Inside Zip: Dan DeVall on why UX is procurement’s big unlock
An industry leader shares the new playbook for best-in-class procurement.
At Zip, we believe that shaping the future of procurement requires more than just innovative strategy—it demands deep industry expertise and a bold vision for what’s coming up next.
That’s why some of the brightest minds from industry giants like Coupa and SAP have chosen to join Zip. They saw firsthand the challenges of legacy systems, the limitations of outdated procurement models, and the growing need for a next generation, orchestration-first approach.
These industry veterans recognized Zip as the pioneer in procurement innovation, and chose to be a part of it. Now, they’re bringing the experience, insights, and strategic expertise to help businesses move beyond dated procurement systems and into a future that’s more flexible, user-friendly, and truly built for the way modern business flows.
Meet the Industry Leaders who left the old ways behind to help drive the next era of procurement at Zip.
Meet Dan DeVall
Role: Head of P2P Business Development, Zip
Previous Roles: VP of Business Development, Airbase
What brought you into the world of procurement?
I was drawn to the space through the intersection of finance, accounting, and procurement, all collaborating together more than ever before.
The last mile of procurement is the payment, and I’ve worked with several fintechs to help solve that. Consolidating the entire end-to-end process into one system is a massive opportunity.
What inspired you to join Zip?
After my last company’s acquisition closed in October, I saw a tremendous opportunity to carry forward what we had started, to bring intake and procure-to-pay processes together.
When I evaluated all the players in the space, it was clear that Zip was not only leading the category, but committed to building a world-class business and solving the full procurement system architecture.
But what truly sold me were the people and the culture. I felt immediately at home. I knew I could thrive in an environment filled with likeminded, mission-driven professionals.
What was your reaction the first time you encountered Zip?
We were competitors, and I had immense respect for Zip from the start. It was clear that Zip was leading the evolution of intake, and feedback customers shared publicly about their experience was genuinely inspiring.
Whenever we’d meet a Zip employee, they carried themselves with a confident yet humble attitude, which was professionally rewarding to see.
What are some of the problems in procurement you believe Zip helps solve?
User experience has historically been a huge pain point in procurement platforms, making it easier for users to follow the right process, stay in the proper workflow, and comply with policies each business enforces.
This creates a massive opportunity to build a robust data lake from the transactional nature of corporate spending. By streamlining data capture upfront and bringing the right context and people into every request, Zip fosters a collaborative experience that was previously met with friction and avoidance.
What are you most excited about in the next era of procurement?
I’m excited about changing the perception of procurement, as well as introducing it to new practitioners like finance and accounting leaders.
Making procurement a natural part of every stage of growth gives businesses a new way to scale and operate more efficiently, which is expected now more than ever.
What advice can you give for those seeking digital transformation?
The technology itself won’t solve the challenges businesses face today. We need to rethink the processes we’ve long assumed were set in stone, and we need to educate people on the new playbook powering the innovators of today.
There’s still so much confusion around what “best in class” really means. This is a huge opportunity for Zip, to become the leader in aligning how these digital procurement transformations can be possible without the risk they are perceived to come with.
What’s your favorite Zip feature?
Intake to virtual card.
It’s a total game changer that connects upstream and downstream processes in a way that feels completely natural. This is the new best-in-class approach to managing indirect spend inside a business. And Zip is the first to do it right.
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It's time to find out how Zip can transform your procurement processes. Connect with our expert team to learn more.
