Next week, PayStream Advisors will be travelling to San Antonio, Texas for our annual Summit, 
INNOVATE 2014. We usually stay excited for this conference all year round, and this year has been no exception. With so many dynamic leaders in the financial automation industry present, we are right in our element, and with several business leaders from organizations who have successfully optimized AP and P2P software also in attendance, we are proud of the work that we do providing research for these professionals. Several of those business leaders will be speaking at various breakout sessions and panel discussions throughout our three-day stay on the Riverwalk, and the lessons they have on automating businesses processes successfully will prove to be very valuable—as they have been at every Summit.
This year, we are especially excited to hear from a business leader who has set himself apart in the realm of P2P Innovation in a unique way. The INNOVATE 2014 Key Note Speaker is Julian Davis, the Director of Supply Chain Management at Service Corporation International (SCI). Mr. Davis has been in key leadership positions at SCI and other companies for 25 years, and his skill and experience were just what was required when SCI decided it was time to revamp their AP and procurement process. Mr. Davis will be sharing the story of that transformation at the Summit, but PayStream was lucky enough to get a small preview of his session.
Service Corp. International, founded in 1962, is North America’s leading 
provider of death care products and services. They have over 25,000 employees and operate 1,614 funeral homes and 489 cemeteries in 44 states, 8 Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. With such a big operation, it became increasingly important to control processes and costs, so in 2009, SCI created a 5-year Roadmap to transform their supply chain. They started seeking solutions to implement in their Procure-to-Pay process that would integrate their purchasing, tax, and payment procedures into one system. The Supply Chain and Accounts Payables teams reviewed multiple vendors and solutions before choosing Coupa to provide their automation software.
Mr. Davis will tell the full story of SCI’s and transformation with Coupa at the Summit, but the thing that truly makes their tale unique is the customer mindset that has driven their every step. According to Mr. Davis, SCI chose to maintain the same customer-service focus they use in their everyday business model throughout the P2P automation conversion. Even though they were changing a back-office procedure that did not affect individual clients as obviously as SCI’s everyday services, the company still chose to focus on the end-results and benefits this process would have for their customers—rather than just company efficiency.
This mindset is unique in the renovation of a P2P process, and one that makes Julian Davis the perfect man for the job of INNOVATE Key Note Speaker; PayStream is very excited to hear more from him. There will be many other inspiring stories of P2P transformation and innovation at the PayStream Summit, as well as various networking events, panel discussions, and breakout sessions that will help financial professionals transform their organizations’ AP and P2P processes. Although the INNOVATE 2014 is less than a week away, it’s not too late to join us for this valuable three-day conference in the beautiful city of San Antonio. Register today!
nations, and shops. Foodies can take tours through acclaimed restaurants, local diners, and specialty shops, and craft beer enthusiasts can experience the Ranger Creek Brewery and Distillery or the Freetail Brewing Co., among others. The popular Pearl 
Brewery neighbors with the unique restaurant, Cured, and also hosts the expansive and diverse Pearl Farmer’s Market every Saturday. San Antonio’s shopping scene has few competitors—ranked in the top ten of America’s 25 Best Shopping Cities by Forbes magazine, it has many affordable, trendy, and accessible places to browse for memorable gifts and purchases, including the beautiful River Center Mall.
give passengers an alternative view of the walk activity, night and day. Live music and cultural events are held on the Riverwalk regularly, and for a list of events going on during the week of the Summit Conference, visit www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com.
