Inside AOP's Acquisition of the ProcureTech100: Objectivity, Community, Impact

Procurement leaders today are drowning in tech noise. With hundreds of providers, emerging AI tools, and shifting priorities, how do you separate hype from high-impact? In this candid episode, AOP co-founders Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner reveal why they acquired the ProcureTech 100 and the Founders’ Circle—two powerful programs designed to bring transparency, objectivity, and real-world user insights to the procurement tech landscape. 💡 As Philip shares, “ProcureTech100 is the voice of the user. It's the voice of the customer.” Tune in to hear how this acquisition will reshape how procurement evaluates tech, selects providers, and participates in industry-shaping conversations. 🔍 You’ll learn: What makes the ProcureTech100 a truly peer-driven, practitioner-informed program Why objectivity and independence are critical to procurement tech intelligence How the Founders’ Circle fosters real-time exchange between practitioners and solution providers How AOP plans to integrate this into its advisory work, events, and community offerings New opportunities to get involved—whether you're a provider, judge, or procurement leader If you're evaluating tech or advising your team on digital transformation, this episode will give you a new lens to understand what’s next—and who to trust. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 00:25 – Overview of ProcureTech 100 and Founder's Circle 11:04 – What the Acquisition means for Art of Procurement 14:56 – Call for Judges 15:47 – Operating Models and Technology 17:22 – Advisory and Consulting 19:10 – How to Get Involved 21:21 – Save the Date 22:39 – Final Thoughts and Call for Input Subscribe to This Week in Procurement for the latest in procurement news, insights, and information: 👉https://resources.artofprocurement.co... 🌐Visit www.artofprocurement.com 🎧 Listen to the Art of Procurement podcast: https://artofprocurement.com/podcast/ About Art of Procurement: Art of Procurement was founded in 2015 to empower professionals at all levels to align procurement performance with corporate objectives. Whether it is based on the inspiration of the #1 procurement podcast hosted by Founder Philip Ideson, or through targeted advisory and content creation offerings, we guide our clients and brand partners on their journey to 10X the impact of procurement.