Arkestro’s Optimal ’25 to showcase AI-driven shift in strategic procurement

Arkestro’s flagship event, Optimal ’25, in Houston will unite global procurement leaders to explore how AI, real-time data, and predictive insights are revolutionising supply chain strategies across industries.

Arkestro, a company specialising in predictive procurement technology, is set to hold its flagship event, Optimal ’25, in Houston, Texas, on October 29 and 30, 2025. According to the company, the two-day conference will gather procurement leaders from d...

iverse sectors, including retail, chemicals, manufacturing, and oil and gas, to discuss the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI), real-time data, and predictive insights in procurement practices.

The company’s CEO and co-founder, Rob DeSantis, is reported to have emphasised that procurement and supply chain functions are increasingly strategic drivers of competitive advantage, rather than mere administrative roles. The event’s agenda, as outlined by Arkestro, features sessions highlighting real-world case studies from multiple industries, showcasing measurable cost savings, streamlined sourcing processes, and the scaling of procurement impact. Attendees will also get a glimpse of forthcoming innovations in AI and decision intelligence through Arkestro’s platform developments, along with workshops led by industry experts focused on procurement best practices, strategy, and negotiation.

Keynote speakers from global companies such as Chevron, Nissan, and Solventum are expected to share insights into how their organisations are adapting procurement to a data-first, AI-enabled future. Additionally, the event will include a Supplier Summit aimed at discussing enhancements in supplier experience and new growth opportunities. The company describes Optimal ’25 as a pivotal moment marking the rise of “game-changing procurement,” where speed, intelligence, and scale combine to deliver measurable enterprise benefits.

Arkestro has also highlighted its recent expansion of a multi-year partnership with Valvoline Inc., which aims to enhance the speed, simplicity, and efficiency of Valvoline’s procurement processes through the use of Arkestro’s predictive procurement platform. Valvoline’s Senior Purchasing Manager noted the platform’s ability to reduce manual work and enable procurement professionals to focus on high-impact activities, a description that aligns with Arkestro’s claims of incorporating AI, game theory, and patented sciences including Negotiation Science, Supplier Science, and Process Science to optimise procurement outcomes.

While Arkestro projects significant momentum in scaling its platform across Fortune 500 companies, it is worth noting that the adoption of AI in procurement continues to face scrutiny regarding the breadth of its real-world impact beyond pilot projects and case-specific successes. Other industry voices often caution that integrating AI solutions into traditional procurement can be complex, requiring not only technological but also cultural shifts within organisations.

The event follows Arkestro’s active participation in various industry gatherings earlier in 2025, where it has showcased its AI-driven solutions and thought leadership in procurement transformation. The firm’s emphasis on predictive procurement aligns with a broader trend in enterprise procurement to leverage data analytics and AI for more proactive and agile supply chain management.

Optimal ’25 appears positioned as a major platform for Arkestro to engage the procurement community, demonstrate its technological advancements, and reinforce its role in shaping the future of procurement. As the event approaches, the insights and discussions presented will likely contribute to ongoing debates on the practical applications and strategic value of AI-driven procurement in complex global supply chains.

Source: Noah Wire Services