The event kicked off with a thought-provoking keynote address by Len DeCandia, a distinguished figure in the supply chain world. DeCandia’s speech, titled ‘Perspective from a CPO on Building the Bridge Between Procurement and Finance in Global Supply Chains During a New Era of Scarcity,’ set the tone for the day. He delved into the challenges he faced as the global CPO of the world’s largest healthcare company during the pandemic. His insights underscored the critical role of procurement and finance professionals in addressing the scarcity issues that are reshaping global supply chains in this transformational era.

Alfredo Hernández talked about Honeywell’s digital journey of implementing SAP Ariba Network to streamline their procurement processes. He explained the key benefits of the network, which included increased transparency, enhanced cash flow management, strengthened supplier relationships and reduced operational costs.

Rudolf Leuschner (Rutgers Business School) and Dale Rogers (Arizona State University) conducted an interactive session focused on inflation rates in the US and their implications. They provided distinction on demand-driven inflation and supply-driven inflation (Shapiro). Additionally, they delved into a detailed review of the Logistics Manager Index (LMI) and discussed the trends and impacts.

Our academic director, Luca Gelsomino presented research on ‘Supply Chain Finance: the imperative of integrated thinking’. During his presentation, he discussed the future of supply chain finance, focusing on the aspects of SME inclusiveness, sustainability, innovative models and integrated thinking.

The day featured two engaging panel discussions, offering in-depth insights into supply chain management and the role of fintech solutions.

John Impellizzeri (Rutgers Business School) moderated a panel that included Erwin Hermans from Givafifth, Jeff Thompson from Merck, and Manish Airen from Spinnaker SCA. This discussion centered on the skills required for integrating the supply chain and finance function in today’s business environment. The speakers elaborated on how today’s CPO or Supply Chain Manager needs to develop knowledge spacing from accounting to financial technology, and the role of Universities and Business Schools in shaping the new generation of Supply Chain Finance managers.

In an increasingly digital world, fintech solutions have become paramount. The day concluded with a panel moderated by Luca Gelsomino bringing together representatives from The Interface Financial Group, Oracle, Premium Technology Inc., and Infor. The discussion revolved around the evolving landscape of financial technology in supply chain finance.

Our SCF Corporate Event USA was not just about insightful sessions and engaging discussions, it also provided a platform for networking and knowledge exchange. Participants had the opportunity to interact with experts, share experiences, and build valuable connections within the field of supply chain finance.

Did you miss this event and would like to learn more about these topics? More corporate events are coming up this year and next year in various locations within Europe, USA and in Asia, so make sure to keep an eye on our website and sign up for our Newsletter to be the first one to hear about any upcoming events.