If procurement had a “factory reset” button, would we finally fix what’s broken?

Most professionals inherit procurement practices rather than learn them. They step into a role, get trained by whoever came before them, and follow the same processes—without ever questioning if they actually work.

It’s not intentional. It’s just how things have always been done.

But here’s the reality: Copying the past is not a strategy.

What if we started over?

Imagine if we wiped the slate clean. No pre-filled RFP templates. No recycled evaluation criteria. No auto-pilot decision-making. Just a simple question:

If we built procurement from scratch today, knowing what we know now, what would it look like?

Would we still:

- Rely on generic evaluation criteria that all vendors answer the same way?

- Treat procurement training as a checkbox exercise instead of a catalyst for change?

- Accept processes designed for a world that no longer exists?

Or would we start making procurement a "real enabler"—one that actually delivers value instead of just enforcing compliance?

The hard truth? Procurement won’t evolve until we stop blindly repeating the past.

So here’s my challenge: If you had the power to rebuild procurement from the ground up, what’s the first thing you’d change? 👇