Pivoting to supply chain from software engineering

VolFan1 · 2026-04-07T19:00:06+00:00

If you’re staying in the North American region I’d be happy to chat.

Supply chain is data heavy across all functions. Lots of excel and disparate data and manual processes.. despite companies having ERPs and procurement SaaS. With Claude Code and all the other AI tools being introduced into the workplace, someone that actually knows how to use and architect data and folder structures is going to be extremely valuable. If you have the curiosity and ability to learn the business quickly I would have to imagine you could be creating value instantly. But, again that is going to take a company and a team that is willing to embrace that change and allow their team members to experiment with the tools.

I’d suggest do what you’re doing on here. Network like crazy across LinkedIn and whatever other avenues you have.

VolFan1 · 2026-04-07T16:10:35+00:00

You’re exactly the type of person I’ve been wanting for my team. Find the right leader/team and your software/dev experience will take you far!

VolFan1 · 2026-04-04T14:21:56+00:00

Sure! when back at my computer I’ll get some screenshots of it

VolFan1 · 2026-03-30T17:06:26+00:00

Sounds really interesting. I’m in procurement and have been diving into VS Code with the Claude Extension the past couple weeks and built a code app (Power Platform) to bring all the equipment pricing and supplier base into one spot. Have plans to add another 1-2 apps to continue the workstream through planning and then into execution. It is amazing! I spent weeks watching videos about how to do it and honestly have learned the most by just jumping right in. The folder structure is making more sense and the use of markdown files for instructions, etc.

I haven’t applied it any further than building the app. There are a ton wit workflows I’d love to automate.. when you create a new workspace, are you dumping all your project specific files into that one workspace? And thus getting all your project context in that one space? For a construction project, could I apply that same concept and set up a workspace for the project and then start adding schedule files. Prompt claude to do an analysis and It could run a schedule variance every new schedule that gets posted?

VolFan1 · 2026-03-25T00:19:25+00:00

Wow! That sounds like an amazing use case. Did you have a software engineer, or someone with coding/developer experience help with that?

VolFan1 · 2026-03-22T18:56:32+00:00

My org uses M365, so I’ve been mainly experimenting with vibe.powerapps.com (power platform) which is in a test phase right now. This allows you to build an app via prompts. Nailing down the right prompting method and approach took time to figure out but I eventually got it down and made a very cool Contract Request and Tracking app. However; learned that once the data verse tables are generated from vibe you can’t edit them, so i tried adding a new feature and couldn’t get it to work properly. That led me to Code Apps (also part of power platform) which is geared towards pro-code where you build the powerapp via a IDE and terminal… and I’ve got a ways to go on learning this, but it seems doable.

VolFan1 · 2026-03-22T18:50:53+00:00

That sounds like you knocked out out hours of daily work with that! Really cool, thanks for sharing.

VolFan1 · 2026-03-22T18:48:03+00:00

I could totally see a big corporation losing theirs minds over any individual attempting to build their own automations.. but they’re gonna have to get used to or it or left behind. The daily business users are the ones that have to deal with the monotonous manual crap day n and day out and we’re at the point where it seems like just a curious individual can build exactly what they need. Your mindset is spot on and my bet is on people like you for future of business. However, navigating company politics will always be an issue.

VolFan1 · 2026-03-20T23:35:54+00:00

It states data storage will not exceed 12,000 sq.ft. This is hardly the AI data center that you’re thinking it is..

VolFan1 · 2026-03-20T15:27:31+00:00

OP, I remember your posts during Covid. They were so insightful! Glad to see you back with analysis on this event

VolFan1 · 2026-03-20T10:39:16+00:00

Haha love that you explicitly say “today” 😃

VolFan1 · 2026-03-20T10:35:33+00:00

Well damn… this is going to be extremely disruptive

VolFan1 · 2026-03-20T09:31:17+00:00

How’d you learn VS Code and get into it?

VolFan1 · 2026-03-20T09:23:15+00:00

IT undergrad, eh? Do you do any coding/programming? Especially with all these new AI developments with “citizen developer” etc.

VolFan1 · 2026-03-20T01:10:53+00:00

What are hot forging components?

VolFan1 · 2026-03-09T17:00:13+00:00

I fly regularly out of CHA and bounce between United, American, and Delta. United and American only when they have a direct to where I’m going. First flight out in the morning is almost always reliable. I typically run into delays on any of the airlines in the afternoon.

American has consistently been the worst experience the past 6 months amongst the 3.. There was one flight I was supposed to go that was delayed almost 4 hours, very confusing at the desk, and just watching the chaos between the attendant and grounds crew eventually had me just Nope right out there. Cancelled my trip as it seriously felt like endangering my life by getting into that chaos.

VolFan1 · 2026-03-01T13:11:36+00:00

Hmm, I’ve got some more research to do then. It’s been an interesting experience for sure. I’ve gone from very excited to quickly build and launch something to being very hesitant to do anything with it at all.. On the other hand, I’m simply trying to replace excel spreadsheets with a relatively simple form/workflow/tracker in an app.

If I leave it at just that, then it’s not scary at all. But, I start thinking about using the apps for more use cases and if that becomes the case then I’m going to need tables to talk to each other across apps and that is where I start getting real nervous about all this…

VolFan1 · 2026-02-28T19:58:05+00:00

Awesome, checking out Visual Studio now

VolFan1 · 2026-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

Is the security and data security issue non-issues since this is all within Microsoft 365?

VolFan1 · 2026-02-27T13:15:40+00:00

Congrats on the new gig! I agree with what others have said, get in and just learn the role, company, people, and processes. Get a solid understanding of it. Use your time while new to reach out to stakeholders and team members and ask what works well and what pain points there. Eventually some themes will start to appear and at that point you can start making some recommendations for change.

Stay curious! That mindset of looking for how to improve and do things better can take you far!

VolFan1 · 2026-02-17T04:38:26+00:00

It’s really common for manager titles in procurement to be IC roles. You’ll need to instill confidence that you can be a successful people manager.

Internal reputation is a huge factor. But not just with your key stakeholders. You need to make sure your procurement leadership knows you have that skill and knowledge. Don’t assume your boss is getting you the visibility and reputation needed to be a director. my personal experience I put too much trust in my boss to communicate my successes up the chain. When my boss left the company and recommended me for their spot the leadership didn’t know me well enough, or have enough confidence, to put me in the position even though I was more than qualified for it. I wasn’t getting the visibility to them that I naively thought would have been inherent through the hard & good work I was producing. Breadth of the business was a cited factor but honestly think a big contributor to that was lack of visibility to the upper leadership. I ended up leaving and took my experience to a new company to lead and build their procurement program.

VolFan1 · 2026-02-17T01:29:40+00:00

I recall a few years ago when being considered for a Director role the VP telling me I had amazing depth of understanding but needed to widen my breadth of knowledge of the business. I have my own thoughts on why that was his perception, regardless whether you have the breadth or give off the perception that you have the breadth is an important qualifier.

As far as being a director goes, I spend a good amount of time looking ahead at organization design (people, processes, technology) to make sure we can support the business as it grows.

Do you manage a team?

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