Behind the Wheel at Octopus EV: Alvin Castillo on Honest Procurement
A deep dive with Octopus EV’s Procurement Director, this week’s global risk roundup, plus a brand-new whitepaper on AI agents in manufacturing.
Hey Changemakers,
We’re back with another edition of our update series. Here’s what we’ve got in store for you this week:
A Conversation with Alvin Castillo
New Whitepaper Alert: Manufacturing 2.0 with AI Agents
Global Risk Roundup: What to Watch Now
We’d love to hear what you think—just hit reply to share your ideas, feedback, or to collaborate on an upcoming edition.
A Conversation with Alvin Castillo
A couple of weeks back, we caught up with Alvin Castillo, Vehicle Procurement Director at Octopus Electric Vehicles. From launching a procurement function at an early-stage disruptor to leading in a thriving EV space, Alvin shared his roadmap for procurement success that kept him on course along the way.
What we covered:
How Alvin built a procurement function from scratch at a budding disruptor in the EV space.
His tried and tested approach to building stronger relationships—internally and externally.
Why invoking a contract means you’ve failed as a partner.
What separates your top suppliers from the rest.
And why there’s no better time to be in procurement.
And yes—he’s test-driven practically every EV on the market (including the ones you haven’t even heard of yet!)
Don’t miss the full conversation:
Whitepaper Alert
Manufacturing 2.0: How AI Agents Are Reshaping Procurement and Wider Business Operations
AI agents are set to automate up to 50% of tasks, cut 30% of operating costs, and reshape your entire operating model. Traditional RPA couldn’t achieve this, but agentic AI—driven by breakthroughs in Large Language Models—can.
Transactional roles will be the most impacted in this new ecosystem.
This report brings together everything we’ve learned about AI agent applications in manufacturing, to show you:
How operating models are about to change, creating leaner, smarter, and exception-based workflows.
Why agentic AI and LLMs represent a true paradigm shift compared to RPA.
And what exactly your agentic transformation journey will look like.
A massive thank you to the guest contributors who shared their thoughts and insights.
And, if you haven’t already:
Global Risk Roundup
With President Trump back in office, the media is buzzing—here are the top risks we’ve got our eyes on this week.
1. “America First” Trade Policy
On Day One of his presidency, Trump issued a memorandum titled “America First Trade Policy,” directing federal agencies to review U.S. trade relationships and propose recommendations by April 1. Plans are in motion to impose a 10% tariff on China-based imports as soon as Feb. 1, and a 25% tariff on both Canada and Mexico by the same date. (Source)
2. Ending the De Minimis Loophole?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has outlined proposals to restrict duty-free treatment for low-cost imports. If enacted, goods below $800 in value that fall under Section 201, 232, or 301 tariffs would no longer bypass import duties. On top of that, shipments seeking a de minimis exemption would need to provide complete tariff classifications to judge eligibility. (Source)
3. Panama Canal Tensions
President Trump’s inaugural address on Monday included threats to “wrest the canal back” unless Panama reduces shipping rates and fees for U.S.-based vessels. Claiming Panama “overcharges the US Navy,” Trump warned that failing to comply could see the U.S. reclaim the canal—raising concerns of potential disruptions to this maritime route. (Source)
That’s it for this week, Changemakers!
Have feedback, ideas, or something you’d like us to cover next? Interested in collaborating with us on the Spotlight Interview series or contributing your work to an upcoming edition? Hit reply - we’d love to hear from you!
Until next time,
Deana
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