Written by Marijn Overvest | Reviewed by Sjoerd Goedhart | Fact Checked by Ruud Emonds | Our editorial policy

Procurement Conference — 10 Best Procurement Conferences

Attending a procurement conference allows you to meet like-minded professionals and industry peers in procurement. However, what are the reasons why procurement professionals attend a conference?

In this article, you will know some of the reasons why many procurement professionals attend a conference. We will also tell you some of the best conferences in 2022 and the upcoming conferences that await you in 2023.

Once you are done reading this article, you will have a better insight into procurement conferences. Additionally, this article will allow you to know some procurement conferences that you can join this 2023.

Procurement Conference: What is it and its Importance?

A procurement conference is a  gathering of procurement professionals that discusses the latest trends, achievements, challenges, and goals in procurement. It allows everyone in the procurement industry to learn about the different approaches and global trends in procurement.

Procurement conferences showcase the need and importance of procurement in today’s society as it continuously grows throughout the years. By attending a procurement conference, an individual will gain a lot of knowledge, opportunities, and connection in the field of procurement.

Procurement conferences allow professionals to be a catalyst of change in procurement. Through gathering with like-minded individuals, procurement professionals are empowered to change the processes to improve procurement and contribute to the betterment of the world.  

10 Best Procurement Conferences That Await You in 2023

Of course, there are new conferences that will happen again in 2023 that will enable you to connect with other procurement professionals. Thus, allowing you to be knowledgeable about the new trends, techniques, challenges, and goals for 2023 in the field of procurement industry.

The following are the conferences that you should aim for to go in 2023:

1. The 6th Annual Chief Procurement Officers Summit 2023

Website: 3Novex Global

When: September 26-27, 2023

Where: Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Center

The 6th Annual Chief Procurement Officers Summit is coming back again in 2023. The tentative date of this conference is on the 26th and 27th of September in Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Center.

Although there are not many details about it yet, we can say that just like last year, the key topics will be relevant to procurement professionals in enhancing their careers. Click here to enquire and check for their upcoming events, especially the 6th Annual Chief Procurement Officers Summit 2023.

2. 100 CPO Forum 2023 (2nd Edition)

Website: 3Novex Global

When: November 15, 2023

Where: The H Dubai, UAE

The first edition of the CPO Forum 2023 was a success. Thus, why it is making a comeback in 2023. Just like the 6th Annual Chief Procurement Officer Summit, it is also organized by 3novex Global.

The tentative date of the 2nd edition of the 100 CPO Forum is on November 15, 2022, in The H Dubai, UAE. Just like last year, the one-day conference will be full of interactive sessions focusing on the best practices in procurement.

If you wish to go to this forum, then click here to enquire about the event. Do not miss it!

3. 19th Annual RLA Conference and Expo

Website: Reverse Logistics Association

When: February 7-9, 2023

Where: Las Vegas, NV

The 19th Annual RLA Conference and Expo is set for February 7 to 9, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, the pre-event begins in the afternoon of February 6.

It is a worldwide event for reverse logistics professionals that caters to powerful keynote speakers, content-driven discussions, and various networking opportunities for three days! Do not miss the opportunity to go! It will be a fun and excellent experience as you gather with like-minded professionals.

4. Gartner Supply Chain Symposium 2023

Website: Gartner

When: May 8-9, 2023

Where: Orlando, Florida

The Gartner Supply Chain Symposium 2023 is a well-known conference by many supply chain professionals. It will take place in Orlando, Florida on May 8 to 9 of 2023.

The conference is said to deliver frameworks, strategies, and insights for chief supply chain officers and supply chain leaders to make a bold move and drive real impact in their organizations.

It will explore and tackle these big ideas and actionable insights to help supply chain leaders in transforming their supply chain:

• Establish agile and resilient supply chain strategies
• Lessen the risks and quickly respond to disruptions
• Purse digital initiatives to drive growth
• Nurture talents for the future
• Prioritize technology investments to successfully achieve business objectives and goals.

5. Supply Chain USA 2023

Website: Reuters

When: May 17-24, 2023

Where: North America

Supply Chain USA 2023, organized by Reuters, is said to be the most comprehensive supply chain event in North America. The conference is set for May 17 to 18, 2023 in Chicago.

The conference will bring together the best supply chain professionals and relevant stakeholders to share new best practices and strategies for the future of the supply chain.

6. 2023 ASCM CONNECT Annual Conference

Website: Association For Supply Chain Management

When: September 11-13, 2023

Where: Louisville, Kentucky

The 2023 ASCM CONNECT Annual Conference will take place in Louisville, Kentucky on September 11 to 13, 2023. It is the largest non-profit association for supply chain companies. It is an unbiased partner that connects companies around the world with industry experts and global standards to transform the supply chain.

The 2023 ASCM CONNECT Annual Conference will bring the biggest names and discuss the new trends in the supply chain to help you make valuable connections and drive business results forward. 

7. ProcureCon Asia 2023

Website: ProcureConAsia

When: July 11-13, 2023

Where: Equarius Hotel, Singapore

ProcureCon Asia 2023 is the flagship event to benchmark your strategy with Asia’s biggest companies. The conference will start on July 11 to 13, 2023 in Equarius Hotel, Singapore.

The conference will be full of inspirational keynotes, learning sessions, and networking sessions to connect.

At this conference, you will discover how procurement professionals from the largest companies in Asia manage market volatility, Integrate their ESG goals, Develop a tailored SRM approach, and nurture people to win the post-pandemic war for talents.

8. World Digital Procurement Summit 2023

Website: Luxatia International

When: March 2-3, 2023

Where: Berlin, Germany

The World Digital Procurement Summit 2023 will be held in Berlin, Germany, as well as online, On March 2 and 3, 2023. The conference is dedicated to improving procurement processes and technologies.

It will cover topics such as:

• New strategies and technologies for procurement processes
• Latest advances in data and cognitive technologies
• Skill Set required for the digital transformation of procurement
•  ESG metrics
• Best practices in procurement

9. ESG Procurement Conference 2023

Website: ESG procurement Conference

When: September 5-7, 2023

Where: Sydney, Australia

The ESG Procurement Conference 2023 which will be held in Sydney, Australia from September 5 to 7 2023, is designed to help businesses to transform their procurement operations to deliver tangible ESG benefits with valuable benchmarking, information sharing, and practical case studies.

10. ProcureCon Europe 2023

Website: ProcureCon

When: October 17-19, 2023

Where: Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower, Spain

Much like ProcureCon Asia, ProcureCon Europe 2023 is a flagship procurement event in benchmarking your strategy with the world’s biggest companies. The event will be held in Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower, Spain, from October 17 to 19, 2023.

It is a conference that gives insight to procurement professionals about procurement innovations and issues that may enhance working capital and cost savings. So what are you waiting for, get your tickets now!

Why Do Professionals Attend A Procurement Conference?

It may seem a silly question at first to ask why people attend a conference. However, it is important for someone, especially an individual who will attend a conference for the first time, to know what they can get from the conference to truly enjoy the experience. 

Here are some of the reasons why many procurement professionals attend a conference:

1. Meeting new people and building a network

Conferences are a good way for other procurement professionals to meet you. Regardless of their position, you can make a connection with them that could greatly impact your professional career. 

This is important when you are looking for collaborators and new ideas. It is a great way to begin establishing your name in the field of procurement, especially if you are invited as a speaker. 

Procurement conferences are the place where you meet people with the same mind as you. It brings procurement professionals from all different areas of the world together. Thus, it is a good place to reconnect with people you met in the past and to connect with new people.

2. Expanding your knowledge

Every year, there will be a lot of new things in the field of procurement. These new things could be new techniques, new trends, new challenges, new types of equipment, or learnings from other professionals you may not have previously heard from the conferences you attended in the past. 

Attending procurement conferences gives you the opportunity to talk to other professionals about the new things they are working on. Thus, they may give you advice on how you can enhance your work.

3. Learn beyond your field

Procurement conferences have many sessions that will enhance your professional development and career. Although attendees are united in a single topic in a conference, it has different sub-fields of study in which you can learn new things. 

Some of The Best Procurement Conferences in 2022 That You Might Have Missed

1. The 5th Annual CPO Summit 2022

The 5th Annual CPO Summit was organized by the CPO series which is a division of 3novex Global in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The conference gathered 187 attendees from 98 organizations globally. It aims to empower procurement agility in the age of digitization despite the disruptions in the world today.

The Conference invited many renowned and experienced leaders in procurement to discuss new industry techniques, trends, and best practices that will improve the professional career of everyone who joined the conference.

The invited speakers include Mr.Sebastian Chua, Mr. Louis Wong, Mr. Sanjay Desai, Ms. Teresa Matheson, and Mr. Marijn Overvest who shared their valuable knowledge and vast experience with other procurement professionals.

2. Gartner Supply Chain Symposium Xpo 2022

The Gartner Supply Chain Symposium Xpo 2022 which was conducted in June of 2022 in Orlando, Florida, provided its attendees with new insights, strategies, and a framework to make bold moves and drive real impact in procurement.

The topics discussed at the conference include:

• Strategy, leadership, and supply chain planning
• Logistics and fulfillment
• Supply chain operations
• Sourcing and procurement
• Retail and CPG
• New technologies in procurement

3. Digital Procurement World Conference 2022

This Digital Procurement World Conference 2022 which took place in Amsterdam from September 21 to 22, 2022, enabled procurement professionals to be inspired in innovating strategies and deliver new solutions in procurement.

The key topics in the Digital Procurement World Conference include:

• Innovation and decentralization
• Overcoming digital transformation failures
• Procurement as the center of ESG
• Risk management
• Data and analytics
• Technology transformation
• The future of procurement

4. ProcureCon Europe 2022

ProcureCon Europe 2022 which took place in Spain on September 27 to 29 of 2022 is a flagship event for many CPOs and procurement leaders around the world. It gives professionals in the procurement and supply chain industry the opportunity to benchmark their strategies and find the best way to thrive in the uncertainty of today’s market.

5. World Procurement Congress 2022

The World Procurement Congress 2022 which happened in London from June 22 to 15, 2022, focused on inspiring procurement leaders in pushing the boundaries when it comes to ESG, innovation, and supply chain resiliency.

The key topics discussed include:

• Being strategic and tactical
• The future of procurement
• Digital transformation
• Collaboration
• ESG
• Innovative ecosystem

Procurement Expert’s Advice on Procurement Conference

For this article, we asked an experienced procurement expert to share her insights to help answer common questions about procurement conference.

Conclusion

Participating in procurement conferences is a key element of ongoing professional development, ensuring professionals stay ahead in their field.

This article underscores the value of these conferences for networking, learning, and staying informed about industry trends. Exploring the 2023 conferences offers valuable insights for career development, making attendance a strategic investment in professional growth.