Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Chicago, hosted at Willis Tower on May 28–29, 2025, brought together top procurement, supply chain, and sustainability leaders for two days of high-impact networking, panels, and workshops. The event featured more than 60 speakers, including CPOs and CSCOs from global brands such as Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services, Danaher Corporation, Victoria’s Secret & Co., Best Buy, and The Clorox Company, the agenda focused on critical topics like risk and resilience, sustainable supply chains, the evolution of AI in procurement, and spend management strategies.

The Liberis Consulting’s team was actively engaged throughout the event fing the event invaluable for connecting with both established industry leaders and the vibrant community of procurement and supply chain startups present at the conference. Several dominant trends emerged from the event’s panels and workshops, which were central to Liberis Consulting’s conversations:

• AI and Digital Transformation: The evolution of AI, particularly agentic AI, was a recurring theme, with discussions centered on how it is reshaping procurement strategies and enabling smarter, more efficient operations.
• Sustainability Integration: The co-location with Sustainability LIVE underscored the growing importance of responsible, sustainable procurement and supply chain practices, with many startups offering solutions for ESG compliance and supply chain transparency.
• Risk and Resilience: The need for robust risk management and resilient supply chains was emphasized, especially considering recent global disruptions. Startups in this space demonstrated advanced analytics and real-time risk monitoring tools.

A major highlight for Liberis Consulting was the opportunity to engage with innovative startups that showcased new solutions in areas such as:

• Agentic AI for procurement automation and decision support
• Digital procurement platforms streamlining source-to-pay (S2P) processes
• Sustainability-focused supply chain management tools
• Next-generation risk and resilience analytics

These startups brought fresh perspectives and disruptive technologies to the table, sparking conversations about how emerging tools can address longstanding pain points in procurement and supply chain management. Liberis Consulting’s team exchanged insights with founders and product leads, discussing practical applications of these solutions for enterprise clients and exploring potential partnerships.

For Liberis Consulting, this event was a catalyst for deepening industry relationships, staying ahead of technological trends, and identifying new avenues for client value creation. The firm’s active participation in conversations with startups and established players alike reinforced its commitment to driving innovation and supporting clients in navigating the rapidly evolving procurement and supply chain landscape.