Episode 136: 2030 Predictions with SAP’s Gordon Donovan

This week, we, together with Gordon Donovan, explore the Procurement Imperative 2030 report, which outlines four future scenarios impacting procurement and supply chain: geopolitical shifts slowing globalization, the looming talent cliff, rising cybersecurity threats, and the urgency of climate resilience. Gordon discusses adapting strategies in sourcing, workforce, digital infrastructure, and sustainability, emphasizing collaboration, trust, and AI’s role in navigating complexity toward rewarding outcomes

Guest: Gordon Donovan, Vice President of Research for Procurement and External Workforce, SAP

Gordon Donovan is a seasoned procurement professional with over 30 years of experience in leading transformations and establishing functions that deliver enterprise-wide value. He holds a graduate diploma (1996) and a master’s degree in strategic procurement and is a Fellow of CIPS.

Recognized as a thought leader within procurement, Gordon is a sought-after speaker, writer, and presenter. He has led procurement teams across various sectors including Health, Rail, Finance, and the public sector in the UK, as well as across Asia.

In his role at SAP as Vice President of Research for Procurement and External Workforce, Gordon is responsible for tracking the latest trends in procurement, conducting in-depth research, and forming insights that help SAP plan their strategy accordingly.

Host: Richard Howells, SAP

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Useful Links:

Download Transcript (sap-podcast-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/the-future…)

The Procurement Imperative 2030 research:

impact.economist.com/projects/the-procurement-…

Supply Chain Management:

SAP Supply Chain Management (url.sap/5cusny)

SAP Insights: Supply Chain (url.sap/uie12e)

• Gordon Donovan: LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/gordon-donovan-6305b13)

• Richard Howells: LinkedIn (url.sap/pcxdrw), X (twitter.com/howellsrichard)

• SAP Digital Supply Chain: LinkedIn (url.sap/tuddpj)

Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!