As we near the end of Q4, and the overall end of the year, it’s only right that we reflect on the past year as a whole, and how 2025’s happenings have impacted us as a business this year.
So, let’s dive in, shall we?
Mike Edmunds, CEO
This year was a big year for us on many fronts. As I’m sure will be frequently mentioned, our 2025 webinar is definitely something worth taking note of. Titled ‘Future-Proofing Your Procurement Approach with Artificial Intelligence’, it featured myself and two other TI experts (Mark Handley and James Edmunds) alongside AI expert Professor Andy Pardoe. Not only did it spark record registrations and attendance, but it also initiated some interesting conversations with customers about the future, AI, and how they both work together.
Maybe the most profound milestone of the year was launching our new product, ARCUS® AI. Building this tool required the efforts of absolutely every single department in the business, and to say I’m proud is an understatement. The response to this release has exceeded our expectations so far, and we’re seeing lots of enthusiasm from current customers and new customers about this development, which means a lot for everyone who worked on this project.
Our 2025 User Group powered through unexpected misfortune as tube strikes affected travel, however our dedicated customers ensured that turnout was still amazing. Professor Pardoe made the trip in to be able to deliver a phenomenal keynote speech, and attendees got a sneak peek into a powerful customer success story featuring AAK.
Mark Handley, Development Manager
The team has had a large focus on developing and launching ARCUS® AI in 2025, as one of the ARCUS® Smart Technology packages. The AI offering has been designed for enhancing platform intelligence in decision support, insights, and guided actions, and supports a number of functions across a range of modules. We are excited to what the future holds with AI, and will be continuing the platform’s growth with the technology through 2026.
User experience in ARCUS® is one of the key elements of our roadmap, and we have made some big steps forward this year in this regard. This has included modernisation of ARCUS® Messaging feature to an instant, responsive chat-based utility, and a refresh of the look and feel of the application’s user interface as a whole, invoking a fresher, ergonomic design that we believe will greatly aid usability of the platform.
Expansion of the application’s Smart Technology packages through ARCUS® Automation and ARCUS® Connect has provided greater flexibility and assistance with tasks, and automatic decision making/routing within the platform. As we continue to grow the application’s capabilities in these areas, we can only see increased efficiencies for our platform’s users and key stakeholders with regards to their time and effort.
We have supported our customers with bespoke exercises and updates to ensure users continue to be able to obtain maximum value from the platform and their supplier data. Over 70 of these items have been worked on this year from within Development alone.
Emma Wye-Williams, Operations Manager
This year has been marked by significant progress in both customer implementations and product innovation, driving enhanced user experience and operational efficiency.
We successfully delivered new implementations for eRFX, eAUC, SIM, SCM, SSM, and PIM modules, expanding platform adoption, as well as supporting customers by managing eSourcing events across diverse industries and categories, delivering measurable savings across procurement and supply chain functions.
The team managed large-scale update projects for existing customers, including the integration of new e-signature tools within SCM. This was in addition to enhanced sustainability and compliance by adding carbon and ESG questions and approval workflows within SIM.
It must be mentioned – the team were instrumental in launching the new AI Package, delivering intelligent features to streamline processes and improve decision-making. This included introducing Document Viewer, enabling users to review documents directly within the platform without external downloads.
Ian Lazzari, Systems Manager
2025 has been an exciting one for the unashamedly geeky Systems team! There has been a renewed focus on cyber security, with several new tools introduced such as advanced endpoint protection and vulnerability management to keep up with the ever-shifting threat landscape.
AI has been a game changer, and we have not only developed new AI functionality into our ARCUS® platform but also integrated AI tools across the business which have boosted productivity and transformed the way we work (guess what helped me write this!).
As exciting as AI is, we need to use it safely and responsibly which is why a new cyber training platform has enabled us to train our staff in spotting not only traditional cyber threats such as phishing, ransomware and social engineering, but also the limitations and dangers of incorrect AI use and the evolution of AI based scams.
I can’t stress enough how exciting these times are, and I can’t wait to see how AI continues to evolve and enhance our lives in 2026 – safely, of course.
I hope you all enjoy the upcoming festive season. See you on the other side.
Dale Garbutt, ESM
This year has been all about meaningful growth for our partners. We have welcomed new partners across construction, food manufacturing, freight transport, and other sectors, which shows how adaptable the ARCUS® platform is to different ways of working. Each organisation has brought its own challenges and priorities, and it has been rewarding to see ARCUS® flex to meet them while keeping things simple and manageable for their teams.
Internally we have taken a step back and re-evaluated our own systems and approach. That has allowed us to become even more solutions focused, and partner value led. We have spent more time understanding what our partners are really trying to achieve as a business, not just the immediate project in front of them, so that we can align the right services and support to help them reach those goals.
A key milestone this year has been the launch of our AI capabilities within ARCUS®. Rather than treating AI as a headline feature, we have concentrated on practical outcomes that partners can feel day to day. Faster scoring, more consistent summaries and reviews on tenders, smoother supplier onboarding journeys and more efficient contract management are already saving time and giving teams better insight so they can focus on higher value work.
Looking ahead, our focus remains on growing with our partners, not just growing in number. We will continue to refine our approach, work closely with colleagues across Operations and Customer Success and stay solutions focused so that every new feature, project or conversation moves our partners closer to their objectives. Thank you to all of our partners who have trusted us this year and helped shape the future of ARCUS®.
Marc Brackenbury, Marketing Manager
2025 has been an exciting year for our Marketing team and Trade Interchange as a whole. We successfully launched our new AI package, hosted our annual User Group, and delivered a well-received webinar.
The launch of our AI package was made possible thanks to the exceptional collaboration between our Development, Operations, and Sales teams, who worked closely with customers to beta-test what we believe is a market-leading solution. The new functionality is designed to automate repetitive tasks, extract key insights, and deliver intelligent analysis - helping make procurement processes more efficient, effective, and informed. Interest in our AI capabilities is growing across a wide range of industries, and we look forward to continuing to share the benefits throughout 2026.
Our 2025 Trade Interchange User Group, held in Central London, focused on the practical application of AI in supplier management and included an in-depth preview of our AI package and its specific features. The event also showcased a case study on the successful integration of ARCUS® Strategic Sourcing Management within AAK’s Procurement Program Management Office, demonstrating how ARCUS® is supporting AAK globally. We were delighted to welcome a record number of customers, creating valuable opportunities for discussion and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
In June, we hosted our webinar, Future-Proofing Your Procurement Approach with Artificial Intelligence, featuring Professor Andy Pardoe alongside Trade Interchange speakers Mike Edmunds (CEO), Mark Handley (Development Manager), and James Edmunds (Product Owner and Lead Solutions Consultant). The session explored the current and future applications of AI in procurement, how ARCUS® continues to evolve to support procurement professionals, and how new AI functionality further enhances our offering.
Looking ahead to 2026, we plan to host two webinars: the first focusing on source-to-contract processes, and the second later in the year exploring ESG within supplier management. More updates will follow throughout 2026 - stay tuned.