OWS26 returns to Chicago April 28-30, bringing together a highly curated group of practitioners, decision-makers, and industry experts working at the intersection of sourcing, technology, governance, and service delivery.
Produced by IAOP, OWS26 is designed for the people responsible for turning strategy into outcomes. The program focuses on how organizations are navigating real-world challenges—AI adoption, evolving operating models, supplier governance, workforce transformation, regulatory pressure, and social impact—and what’s actually working in practice.
Across keynotes, interactive sessions, and deep-dive discussions, OWS26 moves beyond theory to explore how strategy is operationalized at scale. You’ll hear directly from those making daily decisions that shape results—across buyers, providers, advisors, and innovators—sharing lessons learned, tradeoffs made, and paths forward.
Whether you’re refining sourcing strategies, integrating AI into delivery models, strengthening governance, or rethinking the future of work, OWS26 is where ideas meet the realities of execution.
Why Attend?
- Practical, Timely Insights Gain grounded perspectives on AI, automation, governance, digital sourcing models, and workforce evolution—rooted in real use cases, not hype.
- Strategy You Can Apply Walk away with concrete approaches, frameworks, and lessons from peers tackling today’s most complex sourcing and service delivery challenges.
- Meaningful Connections Engage with a focused community of practitioners, executives, technologists, and social impact contributors in an environment built for real conversation—not crowds.
- Industry Perspective & Recognition Learn from—and alongside—individuals and organizations shaping how work gets done across global business services.
- Global Context, Real-World Application Explore strategies that balance global scale with regulatory, cultural, and operational realities on the ground.