{"id":615957,"date":"2023-03-09T08:49:17","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T14:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/09\/executive-interview-bt-chief-procurement-officer-cyril-pourrat\/"},"modified":"2023-03-09T08:49:17","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T14:49:17","slug":"executive-interview-bt-chief-procurement-officer-cyril-pourrat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/09\/executive-interview-bt-chief-procurement-officer-cyril-pourrat\/","title":{"rendered":"Executive interview: BT chief procurement officer, Cyril Pourrat"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/5G-mobile-network-speed-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" data-credit=\"iaremenko - stock.adobe.com\"  width=\"520\" height=\"173\" alt><\/p>\n<p>iaremenko &#8211; stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"content-header\">\n<h2>BT Sourced is part of BT Group and aims to tackle the telecommunications giant\u2019s multibillion-pound spending. We speak to its procurement chief<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-center\">\n<ul>\n<li><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i data-icon=\"2\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"contributors-block\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Cliff-Saran-Sep-2022-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"Cliff Saran\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/contributor\/Cliff-Saran\">Cliff Saran,<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Managing Editor<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\tPublished: <span>08 Mar 2023 9:00<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"content-body\">\n<p>As part of its Making Finance Brilliant Programme, BT is implementing SAP S\/4Hana for finance to provide a digital core to streamline procurement. The company has also migrated its suppliers to the SAP Ariba procurement platform and is deploying SAP Concur to manage expenses.<\/p>\n<p>BT Sourced, a separate procurement business within the telco, has recently deployed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart sourcing platform from Globality to transform how employees source and procure services.<\/p>\n<p>BT\u2019s chief procurement officer, Cyril Pourrat, describes the role of BT Sourced as \u201cbuying the right stuff at the right price\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>This is an important consideration, given the company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/365530122\/Record-fibre-growth-fails-to-halt-mixed-Q3-for-BT-revenues-fall\">spends billions annually<\/a> on buying things. \u201cWe have absolutely focused on our cost base for all our stakeholders and shareholders,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>For Pourrat, a procurement system needs to do more than track purchase orders and provide a side-by-side comparison of goods and services. The ability to pull in historical data from the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and track purchasing across BT Group is key to understanding spending trends and making more informed supplier negotiations.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<hr>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Procurement with a difference\">\n<h3><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Procurement with a difference<\/h3>\n<p>BT Sourced, which runs out of Dublin, was set up in 2021 to deliver digital transformation across the procurement function of the company.<\/p>\n<p>Like other telcos, procurement spend accounts for a significant proportion of the company\u2019s annual turnover. But while rival businesses also run separate procurement operations, Pourrat wants BT Sourced to be different.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want you to fully leverage AI, machine learning and the digital ecosystem to position ourselves differently compared to other procurement companies,\u201d he says. \u201cWe truly believe that digital is the way to go. This is the way that technology will enable procurement to change.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Cyril-Pourrat-BT-Sourced-140x180px.jpg\" alt>\n  <\/p>\n<p><span><strong><span>\u201cWe truly believe that digital is the way to go. This is the way that technology will enable procurement to change\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span>Cyril Pourrat, BT Sourced<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He says even people who are not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/opinion\/IT-Sustainability-Think-Tank-Aligning-procurement-with-the-principles-of-the-circular-economy\">procurement professionals<\/a> are able to use the Globality platform. For Pourrat, enterprise software needs to be \u201cconsumer grade\u201d, which means users don\u2019t need training to understand it. \u201cWe want everything to be achieved in two clicks, and ideally just by speaking,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, Pourrat regards the use of natural language queries in such enterprise software as a means to simplify work. While there is plenty of debate over ChatGPT and how it might replace certain industry roles, Pourrat believes the role of the procurement team is not going away.<\/p>\n<p>The team, he says, will focus on the more strategic areas of procurement. For instance, with greater levels of visibility enabled through digitisation, it becomes possible to deliver predictive procurement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of ideas,\u201d he says, but the system and the workload of the procurement team has meant that they have not been implemented.<\/p>\n<p>For Pourrat, the promise of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/feature\/Improving-finance-and-accounting-software-with-AI\">natural language query processing<\/a> is that it will greatly simplify the way users interact with business software that drives the procurement process.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, he says, users simply need to answer a set of questions. \u201cThey will just enter their answer in natural language and the tool will be able to create a statement of work, which will be sent to our preferred suppliers,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Once it has been received, the supplier is then able to respond directly using BT\u2019s procurement platform and the user is able to track its progress.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Analysing activity to inform actions\">\n<h3><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Analysing activity to inform actions<\/h3>\n<p>While the trend is towards simplifying the workflow so users do not have to be procurement professionals to use the system, Pourrat believes the procurement team\u2019s role will become more analytical. The amount of data points they are able to collect and the ability to deep dive will improve their understanding of suppliers and help with the decision-making process.<\/p>\n<p>He says: \u201cWhat does it mean if I\u2019m moving a bit more left or a bit more right? What are the consequences?\u201d In the past, he says, those working in procurement needed a lot of knowledge in the area they specialised in to help them make such decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Pourrat has a team of six data scientists working on what the company describes as \u201cnegotiation and analytics\u201d. The idea is to go beyond merely presenting information on a dashboard. Instead, the goal is to look at how all the data that is being collected can be used to improve how BT negotiates with suppliers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know the purchase patterns and can look at the last three years of purchase orders,\u201d he says. Armed with this information, Pourrat says the procurement team can then have a conversion with the people in BT\u2019s business units responsible for purchases.<\/p>\n<p>The level of detail available from the procurement data makes it possible to understand how much is being spent with a particular supplier on a month-by-month basis. This becomes a stepping stone to predictive procurement.<\/p>\n<p>Listen to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/podcast\/Procurement-AI-A-Computer-Weekly-Downtime-Upload-podcast\">podcast >><\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"DigDeeperSplash\">\n<h4>\n\t\t\t<i data-icon=\"m\"><\/i>Read more on CW500 and IT leadership skills<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/podcast\/Procurement-AI-A-Computer-Weekly-Downtime-Upload-podcast\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/collab_a78129054_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/collab_a78129054_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/onlineimages\/collab_a78129054.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Procurement AI: A Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Cliff-Saran-Sep-2022-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"CliffSaran\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Cliff\u00a0Saran<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252523705\/Seacom-teams-up-with-BT-to-deliver-enterprise-communications-services-across-Africa\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/BT Tower2-BT_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/BT%20Tower2-BT_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/BT%20Tower2-BT.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Seacom teams up with BT to deliver enterprise communications services across Africa<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Joe-OHalloran-2022-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"JoeO\u2019Halloran\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Joe\u00a0O\u2019Halloran<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252520717\/BT-beefs-up-broadband-speeds-for-small-businesses-on-copper-lines\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/BT-small-business-hero_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/BT-small-business-hero_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/BT-small-business-hero.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>BT beefs up broadband speeds for small businesses on copper lines<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Joe-OHalloran-2022-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"JoeO\u2019Halloran\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Joe\u00a0O\u2019Halloran<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252505464\/Adam-Crozier-to-lead-BT-transformation-as-chairman\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/BT-Logo-hero_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/BT-Logo-hero_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/BT-Logo-hero.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Adam Crozier to lead BT transformation as chairman<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Joe-OHalloran-2022-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"JoeO\u2019Halloran\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Joe\u00a0O\u2019Halloran<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/365531598\/Executive-interview-BT-chief-procurement-officer-Cyril-Pourrat\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Margarete Schroeder<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>iaremenko &#8211; stock.adobe.com BT Sourced is part of BT Group and aims to tackle the telecommunications giant\u2019s multibillion-pound spending. We speak to its procurement chief By Cliff Saran, Managing Editor Published: 08 Mar 2023 9:00 As part of its Making Finance Brilliant Programme, BT is implementing SAP S\/4Hana for finance to provide a digital core<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":615958,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4738,22316,46],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-615957","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-executive","8":"category-interview","9":"category-technology"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=615957"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615957\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/615958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=615957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=615957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=615957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}