A look back at Europe’s largest procurement festival eBF2024

Europe’s largest procurement festival eBF 2024 is over and it was a truly unique event.

10 halls, 2 days of the packed programme and great presentations, more than 140 topics, over 190 speakers, and approximately 900 participants. Many side events then offered sports, entertainment, relaxation, and gastronomic experiences.

Were you there with us? Recall everything with us. Or were you unable to attend and are wondering what happened? Here is a brief summary of the event and what the Konica Minolta team can help you with your procurement and order management.

For more detailed information, please visit our Procurement and Contract Management website.

See also the specialised solutions:

• modular solution for property development, financing and real estate management SQUARE 4 by Konica Minolta
• fleet management and back office enhancement application FLEETMAN by Konica Minolta

If you are interested in a specific solution, consultation, or workshop, contact us.

Practice and the technological world in synergy for your Procurement

Throughout the event, practical insights and connections between the technological world and the purchasing world were provided by industry experts Petra Vrbová (Head of Procurement) and Zdeněk Pytlíček (Team Leader Procurement Performance) from GasNet, s.r.o. We would like to thank them for their excellent and beneficial cooperation.

On stage and at the stand you could meet the teams of Konica Minolta IT Solutions Czech, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Czech, and Konica Minolta Business Solutions Slovakia.

This enabled us to provide you with complete information for your technology background from the following areas:

• ERP, CRM systems, and business applications Microsoft Dynamics 365
• Cloud and cyber security services (Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Security)
• Complete services for Microsoft 365
• Custom application development and automation with Microsoft Power Platform
• Fleetman fleet management applications
• Modular solution for Real Estate Management SQUARE4
• Solutions for printing, digitization of document management and circulation, automation
• Forxai video analytics systems and Mobotix camera solutions for monitoring, control and security of corporate premises
• and other related services and products from Konica Minolta in collaboration with our partners

Main topic: AI is changing the practice of buying

The main theme of our stage was the use of AI to work in purchasing and procurement in all steps and processes.

We went through:

Trends and the future of AI and The Grand Finale through the eyes of an AI star

Jaromír Šponar (Microsoft Partnership Program Advisor for Konica Minolta Europe)

You’ve seen how AI can become your best team player, with the goal of boosting productivity, taking the stress out of meetings, bringing joy to work and bringing work-life balance. The most common myths around AI were busted, and Jaromir Šponar had a demonstration of how he uses AI in his own work. You could also get a glimpse of the near future in the connection of AI and hardware, which will find use in the so-called frontline workers (field workers, salespeople, service workers, customer care, etc.).

How not to work with Microsoft 365 & Copilot

Michal Barč (Business Development Manager, Konica Minolta IT Solutions Czech) presented individual tools, applications, and their full use. Michal demonstrated a typical working day of the purchasing manager Petra Vrbová and practical deployment of Microsoft 365 and Copilot tools into individual time slots. Focused on easy and quick solutions to your regular agenda and routine tasks.

Automation and digitalisation in purchasing strategies and risk management

The topic was introduced by Lukáš Crha (Business Development Manager CCTV & Security, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Czech)

Purchase planning and data management using Microsoft Power Platform

Specific use of Power Apps, Power Automate, and Microsoft Teams was presented by Roman Berger (Solutions Architect & Team Leader, DIM Power Platform, Konica Minolta IT Solutions Czech).
An interesting demonstration of how to facilitate your purchase planning and data management using tools you may already have and without the necessary programming knowledge.

Digitalization in purchasing steps, documents, and transaction processes with AI

Aleš Fukal (Director of Digital Information Management division, Konica Minolta IT Solutions Czech) focused on market research and implementation of purchasing activities, transactions, and contract processes. You have seen practical demonstrations of how to streamline many aspects of the purchasing process, from finding suppliers to process digitization and document archiving.

Konica Minolta’s presentations from eBF2024 are at your disposal:

How AI is changing purchasing practices

Procurement through the eyes of an AI star

Konica Minolta booth at Hawaii eBF 2024

We were delighted to welcome you to our booth in Hawaii throughout the event. Thank you for the great interest, all the meetings, conversations, and stimulating questions. They have brought us a lot of inspiration and motivation to continue working for your Procurement Management.

It was a pleasure to show you what the tools for monitoring, control, and security of company premises help with. We presented Forxai video analytics systems and Mobotix smart cameras powered by the power of AI in action. We gave you demos and tips for working with Microsoft 365. We answered questions and showed what Microsoft Copilot can help you with. You also asked us about the Fleetman business app for managing your corporate fleet or the SQUARE4 business solution for managing processes in Real Estate. We also discussed with a number of attendees the ever-present topic of Cloud and Security.

For reinforcement and enjoyment, you could try unconventional printing and indulge in coffee with a photo of yourself or another on request.

Information and product materials are available to you on our Procurement Management website.

If you would like specific information, consultation, or solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Further information can be found in the press release issued by the event organiser eBF 2024 – festival about the digitalization of purchasing and public procurement.