Level Up Your Procurement Game: Lessons from Erin Burke

Procurement isn’t what it used to be.

In the second instalment of our Strategic Software series, we sat down with Erin Burke, Head of Procurement at Pepperstone, to explore how modern procurement is reshaping how businesses invest in and manage software. Hosted by Elegance Group CEO, Kirsty Davies, this session challenged common assumptions and revealed how procurement can become a powerful enabler, not a blocker.

Here’s what stood out.

From Gatekeeper to Strategic Partner

Too often, procurement is seen as a hurdle. Erin pushed back on that notion with clarity and conviction:

“Procurement should be a strategic partner and enabling function, not just a process that you follow. We’re not a compliance activity.”

The message? Engage procurement early. The most successful technology investments come from collaboration between teams, not siloed decision-making. Procurement teams that are looped in from the start can help identify better solutions, manage risk, and improve value over time.

Tackling Tool Sprawl, Practically

We talk a lot about tool sprawl, and this session got tactical. Erin shared pragmatic advice for organisations drowning in overlapping systems:

• Assess First: Conduct regular audits to identify redundancies and opportunities to consolidate.
• Standardise: Promote consistent tooling and processes across teams.
• Set Clear Policies: Align tool selection and procurement guidelines with business needs and security standards.

No fluff, just clear, usable direction for teams looking to get their tech stacks under control.

3 Procurement Moves for 2025

Erin left attendees with three sharp takeaways:

1. Know Your Why: Don’t buy tech just because it’s trending. Every investment should have a clear business case and measurable outcomes.

2. Start Early, Collaborate Often: Bring procurement, security, and key stakeholders in from day one. It saves time and money.

3. Manage Actively: Technology portfolios need regular care. Review contracts, monitor performance, and continuously optimise.

    

Rethinking Supplier Relationships

Great procurement isn’t just about buying. It’s about partnerships. Erin highlighted the value of transparency and trust with suppliers, and the need for mutual accountability:

“I’m paying for a service, and I expect that to be delivered to the agreed standard.”

A fair, structured approach to issues helps remove emotion and keep conversations focused on outcomes.

What’s Next?

You can catch the full recording of Erin’s session on our YouTube channel - here.

At Elegance Group, we work with organisations to simplify their tech stacks, uncover value in underused tools, and make procurement an ally in digital transformation. Whether it’s helping you navigate Atlassian licensing or streamlining how your tools are deployed and used day to day, our focus is on making the Atlassian stack work smarter for your business.

Want to take control of your tool landscape? Let’s talk.

Up Next in the Series

Join us for our next Strategic Software webinar featuring Steve Baker from VendorSage, where we’ll dive deeper into the value of strategic technology partnerships.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for this session, we’ll see you at the next one.