TL;DR Procurement - 07/03/2025
Here's your curated roundup of what mattered this week in procurement.
👋 Howdy, Welcome to TLDR Procurement! Each week, we curate the best procurement insights from across the web and deliver them in an easily consumable format.
⚠️ Risk, Compliance & Ethics
Critical Minerals Sourcing Rises Amid Trade Tensions — 4 min
Countries are scrambling to secure rare earths, cobalt, and lithium amid geopolitical risks. Expect sourcing teams to reprioritize regions and build deeper visibility across mineral supply chains.
Consumers React Strongly to Tariffs & Unethical Sourcing — 3 min
New research shows customers are willing to walk away from brands over unethical practices or tariff-induced pricing spikes. Transparency isn't optional anymore — it's your retention strategy.
Fairlife Faces New Fraud & Animal Cruelty Claims — 2 min
Fairlife and its supplier are under fire (again) for animal abuse and fraud. A reminder that procurement isn’t just about price — supplier ethics can make or break brand reputation.
Managing Supplier Nth-Party IT Risk — 5 min
McKinsey urges a “critical-risk-first” lens for IT risk. It’s not enough to know your vendors — you need to know their vendors too.
🧠 Strategy, Events & Leadership
Making Sourcing More Strategic — 4 min
When uncertainty rules, strategy wins. This piece unpacks how supplier flexibility and better forecasting are defining today’s high-performing sourcing teams.
4 Takeaways from Procurement LIVE Chicago — 3 min
AI, collaboration, and culture were front and center at this year’s event. A useful peek into what’s top-of-mind for practitioners and leaders alike.
Direct Procurement Webinar Recap — 2 min
Direct procurement is stepping out of the shadows. The webinar spotlighted ways to shift from a cost center to a competitive edge.
🤖 AI & Digital Transformation
SMBs: Start AI Small and Smart — 4 min
If you’re an SMB, AI adoption starts with clean data and focused wins like spend analysis or intake triage — not flashy tools you can’t use yet.
What Is Agentic AI? (Part 1) — 3 min
Agentic AI acts on your behalf to get things done — not just assist. This intro explains what it means and why procurement may be the perfect fit for it.
How to Build a Digital-Ready Team — 4 min
Digital transformation isn’t about tech stacks. It’s about mindset, curiosity, and cross-functional fluency. This study lays out what makes modern procurement teams actually work.
AI in Supplier Discovery — 3 min
From identifying hidden vendors to assessing risk profiles, AI is giving sourcing teams superpowers. This primer is a good starting point for future-proofing discovery workflows.
🌍 Sourcing Policy & Trade Impact
Nike’s Tariff Trouble Sparks Rethink — 2 min
Rising tariffs are forcing Nike to reconsider its global supply mix. Expect more big brands to follow suit and diversify beyond China.
Why Co-op Is Dropping 17 Countries — 2 min
Due to human rights concerns, the Co-op will stop sourcing from 17 countries. It’s one of the boldest procurement policy stances we’ve seen this year.