Catalyze 2024 may be over, but we’re still buzzing from the passion and insights shared by our incredible lineup of experts and innovators. At this groundbreaking event, industry leaders and professionals got together to redefine the future of rebate management. This year's conference featured experts from across the globe sharing their unique perspectives and strategies to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing marketplace. Over the course of two transformative days, our sessions delved into new technologies, strategic complexities and the importance of adaptive leadership in the dynamic world of trade and supply chains.

In this blog, we’ll be sharing some of the highlights and fascinating insights from the transformative sessions at Catalyze 2024.

Your Future in a World of Accelerating Change

Enable CEO Andrew Butt opened Catalyze 2024 with a compelling call to action, urging attendees to move beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to rebate management. He emphasized the need for tailored rebate strategies that promote meaningful partnerships and encourage desired behaviors among trading partners.  

This shift towards more complex, customized programs is supported by advancements in technology (such as the Enable platform), empowering businesses to manage increasing complexity efficiently. By working directly with trading partners to design mutually beneficial programs, companies can transform their rebate strategies into significant competitive advantages. He called for collaboration, innovation and the smart use of technology to forge a path toward a more integrated, successful future.

Day 1 Sessions

Unleashing Potential: Leading as a Force for Good
After kicking things off with our opening keynote, Dirk Beveridge (UnleashWD) captivated attendees with his transformative approach to leadership. Through insights gleaned from his We Supply America tour, Dirk stressed the importance of harnessing leadership to create significant positive impacts, going beyond traditional business metrics to foster a culture of contribution and impact.  

Enable's Product Vision and Strategy
Enable’s own Martin Labelle and Meraj Imani unveiled an exciting roadmap for our future product innovations. Their session highlighted exciting upcoming features, enhancements and improvements that promise to revolutionize rebate management practices – including some exciting news about AI capabilities.

Building a Resilient Supply Chain Through a People-Focused Future
Futurist and supply chain authority Dr. Nada Sanders shared invaluable insights on building resilient supply chains. Her strategies based on extensive research and interviews with CEOs underlined the importance of a people-focused approach amidst global disruptions.

The View Ahead: How Silicon Valley Sees the Supply Chain
A panel featuring top Silicon Valley tech investors Tim Guleri (Sierra Ventures), Sean Jacobsohn (Norwest Venture Partners), Arsham Memarzadeh (Lightspeed Ventures) and Steve Sloane (Menlo Ventures) provided a glimpse into the future of supply chains. The discussion covered emerging technologies and market shifts poised to reshape the industry landscape.

The Secrets of Change: Addressing Generational Turnover in SPA Management
Enable’s Maureen "Mo" Barsema and Martin Labelle delved into the complexities of managing special pricing agreement (SPA) transitions as workforce demographics shift. They provided actionable strategies to ensure seamless SPA management continuity, focusing on the transfer of knowledge and adaptation to new generational values and techniques.

Unlocking High Performance with the IMPACT Philosophy: Transformational Leadership and Organizational Success
Jeff Braun (Primera, Inc.) introduced the IMPACT Philosophy, highlighting six key pillars crucial for fostering high-performing, resilient organizational cultures. Each pillar, from innovation to teamwork, was explored in detail, providing leaders with a roadmap to inspire and drive substantial change within their teams.

The Science of Incentives: Transforming Behavior into Dollars
Mark Gilham explored the intricate relationship between strategic rebate management and behavioral economics to show how properly aligned incentives can lead to profitable outcomes. His discussion highlighted methods for designing rebate programs that motivate desired behaviors in trading partners, thus enhancing overall business performance.

Catalyze Community Night Out
An exciting first day at Catalyze concluded with the Catalyze Community Night Out at Night Shift Brewery, where attendees enjoyed an evening of networking and relaxation. This event provided a great opportunity for professionals to connect in a less formal setting, fostering opportunities to connect with industry peers and expand their network.  

Day 2 Sessions

How Many Vertebrae in Your Rebate and Pricing Spineometer?
Kicking off Day 2 with a bang, Tim J. Smith (Wiglaf Pricing) engaged the audience with a thought-provoking session on the Pricing Spineometer, a novel tool designed to measure the strategic importance of pricing and rebate management within organizations. He challenged participants to assess whether their senior leaders view these processes as core strategic elements or merely administrative tasks.

Rebates Reimagined: The Key to Transforming Your Relationship Ecosystem
Keith Wright (K Wright Consultancy Ltd.) offered transformative strategies for turning rebate programs from problematic to powerful. He outlined practical steps for ensuring rebates strengthen rather than strain business relationships, thereby supporting both organizational and partner goals.

Your Unseen Advantage: How Rebates Factor into Pricing Strategies
Kevin Mitchell (Professional Pricing Society) illuminated the integral role of rebates within competitive pricing strategies. He detailed how well-managed rebates can act as a hidden lever for achieving market advantage, highlighting how strategic rebate management can enhance profitability.

Effecting Change Management with the Right Mindset
In his session, Dan Levin (Levin Leadership Group) explored the pivotal role of mindset in effective change management. Dan shared essential strategies for adopting new technologies and methodologies, demonstrating how flexibility and adaptability can serve as major competitive advantages.

Succeeding in Extremity: Demystifying Decentralized Buying
Mark Gilham joined Graeme Storey and Simon Fennell of WSH to delve into the complexities of managing rebates with decentralized buying processes. Their session provided critical insights into how WSH successfully handles the unique challenges of seasonality and rapid lead times, offering valuable lessons for organizations aiming to optimize their rebate management systems.

What's In It for All of Us? Navigating Deals for Manufacturers and Retailers
This session, led by experts Michelle Langford (Keystone Group) and Richard Bunce (Avonstone Products Ltd), explored effective negotiation strategies that ensure mutually beneficial deals. Attendees learned how to clearly define and articulate desired outcomes, ensuring that agreements are advantageous for both manufacturers and retailers.

Piecing Together the Puzzle: How Collaboration Prevents Revenue Leakage
Leanne Bonner-Cooke (LBC Mentoring) addressed the critical need for aligning negotiating, trading and execution strategies to prevent revenue leakage. She provided a framework for understanding how each component interacts and how to optimize these interactions to secure financial processes.

Delivering Increased Profitability: Building and Maximizing a Workbench
John Gunderson (Dorn Group) shared his extensive experience in enhancing workbench setups for greater profitability and operational efficiency. His session covered the best practices for streamlining processes and optimizing workflows within B2B distribution.

From Concept to Execution: Implementing Successful Rebate Programs
A panel of seasoned professionals including Lloyd Ruffle (Tyson Foods), Mark Finocchiaro (Chemist Warehouse), Shahid Javed (Aimbridge Hospitality) and Chris Hutchins (Profectus Group) discussed the lifecycle of rebate programs from concept through execution. They shared insights on the critical stages of developing, implementing and managing rebate programs that drive intended results and enhance partner relationships.  

Reflections on Catalyze 2024

Catalyze 2024 wrapped up with a wealth of insights and strategies that have prepared us to tackle the challenges of an evolving marketplace. This year's conference was a wellspring of innovative ideas, offering strategies to transform challenges into competitive advantages. We leave inspired and equipped with actionable strategies, looking forward to leveraging what we've learned. As we look to Catalyze 2025, we are excited to continue this journey of innovation and leadership in rebate management.

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