Since our inception in 2003, we have been a major player in the story of how procurement practice has developed. We are now part of shaping its future.
Our strategic processes, tools and platforms power procurement in some of the world’s biggest companies and our methodologies are taught in universities around the globe. These, along with our vast learning content, have been created by a team of industry-leading experts led by our Founder and CEO, Jonathan O’Brien – Host of The Procurement Show podcast and award-winning author of a suite of best-selling procurement and negotiation books.
What sets us apart is 23 years of hands-on experience transforming procurement in the real world and continually evolving, and improving our processes and content to fit with modern procurement teams. It is this foundation that powers the content, algorithms and unique AI within our procurement platforms.
2003
Positive Purchasing is born and starts implementing category management in big-name companies.
2004
CRS in the supply chain offering launched
2005
Red Sheet Negotiation is launched
2007
Skills assessment and SRM join the line up
2008 (5 YEARS IN)
We train and develop procurement in big multi-national companies
2009
5i is the new benchmark for category management
Category Management in Purchasing first published – it would go on to become one of the best-selling procurement books of all time.
2010
Procurement Academy goes live with e-learning and process. Would later become Procleus.
2011
Red Sheet is now for sales teams also
The award-winning book Negotiation for Purchasing Professionals first published
2013
Orchestra of SRM® is published
Supplier Relationship Management first released this year
2014 (10 YEARS IN)
We train and equip teams for strategic procurement in companies around the world.
2015
5D Effective Buying & Supplier Management launched
2016
Procleus is launched with academy, assessment and toolkit.
2017
Red Sheet online goes live, would later become Ruby.
Buyer’s Toolkit book is released.
2018
5i Online – digital category management launches, would later become Capella.
2019 (15 YEARS IN)
We are a procurement SaaS and training company building capability for strategic procurement.
Buyer’s Toolkit app launched on Procleus.
2020
We pivot to replace classroom training with online instructor lead training.
2021
OMEIA Sustainable Procurement Method launched.
2022
Your Negotiation Co-pilot is launched.
2023
AI agents introduced across platforms. Capella and Ruby become AI powered
2024 (20 YEARS IN)
We lead in SaaS for strategic procurement and capability development.
2025
Intelligent skills assessment with new GenAI learning modules on Procleus.
2026
Agentic AI on all platforms and negotiation role play functionality live.
2027
Capella’s integration and new data capability brings autonomous and dynamic category strategies.
2028 (25 YEARS IN)
Ruby has data capability. Its' avatar can role play with you, be part of the team or do the negotiation for you.
2029
Capella, Ruby and Procleus converge into a single, agentic AI powered, autonomous strategic sourcing platform with next generation strategic capability development for new procurement system architects.