Joe Gibson Reveals How Tech-Curious Procurement Teams Achieve Next-Gen Evolution

4C Associates’ Director of Digital Innovation shares his practical tech roadmap and change management journey for procurement pros!

Hey Changemakers,

Welcome to another edition filled with insights and practical takeaways. Here’s what we’re diving into this week:

• A Conversation with Joe Gibson

• Global Risk Roundup: What to Watch Now

• The Art of What's Possible: Automating Your RFQ Process

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A Conversation with Joe Gibson

We caught up with Joe Gibson, Director of Digital Innovation at 4C Associates. With 14 years of experience across transformation, procurement, and supply chain, Joe champions digital literacy for leadership, guiding organisations through the world of AI and next-gen technology. We sat down with him to unpack what a truly successful digital innovation blueprint looks like for procurement and the wider business.

What we covered:

• How generational shifts are reshaping the way we work, consume, and expect constant change.

• Why procurement teams are still bogged down with manual tasks, even as tech matures at breakneck speed.

• Crucial steps to address before signing a tech contract: “If you start your change journey the day you sign the license agreement, you’ve already left it too late.”

• How long should you really run technology solutions to see ROI, and understanding timelines.

• What building continuous user adoption looks like and why it’s a critical piece of your “transformation” journey.

A must-watch for any procurement professional hoping to become more digitally literate this year.

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Global Risk Roundup

Here are the latest updates we’ve got our eyes on this week:

1. Shipping Firms Pull Back from Hong Kong to Skirt US-China Risks

Shipping companies are rerouting vessels away from Hong Kong as a means of avoiding added risks stemming from US-China tensions and tariffs. Others are making contingency plans to do so. While this tactic may reduce regulatory complications, it also imposes longer transit times and higher freight costs. (Source)

2. Potential Tariffs on Foreign Timber
President Trump has ordered a broad review of the wood supply chain, prompting U.S. departments to consider tariffs, quotas, or new permitting rules. The goal is to reduce reliance on foreign timber in the name of national security. Construction firms are already feeling the pinch: many rushed orders of wood products in January to avoid looming tariffs, while others renegotiated contract clauses to protect against rising supply costs. (Source)

3. U.S. Pauses Auto Tariffs by One Month

The United States announced a one-month tariff exemption on cars imported through the USMCA from Canada and Mexico. This follows discussions between President Trump and the Big Three automakers, offering short-term breathing room for the auto industry, which had been bracing for higher import costs. (Source)

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The Art of What’s Possible

This edition we’re looking at RFQs! With an AI agent, you can automate the entire Request for Quotation process, from creation and distribution to follow-ups and bid analysis.

No more chasing quotes or juggling multiple tools. Built-in checks and automated workflows keep you on track. While you spend less time on data wrangling and more on creating real value.

Check out our latest use case video to see how it works:

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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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