

If you want to learn more about Procurement Software, check out the useful links below.

1. Connect with Brajan Gatys on LinkedIn
2. Check out Personio
3. Download our Tech Map for Enterprise
4. Download our Tech Map for Mid-Market
5. Download our Tech Map for SMEs
6. Find your perfect procurement tech solution in our Software Finder app
7. Sign up for the Procurement Software Newsletter
8. Book an Intro Call and let’s talk all things Digital Procurement!
9. Connect with...