Celebrating how procurement has worked with the supply base to foster product, service or process innovation.

The supply base is a rich source of new ideas and procurement is perfectly positioned to orchestrate how the organisation can capture and leverage that fresh thinking.

Celebrating significant advancement in a procurement function, whether it be the improvement of an underperforming team or taking an already high-performing unit to the next level.

Procurement transformation can be driven by a number of goals – to achieve a step change in capability, move closer to business strategy, align with key markets or respond to business or political cycles, to name a few.

Showcasing the function that illustrates close alignment and deep collaboration with the business to deliver success.

True business partnership means procurement is involved in strategic decision-making with relevant functional teams from an early stage and is a valued contributor to strategic planning.

Recognising the procurement function that is significantly reducing the organisation’s environmental impact through innovative and collaborative approaches across the business and supply base.

Procurement has a huge opportunity to positively impact the environmental and social agenda due to the influence it wields over the supply base. Leaders in this space will demonstrate how they work upstream to drive improved sustainability performance or tackle social issues, such as supporting local or underprivileged communities, or fighting child labour and modern slavery in the supply chain.

Celebrating the procurement function that uses its influence and reach to deliver a more inclusive and equitable supply base.

With many global companies purchasing goods and services from tens of thousands of suppliers, the opportunity to make significant improvements to the range within that supply base is obvious. Responsible and progressive procurement functions must look to work with suppliers that are representative of the communities, geographies and demographics that they serve.

Recognising teams that share a clear purpose and are committed to excellence in procurement and driving business impact; yet foster a culture of openness, individual and collective growth, and trust.

Nothing is more beneficial to a business than a team that achieves success and demonstrates excellence through a collaborative, creative and proactive approach. But the reward isn’t just for the business – individuals in such teams flourish when offered growth opportunities within an empowering and inclusive environment.

Celebrating the senior-most procurement leader who empowers their team, inspires progress within the function and is fixated on delivering sustainable and business-critical results for the organisation.

The SAP Ariba CPO of the Year Award recognises a great leader who is at the top of their game and is responsible for a high-performing team that delivers tangible business results.

Please note: this category is restricted to senior-most executives with strategic responsibility for their organisation’s procurement function.

Highlighting an individual who is one to watch for the future – a passionate, curious high-performer who has spent less than five years in procurement but is destined for great things, whether as a future CPO or leader elsewhere in the business.

Recognising and developing future leaders is crucial to retaining high-potential employees and enabling effective succession planning – these are the individuals who will be leading procurement organisations in the coming years and who will take the function itself to even greater heights.

Showcasing a procurement organisation that has helped the business to navigate unexpected events and volatile environments by using advanced techniques, processes and technology.

Supply chains are a complex melting pot of risk, as an uncertain global business environment and turbulent geopolitical landscape provide a uniquely challenging operational environment for procurement teams. Those purchasing functions that provide predictability, security of supply, rapid-response capabilities, and confidence to the executive committee will drive significant competitive advantage.

Recognising how a function has taken a fresh approach to managing its complex supply chain to deliver a positive business impact, or has collaborated deeply with the enterprise supply chain function. Supply chain agility has never been more critical to maintaining the flow of goods and services to ensure company success and customer satisfaction. Procurement functions that drive and collaborate on supply chain initiatives that have positively impacted the performance of a company will stand out.

Judges will be looking for entries that highlight how procurement has – either through a specific project or a long-term programme that has achieved significant results – through deep collaboration or technological ingenuity.

Recognising how a function has taken a fresh approach to managing its complex supply chain to deliver a positive business impact, or has collaborated deeply with the enterprise supply chain function. Supply chain agility has never been more critical to maintaining the flow of goods and services to ensure company success and customer satisfaction. Procurement functions that drive and collaborate on supply chain initiatives that have positively impacted the performance of a company will stand out.

Judges will be looking for entries that highlight how procurement has – either through a specific project or a long-term programme that has achieved significant results – through deep collaboration or technological ingenuity.

Celebrating the procurement function that has driven significant positive impact by implementing a digital technology or data solution.

Deploying technology for technology’s sake has repeatedly resulted in disappointing, expensive failures. But those procurement organisations that make full use of the data at their disposal to drive business insight or adopt leading digital solutions can drive significant competitive advantage.

Recognising the technology provider that demonstrates the most impactful and valuable solution for procurement functions.

Procurement excellence cannot be achieved without digital enablement and the functions that partner with solution providers that provide a significant return on investment are the ones that progress faster. This award celebrates technology solutions that have a clear value proposition and address a meaningful and tangible procurement challenge or opportunity.

Highlighting the consultancy or advisory organisation that is helping procurement to push boundaries within its business.

Professional services firms have made a significant contribution to the evolution of the function over the years and continue to do so. This award recognises the project in which a procurement team has been supported by an external organisation through the provision of advisory, consulting or recruitment services.