CPO Crunch: It's all about the data - Procurement Leaders

CPO Crunch: It’s all about the data By David Rae 5 May 2026 Love it or loathe it, getting clean, timely data is crucial to unlocking procurement’s potential Depending on which way your bread is buttered, an in-depth discussion on data management will either get your juices flowing or lead to invented excuses for why you need to be somewhere else at that very time. Regardless of which camp you’re in, there’s no denying the importance of clean, timely data. It provides the foundation to unlock a huge amount of value, and with the average procurement function sitting on biblical volumes of third-party information, it also can unlock the true potential of new and emerging technology. Gerardo Aguilar, global head of indirect procurement at global agricultural technology group Syngenta, certainly understands this – and he has done for a while. In January 2023, Gerardo launched a transformative data strategy centred on building a ‘one-stop shop’ analytics platform called Procure360 that provides the ability for procurement to shift from tactical tasks to strategic. By prioritising data quality and collaborating closely with IT, the solution integrates internal ERP data with external market intelligence, enabling the team to leverage agentic technology to drive predictive insights and proactive opportunity spotting. Gerardo kindly shared learnings from his programme with fellow CPOs during a Procurement Leaders community call a couple of weeks ago, and a few things stuck with me from what he shared. First, he prioritised data. This sounds obvious but, by making data one of his top three priorities, Gerardo was able to allocate investment, be more purposeful and maintain momentum over several years. Second, he took an agile approach to launch, iterating the platform with users across successive releases, rather than hoping to build a finished product in one go. Third, he introduced a certification system, with multi-tiered qualifications to encourage use and, as a result, impact. This succeeded in gamifying the rollout and much greater adoption. There were many other takeaways from the session, but the picture Gerardo painted was one where the system – which can only be built on clean data – pushes opportunities to the team for them to execute, leading to huge productivity gains and humans spending their time on the important things. So, while data might not be everyone’s favourite subject, getting it right is the key that can unlock a huge amount of value. To receive weekly insights from the Procurement Leaders community, sign up to the  CPO Crunch  newsletter using the link at the top of this page . The CPO Crunch Inspiring CPO community insights – straight from the source into your inbox. Subscribe to your CPO newsletter: Thanks for subscribing to the CPO Crunch newsletter. Keep an eye on your inbox for your first one. More insights Being a CPO: Probably the best job in the world READ MORE Research – Beyond centre-led: The future of procurement operating models READ MORE World Procurement Congress 2024: We’re only just getting started READ MORE Thought leader: How to get early supplier involvement right READ MORE Procurement – much more than a job READ MORE CPO Crunch: The procurement culture club READ MORE New research: supply chain transparency – enabling insights into the invisible READ MORE CPO Crunch: A rewarding time READ MORE CPO Crunch: Hydrogen making its mark READ MORE CPO Crunch: Looking back on the ‘year of AI’ READ MORE 2024 planning: Supporting growth by expanding strategic procurement and optimising operating models READ MORE Research: Purpose-driven procurement: Entering an age of holistic value READ MORE Research: High-velocity procurement READ MORE Can brands save profits without squeezing suppliers? READ MORE Next generation category management READ MORE CPO Crunch: Cause for (cautious) optimism READ MORE CPO Crunch: Building for the next crisis READ MORE CPO Crunch: Putting procurement at the heart of rapid investment READ MORE CPO Crunch: Communication key to cyber response READ MORE