Newsroom

Keelvar Featured in Gartner’s Innovation Insight: Managing Tail Spend Technology Solutions

May 13, 2025

Keelvar Launches Rate Manager

Keelvar is proud to announce the release if its newest product, Rate Manager, turning a tedious process into a competitive advantage.

March 31, 2025

Gartner: Keelvar is the only vendor of both Sourcing Optimization & Autonomous Sourcing

Keelvar is the only vendor featured in Gartner’s Market Guide for Sourcing Applications 2025 for both Advanced Sourcing Optimization and Autonomous Sourcing.

February 11, 2025

Over Half of Procurement Teams Are Automating — Keelvar’s 2025 Report Shows Why Others Risk Falling Behind

52% of procurement teams have already implemented automation, gaining speed and efficiency while their peers face mounting competitive pressure.

January 6, 2025

Keelvar named in the Deloitte 2024 Technology Fast 50 Awards

Keelvar today announced that it has been named in the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards, a ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in Ireland.

November 29, 2024

Keelvar and FreightWaves SONAR Transform Freight Procurement With Real-Time Market Data Integration

With this powerful integration, Keelvar and FreightWaves SONAR are setting a new standard for efficiency and accuracy in freight procurement

August 28, 2024

Keelvar recognized in Gartner's 2024 Reports

This recognition underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries and delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive efficiency and innovation in the procurement space.

June 26, 2024

Keelvar and Xeneta Look to Revolutionize Freight Procurement with Real-Time Benchmarking and Sourcing Optimization

Integration delivers unmatched market insights and cost savings by leveraging the world’s largest freight rate database with advanced optimization

June 24, 2024

AI and Automation Ignite a Transformative Year in Procurement

Faced with rising demands and shrinking workforces, sourcing has reached a technological tipping point in the quest for more efficient processes

February 6, 2024

‘It’s so bloody basic’ — how GenAI startups forgot to find a problem to solve

Investing in startups building big GenAI models is a “recipe for waste” says Keelvar CEO Alan Holland

September 15, 2023

Keelvar Unveils First of its Kind Autonomous Sourcing Solution, for Transformed Outcomes Across Strategic, Tactical and Tail Spend

Intelligent Sourcing Pioneer Combines No-Code Automation Solution with Optimization Platform to Power Sourcing Revolution Across Full Spend Lifecycle

May 2, 2023

"A good leader trusts people to do the job"

Keelvar CEO Alan Holland on his eventful career path to date and growing the company's staff exponentially within its first decade of operation.

January 27, 2023

Procurement Workforce Demands Change and New Solutions Amid Record Disruption, According to Keelvar Study

Sourcing leaders plan to embrace workflow automation and artificial intelligence to combat perfect storm of market pressures

January 17, 2023

Keelvar Partners with TealBook to Fuel Intelligent Procurement for Boosted Resilience

Autonomous sourcing pioneer announces partnership with leading supplier data platform to fuel agility amid record supply chain disruption

December 14, 2022

Is Moving Manufacturing from China to Mexico a Sound Risk-Reduction Strategy?

The push toward nearshoring comes as global supply chains are scrutinizing their supply chains

November 22, 2022

The Problem with Ports – and How Autonomous Sourcing Can Help

Dylan Alperin presents Autonomous Sourcing as a solution to the challenges in ocean freight transportation procurement.

November 10, 2022

Computer whizz making sense of supply chain puzzles

Decade of disruption sees companies open to tapping Keelvar’s AI-driven software to get products and components to market in time

September 11, 2022

How AI helps Coca-Cola boost supply chain procurement

Coca-Cola uses Keelvar's AI for supply chain visibility

June 6, 2022

The Global Chip Shortage: Sourcing Through Disruption

What started as a ‘pandemic problem’ has quickly evolved into a long-term crisis. Sourcing agility will be key to navigating the volatility.

May 23, 2022

Keelvar Raises $24M in Series B Funding

Sourcing Automation Pioneer Enables Coca-Cola and Others to Overcome Supply Chain Complexities with New Breed of AI and Machine Learning

May 16, 2022

Procurement automation provider lands fresh funding to target US market

Ireland-based Keelvar has landed a $24 million venture capital funding round to expand its reach

May 16, 2022

Keelvar Raises $24M to Automate Procurement in the Supply Chain

Keelvar allows customers to canvass an array of direct and indirect procurement bid information from suppliers and then analyze multiple awarding scenarios

May 16, 2022

Intel in chips warning, as Ukraine war squeezes supply

Alan Holland warned that attempts to diversify away from Ukrainian neon would not be simple

May 6, 2022

Using a Bot for Spot Ocean Freight

Alan Holland explains how AI can offer something more immediate, spot and transactional, in these unstable times when agility matters.

May 4, 2022

Choosing A Greener Tomorrow

“It’s challenging for some companies to understand that meeting sustainability goals and prioritizing low cost isn’t mutually exclusive”

April 20, 2022

How the Russia-Ukraine war is worsening shipping snarls and pushing up freight rates

Russian naval forces have closed shipping in and out of one of the few access points to ocean trade in Ukraine, said Dylan Alperin, head of professional services at Keelvar.

March 11, 2022

Are Companies Ready to Tackle Scope 3 Emissions in 2022?

Alan Holland, CEO of Keelvar, describes the challenge of measuring the carbon emissions of suppliers in multi-tier global supply chains.

March 9, 2022

Russia-Ukraine crisis ‘is likely to hit food supply chains hard’: Keelvar CEO

Keelvar CEO Alan Holland on how the Russia-Ukraine conflict will impact wheat supplies and food supply chains.

February 24, 2022

How a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ‘breadbasket of Europe,’ could hit supply chains

Ukraine is considered the “breadbasket of Europe,” and an invasion would result in the food supply chain getting “hit hard,” said Alan Holland

February 23, 2022

Why procurement must play the long game with sustainability

Best-in-class companies are taking action in the face of a changing global landscape that looks poorly on environmental polluters

February 8, 2022

Digital S2P 'driven by need for security of supply'

Source-to-pay (S2P) digital solutions being driven by pandemic-prompted need to secure sources of supply and to increase supply chain efficiencies

February 8, 2022

Fewer China Flights May Worsen Chip Shortage With Port Snarled

Air-freight costs for semiconductors could climb 30%: Keelvar

January 31, 2022

Keelvar: New Year wishes for the procurement solutions and services marketplace 2022

Our series of New Year wishes (rather than 'predictions') for the procurement, supply and services market for the year ahead

January 5, 2022

Five minutes with Alan Holland, CEO/Founder of Keelvar

Procurement Magazine speaks to Alan Holland, CEO/Founder of Keelvar discussing modernisation in procurement and sourcing

December 20, 2021

Alan Holland, Keelvar: Top trends in Procure-to-Pay 2022

Procurement Magazine speaks to Alan Holland, Keelvar, CEO on his top trends in Procure-to-Pay (P2P) for 2022

December 13, 2021

Sourcing's Big Opportunity in 2022: Reducing Scope 3 Emissions

Some devastating impacts of climate change are now unavoidable, and the topic of sustainability in procurement is heating up, too.

December 10, 2021

Survey reveals sourcing needs more capacity & tech adoption (Part 2)

Environmental sustainability will be an escalating priority for businesses with supply chains, survey shows.

November 11, 2021

Survey reveals the struggle to balance top-down priorities with acute challenges (Part 1)

Keelvar recently published the inaugural Voices of Sourcing (2021) report to capture and illuminate the experiences of sourcing in practice at the moment.

November 8, 2021

Sourcing Modernization: Two Solutions For One Goal

In the midst of global disruption, fluctuating demand and supply has driven industry leaders to hold sourcing events more frequently amid the chaos.

November 4, 2021

Sourcing staff 'kept awake' by anxiety over supply chain issues

Sourcing professionals have revealed high levels of anxiety over current supply chain issues, according to a new report

October 27, 2021

Sourcing Execs Prioritise Supply Chain Management

Keelvar research reveals that 90% of procurement and sourcing executives are prioritising the management of supply chain disruptions

October 27, 2021

Managing disruption is top priority for sourcing, procurement execs

Respondents list supply chain bottlenecks, delays, and shortages as top issues that “keep them up at night.”

October 27, 2021

Managing disruption is top priority for sourcing, procurement execs

Respondents list supply chain bottlenecks, delays, and shortages as top issues that “keep them up at night.”

October 27, 2021

Managing Supply Chain Disruptions is Top Priority for 90% of Procurement and Sourcing Executives

Nearly 65% professionals say justifying potential cost increases associated with making sustainable decisions remains a roadblock.

October 26, 2021

Improving Sustainability, Supply Chains Biggest Issues Facing Sourcing Leaders

Increasing sustainability and managing supply chains are the top priorities of sourcing and procurement executives

October 26, 2021

Further growth for Keelvar due to supply chain issues

Keelvar said it has added 11 new customers ending its third quarter; this follows the company’s record growth in the first half of 2021

October 26, 2021

90% of Procurement and Sourcing Executives Say Managing Supply Chain Disruptions is Top Priority, According to New Keelvar Survey

Half of Sourcing Professionals Say Reacting to Disruptions and Capacity and Supply Constraints Keep Them Up at Night

October 26, 2021

Keelvar Expands Sourcing Optimization and Automation Market Share with New Customer Growth in 2021

One of the world’s largest tech companies and retail giants among new customers

October 20, 2021

West Coast ports to expand operations, tackle bottlenecks

Keelvar's CEO Alan Holland comments - as government leaders and the private sector attempt to address supply chain problems, industry experts say delays, disruptions will last well into 2022.

October 14, 2021

A Future-Ready Supply Chain: Hurdles and Rewards

To withstand the known and unknown challenges of present and future supply chains, companies need to embrace modern procedures and technologies to help ensure business continuity — whatever the circumstances.

October 13, 2021

Supply-chain shock: ‘Do your Christmas shopping early’

Irish Retailers Are Struggling to Secure Christmas Stock as Covid, Brexit and Freight Costs Play Havoc with Supply Chains. Consumers Can Expect Shortages and Price Hikes

October 2, 2021

Keelvar using sensible supply chain tactics

A former UCC computer science lecturer, who left the college to start his own company, is warning of significant delays in shipping a range of products around the world which will cost a good deal more than usual, reports Roisin Burke

September 13, 2021

Christmas shoppers advised to buy early this year with supply bottlenecks likely to linger

Global supply chains are creaking under the weight of booming consumer demand.

September 12, 2021

The World Is Still Short of Everything. Get Used to It.

Pandemic-related product shortages — from computer chips to construction materials — were supposed to be resolved by now. Instead, the world has gained a lesson in the ripple effects of disruption.

August 30, 2021

Boosting Supplier Relationships Through Total-Value Sourcing

Taking an integrated approach to managing supplier relationships can unlock deeper benefits for both buyers and vendors, including product innovation, quality, better service terms and adherence to corporate social responsibility commitments.

August 24, 2021

Interview with Alan Holland, CEO of Keelvar: “Automation is key to freedom”

Alan Holland, CEO of Keelvar, explains to Container News how automation, digital systems and technology could ease the impact of the global port congestion and mitigate the supply chain disruption.

August 9, 2021

Keelvar Says Its Ocean And Air Freight AI Will Revolutionize Procurement

Optimizing sourcing at a time when rates, transit times and carriers are changing so rapidly is challenging for even the largest firms. For Keelvar, there are few better times to unleash their bots.

July 20, 2021

Keelvar Enhances Ocean, Air Freight Sourcing Bots for Procurement Automation

AI-enabled procurement solution expands category-smart capabilities to meet specialized shipping needs for logistics buyers

June 23, 2021

ProcureTechStars meets Alan Holland, CEO and Founder of Keelvar

Alan shared his thoughts on scaling sourcing excellence, agents of change, economic injustices, algorithmic mechanism design, moral obligations…Playing Bigger, Strava and Murphy’s.

June 16, 2021

Sustainable Sourcing and Supply Chain Resiliency: Q&A with Keelvar’s Alan Holland

To learn more about how current sustainability efforts in the food and beverage industry, and the close link between sustainability and supply chain resilience, we interviewed Alan Holland, founder & CEO of intelligent sourcing automation.

June 11, 2021

You Bet, We Still Care About Sustainability

As they erase the distractions posed by the pandemic, companies brainstorm new ideas to make their supply chains more sustainable.

June 9, 2021

Autonomous Procurement with David Clarke, Keelvar

Ronan talks to David Clarke about his background, his time with Workday, how Cape Clear got its name, choosing the right name for your startup and what Keelvar does.

June 8, 2021

Red Business – Jonathan speaks to Keelvar on how AI is keeping goods moving [Podcast]

Red Business With Jonathan Healy

June 4, 2021

Procurement Automation…how far will you go?

Automation has moved from purchase to pay processes into more complex areas, and leaders continue to progress faster in adopting next-gen digital technologies.

June 3, 2021

Cork AI firm adds Carlsberg and Glanbia with record revenue growth

Company already works with a number of high-profile clients such as BMW, Coca Cola and Novartis

May 25, 2021

Sustainable Sourcing: Greener Procurement Grows with Optimization

The demand for sustainability is skyrocketing. With 61% of brands claiming an increase in customer demand for sustainability, it’s crucial to drive change where it matters most: the supply chain.

May 24, 2021

Keelvar Achieves ISO 27001:2013 Certification for Meeting Information Security Standards

This certification is evidence that Keelvar has met rigorous international standards in ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Keelvar’s SaaS sourcing products.

May 18, 2021

Keelvar Continues Record Growth in Customers Selecting Its Sourcing Optimization and Automation Solutions

New customers span consumer goods, technology, logistics, and healthcare industries

May 12, 2021

The Sourcing Rut: New Problems, Same Old Tech

To get out of a "sourcing rut" of limited options, procurement pioneers can set their teams up for success with the right tech and a roadmap with incremental steps.

May 7, 2021

Keelvar's Alan Holland puts Cork on Global AI Map

Academic-turned-entrepreneur Alan Holland’s Keelvar is in rapid scaling mode and he believes Cork could be at the centre of the AI revolution.

May 7, 2021

Pros to Know: Understanding the Impact of the Global Supply Chain with Alan Holland, Keelvar Systems [Video]

Assistant editor Mackenna Moralez talks with Alan Holland, founder and CEO, Keelvar about how supply chains differ based on their locations.

April 26, 2021

Navigating Procurement Through Choppy Waters

Procurement teams are turning to automation to add value and solve problems.

April 26, 2021

Cork can become major European Tech Hub says ex-UCC man turned successful entrepreneur

Alan Holland has a successful tech company on Leeside - here he writes for CorkBeo on Leeside's huge potential

April 13, 2021

Keelvar solutions drive ‘customer-centric’ procurement

Sourcing automation software designed to help logistics providers compete

March 30, 2021

Afternoon Coffee: Keelvar names Workday exec as board chair

Keelvar, an AI-backed sourcing automation provider, announced David Clarke as its new board chair, according to the website independent.ie.

March 26, 2021

Expand and Engage with Novel Marketing Initiatives | Podcast - Interview with Alan Holland from Keelvar

When you are a disrupter in an industry, working to break boundaries with new technologies you have to ask; do your marketing initiatives coincide with your mission?

March 25, 2021

Technology Entrepreneur and Leader David Clarke Joins Keelvar as Board Chair and Investor

Former Workday CTO attracted to sourcing automation provider following the company’s record year of growth and expansion

March 24, 2021

Cape Clear co-founder David Clarke joins Keelvar board as chair

Former Workday chief technical officer impressed by Cork-based software firm

March 24, 2021

Lots of spots? Bring on the bots!

As global air freight volatility continues, many leading procurement teams are turning to automation and artificial intelligence to combat the turbulence, says Keelvar’s CEO Alan Holland.

March 17, 2021

Keelvar Founder Alan Holland Named 2021 Pro to Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Sourcing Software CEO recognized as outstanding supply chain executive and technology innovator

March 17, 2021

Smart Sourcing Bots Are Taking On Air Freight Procurement

The unprecedented scale of disruption caused by the pandemic continues to wreak havoc across global supply chains in the early months of 2021.

March 11, 2021

Artificial Intelligence-Powered Procurement

How advanced technology is helping procurement departments operate more efficiently and effectively in today’s uncertain business landscape.

March 8, 2021

Incremental to Exponential: Five Overlooked Benefits of Procurement Automation

A more holistic and compelling business case for investing in automation goes beyond speed and efficiency, to include benefits such as traceability, data quality, process compliance and more.

March 1, 2021

Sourcing Bots Bid to Keep Freight Moving

One of the unanticipated impacts of COVID-19 is a significant increase in demand for shipping.

February 4, 2021

Keelvar Launches Intelligent Sourcing Automation for Air Freight Procurement

Keelvar launches intelligent sourcing automation for air freight procurement.

January 26, 2021

Afternoon Coffee: Keelvar adds air freight sourcing bot

Keelvar, a sourcing automation provider, launched a new air freight sourcing automation solution powered by artificial intelligence.

January 12, 2021

How Automation Calms the Waves of Reactive Ocean Sourcing

Ocean freight buyers must quickly put together mini-tenders or spot bid events that are much smaller in scale and spend size but still vital to business operations and continuity.

November 12, 2020

Supply meets demand: New sourcing automation solution targets ocean freight procurement

Keelvar provides new AI-powered ocean freight sourcing automation software to help procurement teams respond in disruptive climates

November 10, 2020

Cork firm to host procurement sequel to Kasparov vs Deep Blue

Competition will pitch procurement bots against human expert with decades of experience

September 22, 2020

Less is more when it comes to management

A work style that allows people more autonomy in their work and time to focus without interruption has helped Keelvar function well during the Covid-19 crisis, says founder and chief executive Alan Holland

August 9, 2020

Go big or go home, how to raise millions abroad - Podcast

This week, Adrian talks to Alan Holland, founder and CEO of Cork-based Keelvar, a procurement AI technology firm that recently raised €16m in a funding round.

August 7, 2020

Venture Capital Piles into UCC Academic's Startup

Former UCC lecturer Alan Holland has turned investor heads with Keelvar, an AI-powered solution for cutting corporate procurement costs.

August 5, 2020

Intelligent software agents in advanced sourcing: The bots really are the experts

Keelvar has been witnessing a more urgent demand for advanced sourcing software, and not just since the current pandemic and its impact on the supply chain.

July 9, 2020

The future of Supply Chains and AI: making sense of data to build better businesses

As companies are overwhelmed by torrents of data, they’re turning to automated tools that can dial down the noise and send clear signals to decision-makers.

July 2, 2020

Ardent Partner's “2K20 Series” – Speaker Spotlight: Alan Holland, Keelvar

In April and May, Ardent Partners hosted The CPO Rising 2K20 Virtual Series – The Resiliency Imperative as a way to bring together our global community of procurement, finance, and supply management professionals

July 1, 2020

Cork-based Keelvar is optimising supply lines in the face of Covid-19

Keelvar, a Cork-based procurement and supply chain optimisation company, has announced it is expanding with plans to recruit 40 new workers over the next two years.

June 30, 2020

Rebooting Ireland: Sourcing software provider Keelvar raises over 20 million in Series A funding

Cork-based Keelvar, an industry-leading strategic sourcing software company, has announced that it has raised over 20 million euro in Series A funding led by Elephant and Mosaic Ventures with participation from Paua Ventures.

June 29, 2020

Pandemic puts fizz into hi-tech supply chain platforms, says Keelvar boss

Demand for the Cork firm’s AI technology has rocketed thanks to Covid-19

June 27, 2020

The next wave of supply-chain automation

When combined in the right way, sensors, resource-management software, warehouse robots and the like can make supply chains leaner and more flexible.

June 9, 2020

Sourcing software provider Keelvar raises $18M from Elephant and Mosaic

Step forward, Cork, Ireland-based Keelvar, strategic sourcing software company, which today announces that it has raised $18 million in Series A funding led by Elephant Ventures and Mosaic Ventures, with participation from Paua Ventures, enabling th

June 8, 2020

Keelvar Raises $18M in Series A Funding

Keelvar provides large enterprises with Advanced Sourcing Optimization software and Intelligent Sourcing Automation that uses AI-enabled Sourcing Bots to fully automate tactical buying processes.

June 8, 2020