Better, Faster, Stronger: The Power of Agentic Workflows

03/12/2025 59 min

Listen "Better, Faster, Stronger: The Power of Agentic Workflows"

Episode Synopsis

Can you build a fully functional AI procurement agent in just 50 hours?In this special "Show and Tell" episode, host Zachary Bachir rolls up his sleeves to demonstrate an AI intake agent he built from scratch using N8n, a low-code automation platform.Join Conrad, Natasha, and Zach for a hands-on look at the future of agentic workflows. Zach creates a live purchase requisition via email, and the agent parses the intent, checks it against procurement policy using RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation), and drafts a perfect response, all without human intervention.You’ll learn:✔️ How to Build Your Own Agent: A live demo of an orchestration agent that manages sub-agents (like a "Commercial Analyst" and "Compliance Analyst") to handle stakeholder requests.✔️ Demystifying RAG: Zach explains how to use Retrieval Augmented Generation to turn unstructured data—like PDF contracts and policy documents—into a database your AI can actually read and use.✔️ The "Buy vs. Build" Debate: Natasha challenges the risks of "Shadow AI." Should every procurement pro be building their own tools, or does this create chaos?.✔️ The 50-Hour Investment: Why spending just one week learning these tools can make you a "dangerous" negotiator when buying tech from suppliers.✔️ The Future of the Center of Excellence: Why procurement functions need to invest in internal technical teams to design these flows, even if the average buyer doesn't write code.If you’ve been waiting for a practical, under-the-hood look at how AI agents actually work, do not miss this episode.

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