Inside Zip: Nick Heinzmann always knows what’s ahead

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 peak performance.

This is why we’re proud to introduce our team of seasoned leaders, each bringing decades of procurement experience from industry giants like Apple, NASA, Discover Financial, and more.

Our team of experts have dedicated their careers to understanding and overcoming the toughest challenges in procurement, and now they’re here at Zip to do the same for you. From pioneering strategic end-user workflows to demonstrating process efficiencies gained through cutting-edge orchestration, Zip’s team of procurement leaders embody the spirit of smarter spend.

Meet Nick Heinzmann

Role: Head of Research at Zip

Former Top Role: VP of Research at Spend Matters

What inspired you to join Zip and contribute your expertise?

At Spend Matters, I saw many clients articulating the exact pain points Zip solved in a unique way. I noticed the direction of the market was moving towards the need for orchestration—a bridge that connected best-of-breed applications and full-suite offerings. Zip emerged at the perfect time to address this gap. I was also drawn by the strength of its Engineering, Product, and Design (EPD). I had never seen a team with this background at leading Silicon Valley companies tackle procurement, and felt they could breathe fresh life into the industry.

What advice would you give to companies looking to elevate their procurement strategies today?

Don't let process or data issues you currently have hold you back from modernizing. 

Digital transformation is often a way to reveal or highlight problems that are not well understood; it is a catalyst for improvement. Too often, teams use problems around processes or data as an excuse to do nothing, but there will never be a perfect state. You need to learn to adapt and work in imperfect conditions. 

What sets Zip apart in the market from your perspective as a procurement expert?

Zip’s origin as a workflow and orchestration platform positions it to be more flexible and more adaptable than past approaches. We are architecturally built for this new era, compared to legacy solutions designed more than 20 years ago. 

We also have a lot of people in the company with non-procurement perspectives who can speak to the needs of employees and requesters, viewpoints severely lacking in procurement tech for a long time. 

Which skills or focus areas are going to be most important for the future leaders of procurement?

Digital competency and the ability to critically evaluate technology—leaders need to be able to tell what tech is bullshit and what you actually need in order to plan for the future.

Also, analytical skills and data familiarity, along with the ability to influence to gain buy-in, and strong business partnership skills.

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.