ISPnext looks back on DPW Amsterdam 2025

This year's central theme, “Put AI to Work”, was evident in every session, pitch and panel discussion. From Google DeepMind's keynote speech to the conversation with Paul Polman about leadership in times of disruption, AI was the focus everywhere. According to John Schouten, agentic AI is becoming increasingly mature. Not as hype, but as a concrete addition to strategic decision-making. "We are moving towards a time when procurement professionals will not only use AI, but will truly collaborate with agents who think along with them and make adjustments." The presentations on data-driven decision-making and sustainable chains showed how technology contributes to smarter, faster and more resilient procurement strategies.

During the session "Agentic AI: Moving Beyond Pilots to Enterprise Impact," participants shared how companies are applying AI at scale within Source-to-Pay. Siemens Energy and Danone demonstrated how AI predicts and manages risks in the supply chain. The common thread was that AI is only valuable when it enhances human expertise. John emphasised that this collaboration ensures more reliable processes and greater strategic clout.

Visitors to our stand were given exclusive previews of three new add-ons within the ISPnext Source-to-Pay platform. We introduced Procurement Team Management, a solution that clearly maps out responsibilities within procurement teams. We also presented nextAI in Contract Management, which automatically identifies risks in contract texts, and nextAI in AP Automation, which drastically reduces manual invoice processing. "These innovations demonstrate how we use AI with an eye for control, compliance and ease of use," said John. "Not only smart, but also reliable."

Another recurring topic at DPW was the strategic use of data. In several sessions, Spend Analytics was mentioned as the key to better decision-making. Whether it was about CO2 reduction, compliance or supplier management, insight into spend makes all the difference. John summed it up aptly: "It's not just about what's happening, but why it's happening and what you need to do now."

DPW 2025 provided plenty of food for thought about the direction in which procurement is developing. For ISPnext, it was valuable to exchange ideas with other experts and to show how our platform contributes to current themes such as AI, compliance and sustainability.

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