Inside Zip: Jim Czarnecki knows where procurement problems start

At Zip, we know that procurement transformation isn't achieved through technology alone. It requires deep expertise and a commitment to guiding each customer's unique path to success.

That's why we launched the Enterprise Transformation Office: a dedicated team of former Fortune 500 procurement leaders working directly with customers to drive large-scale transformation. Zip's ETO is comprised of leading practitioners who've sat in the seat, managed billions in spend, and led the kind of change most companies only talk about.

In this series, we're sitting down with each member of the ETO to learn how they got into procurement, what brought them to Zip, and what advice they have for enterprises navigating the AI era.

Meet Jim Czarnecki

What brought you into the world of procurement?

I like to tell people that after 15 years as a commercial airline pilot, I needed more of a challenge… so I moved into procurement.

But in truth, when I left aviation I was looking for a field where I could really make a difference in process and technology, stemming from my days in the airlines' Flight Standards Department. I had a chance to join Rockwell Automation's procurement team as they were going through an SAP deployment, and I immediately knew this is what I wanted to do.

Being able to align stakeholders, implement process improvements, and see technology enable procurement to become a strategic advantage for a company got me hooked.

What inspired you to join Zip?

My supply chain career has always been heavy in transformation, both organizational, procedural, and technological. When I look at the landscape of procurement technology over the next five years I can tell it’s going to be revolutionary, and I wanted to be a part of shaping that future.

As I did my research, there was one clear choice: Zip. The product, the people, the founders' vision, this is where I needed to be. I joined Zip to pursue my transformation passion and help as many companies as I can reach procurement excellence in the age of AI-enabled procurement.

What was your reaction the first time you encountered Zip?

My first reaction was: WOW why did I not know about this before?

I saw, and continue to see so many use-cases where Zip and its suite of solutions can solve procurement inefficiencies for companies of any size. From a full Intake-to-Pay solution to Procurement AI Concierge, there is a Zip function that can help any procurement team.

What are some of the problems in procurement you believe Zip helps solve?

The big one is intake. Almost every procurement problem starts at intake, at demand. For companies that don’t have intake, not having a single guided process causes people to bypass procurement, proliferating the supply base and creating downstream invoice and accounting issues.

Building intake correctly allows users to unknowingly follow policy and streamline the process, which reduces cycle times, provides visibility, and improves the overall experience.

Organizations want procurement to be ABC:

• Automated: AI-driven or AI-informed
• Business-friendly: Intuitive, frictionless, and quick
• Collaborative: Procurement needs to get out of their transactional silos and meet the business where they are to help them achieve their goals

Zip does this.

What are you most excited about in the next era of procurement?

I am most excited to see the evolution of AI agents and how they will continue to transform procurement, from automating manual and time-consuming tasks to intelligently helping the strategic side of the business: negotiations, contracting, category strategy, and more.

This will allow procurement professionals to spend more time creating strong, collaborative relationships with their business stakeholders and suppliers.

What advice can you give for those seeking digital transformation in 2026?

What I’ve seen in my past, and what we see with our customers, is that getting a procurement transformation from zero to up-and-running only succeeds when it is treated as an operating-model build, not just a technology rollout or a policy exercise.

The approach has to be outcome-led, phased, and business-anchored. That provides early and credible wins that allow the transformation to continue successfully.

If you do nothing else, fix the intake first. Almost every procurement problem starts at demand.

What's your favorite Zip feature?

It is hard to narrow it down to just one, but I would have to say the agentic AI component. It is so powerful and really a game changer across different areas of procurement.

Though I’m sure at the rate of Zip's innovation there will be another favorite soon.

Ready to work with us?

It's time to find out how Zip can transform your procurement processes. Connect with our expert team to learn more.