The AI Reality Check: Funding Growth and Managing Supplier Risk in an Uncertain Market

With 44% of leaders saying AI is top-of-mind, the shift from experimentation to execution is finally here. But can AI actually solve the cash flow issues hitting the supply chain? Our 2026 supplier survey shows a widening gap between growth ambitions and the reality of tight liquidity. With late payments on the rise, companies are moving away from "growth at all costs" toward a strategy rooted in stability and safety.

This session bridges that divide, connecting AI adoption and growth with the practical need to build cash resilience. Join our experts: Dirk Holoubek, Director, Global Decision Support at Applied Materials, Gerik Whittington, Director at PwC, Steve Siede, Global Vice President of Customer Success, SAP Finance & Spend Management CRO office at SAP,and moderated by Peddy Hashemi, Global Head of Customer Success at SAP Taulia, to explore market sentiment, closing the "cash flow gap," and what it really means to have an AI-first approach.

What to expect:

• Navigate macroeconomic uncertainty by leveraging PwC’s latest take on inflation and tariffs to help shape a growth strategy that prioritizes cash flow resilience.
• Bridge the cash flow gap with insights from Applied Materials on balancing margin protection and capital access while using early payments to strengthen supplier ties.
• Harness an AI-first mindset with SAP sharing high-impact use cases that drive operational efficiency and improve risk management.