Sustainability, Efficiency and the Future of Business

What do procurement and supply chain solutions have to do with sustainability? In 2025, businesses need to be both efficient and environmentally responsible. Co-located at the Willis Tower in Chicago, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE and Sustainability LIVE provided two jam-packed days to explore the intersections of sustainability with procurement and supply chain management.

We had the chance to connect with several companies at the Expo. As expected, AI was the buzzword. It was exciting to see AI leveraged across platforms in a way that not only drives operational efficiency but also supports sustainable decision-making.

At the Levelpath booth, their AI-native platform streamlines procurement through automated tasks, providing insights to simplify workflows and make decisions faster. From predictive analytics for demand forecasting to smart sourcing that reduces waste and carbon footprints, the Expo showcased innovation technology solutions to take AI from idea to implementation.

One of the highlight sessions was ‘The Evolution of Procurement in the Age of AI.’ Ashley Hetrick from BDO USA shared her insights on where we can leverage AI to ultimately evolve organizational structures. She posed the question, “Are we fundamentally changing what the job is so that AI can be a part of it?” While Ashley was talking specifically about procurement and supply chain, this could be said about any industry and the conversations surrounding AI.

Another highlight was the ‘Spend Management Strategies with Finexio’ panel. Chris Wyatt, Chief Strategy Officer at Finexio, shared that communication is a lever for change, and how maximizing efficiencies will help better facility interactions between companies throughout the process, procurement or otherwise.

The other buzzword we all knew would enter the chat: Tariffs. Chuck Hatsis, CME Group, shared the pencil example that has been circulating for the last few weeks from American economist Milton Friedman. In the video that has resurfaced in the last few weeks, the idea is that something as simple as a pencil is a global effort, with materials sourced from all over the world. The takeaway: the complexity of the supply chain is intense, and leveraging technology to is essential to navigate a global economy. 

We love attending industry events to keep ahead of the latest innovation and share insights with our clients. Special thanks to Jasmin Jessen, Deputy Editor of Sustainability Magazine for the invite.