Digital Transformation Is Dead. Let’s Talk ROI.

Why waving buzzwords is killing progress – and what high-impact leaders do instead.

Let’s cut the crap.

“Digital transformation” is the most abused term in business today. Everyone talks it. Few deliver it. And in procurement, that’s dangerous. Because unlike marketing or HR, when procurement fails, companies bleed. Fast.

I’ve spent 30+ years turning chaos into clarity, leading procurement from the shadows to the boardroom. Let me be clear: if your transformation plan is all slide decks and no savings, you’re not transforming. You’re just decorating.

Reality Check: The State of Play

We’re drowning in tech, yet starving for impact:

• 70% of digital initiatives fail. Not due to tools – but because leaders chase trends, not value.

• Only 44% of companies feel prepared for digital disruption – yet 87% say it’s a priority. Disconnect much?

• High-performing procurement orgs (The Hackett Group) show 47% lower cost and 54% higher productivity – because they know what digital mastery actually looks like.

• According to Deloitte, top CPOs now invest up to 24% of budget in digital tech – and are seeing 3x+ ROI on GenAI when done right.

Bottom line: transformation is not tech. It’s execution.

What Real Transformation Looks Like

If your procurement still relies on PDFs and email chains 🚨NEWSFLASH🚨 you are still operating like in the beginning of this century (at least 15 years behind).

True digital procurement is about:

• Speed: Shorter sourcing cycles. Real-time insights. Decisions in hours, not weeks.

• Control: Maverick spend slashed. Audit trails airtight. No more black-box operations.

• Collaboration: Cross-functional alignment. Supplier ecosystems built on transparency and trust.

• Resilience: When supply chains crack, your digital muscle flexes – not breaks.

Forget tech-first. Go value-first. Then pick the tech that delivers it.

The RMKR Rule: No ROI, No Hype

Every digital initiative must answer this upfront:

• What’s the 90-day ROI?

• Who owns the business outcome, not just the implementation?

• What metric will prove success – and when?

If you can’t answer these, kill the project. Politely, but fast.

The Silent Killers of Transformation

Let’s call them out:

1. Tool obsession. You don’t need more platforms. You need better decisions.

2. Buzzword paralysis. “AI, blockchain, sustainability!” Cool. But what’s the business case?

3. No cultural shift. Tech can’t fix silos, politics, or fear of change.

4. Lack of data fluency. If your team can’t read a dashboard or challenge an algorithm, you’re building castles on sand.

Digital transformation without people transformation is a guaranteed flop.

The RMKR Playbook for Procurement ROI

Here’s how real leaders lead:

1. Define outcomes before tech. What pain are you solving? For whom?

2. Start lean, scale fast. Nail one high-impact use case. Then build momentum.

3. Measure everything. From day one. Cost per PO. Cycle times. Compliance. Sustainability impact.

4. Align to strategy. Your roadmap should mirror your business goals – not IT’s wishlist.

5. Lead from the front. Culture eats strategy for breakfast. If you’re not championing change, who will?

The Truth No One Wants to Say

If you’re still digitizing processes from 2008, you’re not transforming – you’re automating irrelevance.

Procurement should be your growth engine, not a back-office afterthought. It’s where risk is managed, innovation is sourced, and savings turn into strategic reinvestments.

And here’s the kicker: with the right digital strategy, procurement can boost EBITDA more effectively than pricing, sales, or even marketing. Yet most companies leave that gold on the table.

Final Word: Stop Waving the Flag. Start Driving Results.

Enough with the endless pilots. Enough with the tech-for-tech’s-sake. The companies winning today are not the ones with the biggest tech stack, they’re the ones who use digital to move the needle.

So next time someone pitches “transformation,” ask: Will this make us faster, smarter, and stronger – or just busier and broker? If the answer isn’t crystal-clear … don’t transform. Re-think.

“If your digital project doesn’t wave the ROI flag loud and clear, it’s just loud. Change it – or kill it.”

Claus Triolo, The Procurement Rainmaker

Let’s bring procurement into the era of measurable impact.

📘 Want the blueprint for real, fast, measurable procurement impact?
It’s all in my book: “How to Create Value in Procurement (FAST)”. A no-BS playbook for turning procurement into a powerhouse of innovation, savings, and strategic value.

Not theory. Just field-tested tactics that work. Available at Amazon. eBook or Paperback – your choice.