Every procurement vendor has added AI to their product page. Every analyst is forecasting disruption. Every CFO is asking their procurement to lead whether the function is keeping up. Here is the question nobody is asking loudly enough: keeping up with what, exactly? Because beneath the noise, a significant portion of what is being marketed as AI in procurement is either rebranded automation, statistical… Continue reading Stop Buying the AI Story. Start Asking the Right Questions.
Procurement is no longer a cost-control function. It is a risk nerve center, a working capital lever, and a resilience engine. Yet most organizations are still making procurement decisions based on fragmented data, outdated reports, and reactive workflows. In volatile global markets, that approach is no longer inefficient, it is dangerous. Data-driven procurement is not about dashboards. It is about turning… Continue reading Data-Driven Procurement: The Competitive Advantage Most Organizations Are Still Missing
Procurement is entering a decisive phase. By 2026, sourcing will no longer be measured solely by how efficiently RFx events are executed, but by how effectively procurement contributes to resilience, risk management, and long-term business value. As organizations operate in increasingly complex supply environments, sourcing platforms are expected to support continuous, intelligence-led decision-making across categories, suppliers, and… Continue reading Procurement in 2026: Trends and Predictions Shaping the Next Era of Strategic Sourcing
Most procurement teams begin in the same place. They search online for “best eSourcing software” or ask peers in Slack and LinkedIn groups and immediately get buried under dozens of recommendations. Everyone has a favourite tool, every vendor promises transformation, and every shortlist looks different. But the real question isn’t “which platform is the best?” It is “which platform will… Continue reading How to Choose the Best eSourcing Software: A Practical Guide for Procurement Teams
Introduction We are pleased to announce that MeRLIN version 21.0 is now live. This release introduces targeted enhancements across Supplier Management, Sourcing Events, and Platform capabilities, focused on improving configurability, supplier experience, and operational control. The updates below reflect customer-driven improvements and product engineering initiatives designed to simplify workflows and strengthen governance. MeRLIN now has… Continue reading MeRLIN Release Notes Version 21.0 December 2025
Introduction We are excited to announce that the version 20.0 release of MeRLIN is now live! The updates have been compiled into release notes below, providing an overview of the enhancements and fixes in our product that the users anticipated, ensuring that they are up to date with the latest developments. New Features Supplier Management… Continue reading MeRLIN Release Notes Version 20.0 November 2025
Direct Sourcing, also referred to as Direct Material Procurement or Direct Material Sourcing, is the process of purchasing all the materials that directly contribute to the creation of a company’s finished goods. These include raw material inputs, specialized components, assemblies, sub-assemblies, packaging materials, and any physical parts that ultimately become part of the final product delivered to customers. Since these materials… Continue reading What is Direct Sourcing?
Many businesses look to their procurement team only when a contract is expiring, asking them to run a quick strategic sourcing event Many businesses turn to procurement only when a contract is expiring, but this short-term view misses the real, long-term value procurement can create. While this approach gets a new deal in place, it misses the… Continue reading Beyond One-Time Savings: How Category Management Elevates Strategic Sourcing
Why Public Procurement Needs Digital Tools Now Public sector procurement has long been defined by its need for rigour, transparency, and adherence to policy. While these principles remain essential, the environment surrounding procurement has evolved. Rising public expectations, dynamic supplier markets, and increasingly complex compliance frameworks are prompting organisations to reassess traditional sourcing methods. What… Continue reading Guided Sourcing : Moving Public Procurement from Weeks To Minutes
Introduction We are excited to announce that the version 19.0 release of MeRLIN is now live! The updates have been compiled into release notes below, providing an overview of the enhancements and fixes in our product that the users anticipated, ensuring that they are up to date with the latest developments. MeRLIN Release 19 introduces a range… Continue reading MeRLIN Release Notes Version 19.0 September 2025
Vetri celebrated three years as CEO of MeRLIN Sourcing in June 2023. His vision spearheaded the transformation of the company internally through modernization and HR transformation and externally with the promise of delivering value to customers and putting them at the heart of the MeRLIN Sourcing business and product development strategy.
Vetri built his career in global software businesses over the last decades. Seasoned professional with a global perspective, spanning the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and a diverse industry background across EPC, Defense, manufacturing, automotive, and life sciences industries.
A firm believer in the principles of doing well by doing good, he won his two awards as the IT Executive of 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 in Europe. He is a highly regarded global thought leader in the IT and cloud software industries and is an active investor/advisor for emerging companies. He is known as a leader who builds and motivates world class teams, champions diversity, and exudes a deep passion for how technology can transform the workplace and empower individuals.
Dr. Werner Breuers completed his studies in chemistry at the RWTH Aachen University with a doctorate. He began his professional career in 1989 as a chemist at Hoechst AG in Frankfurt in the research and development department.
After managerial positions at Hoechst AG, Dr. Breuers took over management of the license and catalyst business at the polyethylene manufacturer Elenac GmbH in Kehl in 1999, which became part of the Basell group a year later. As a member of Basell’s Executive management team, he headed the global Technology Business division based in Milan and most recently served as President of Basell Polyolefins Europe based in Amsterdam.
Dr. Breuers has also been a member of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG since May 14, 2007 and was responsible for the Performance Polymers and Advanced Intermediates business units. His responsibilities and strategic operations also include the functional areas of Global Procurement & Logistics, Innovation & Technology and Industrial & Environmental Affairs. He has been board of several other companies and has also served as trustee of RWTH Aachen University and currently advising and supportinfg the growth of MeRLIN Sourcing in Europe.
Oliver Scheffert is an experienced entrepreneur with a successful completed doctoral program in business administration and a master’s degree in International Business Studies. He held management positions at Microsoft for nearly 13 years, receiving prestigious awards for exceptional leadership and results like the Circle of Excellence Platinum Award. Notably, Oliver led the ISV business unit in Germany to a billion-dollar revenue stream.
He later served as the General Manager/Managing Director at Aparavi Software Europe GmbH and recently founded CNSLT Partners GmbH, a strategy and management consultancy, leveraging his extensive specialist knowledge to help IT companies achieve lasting success.
