Behind the curtain of the DPW car show post (the working mechanics)

One-Line Summary

ProcureTech is the body. IBM + Anthropic supply the engine. Canonical Rails are the road. The Hansen Fit Score is the driver’s dashboard — showing whether procurement is truly ready to move.

The Hansen Framework and the emerging AI procurement ecosystem:

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The Body — ProcureTech

• What it is: The visible layer — tools, platforms, and applications (Coupa, Ivalua, Scoutbee, TealBook, Zip, AdaptOne, etc.).
• What it does: Defines form, function, and specialization (design, ergonomics, user experience).
• Limitations: Beautiful, but inert without deeper alignment — the technology equivalent of a polished vehicle on the showroom floor.

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The Engine — IBM + Anthropic

• What it is: The powertrain of intelligence and orchestration.
  • Anthropic (Claude, reasoning, safety alignment) = AI cognition.
  • IBM (Watsonx, governance, enterprise integration) = compliance, security, accountability.
• What it does: Provides the energy (AI capability + governance) that drives the vehicle forward.
• Limitation: Even the best engine can’t move without traction or direction.

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The Road / Rails — Canonical Rails

• What it is: The standardized, governed pathways that connect every layer of the ecosystem.
  • Data standards, interoperability, and process alignment — the rules of the road.
  • In your model: the canonical rails and strand commonality that ensure every agent, system, and stakeholder moves coherently.
• What it does: Enables safe, measurable movement across diverse platforms.
  • AI agents travel these rails through MCP (Model Context Protocol) adapters.
  • Procurement workflows stay consistent, auditable, and aligned with governance.
• Without it: The car has an engine and a body—but no traction, no navigation, no destination.

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Hansen Fit Score: The Driver & Dashboard

• What it is: The measurement and guidance system that ensures the vehicle is roadworthy.
  • Technical Capability = engine performance
  • Behavioral Alignment = driver discipline
  • Readiness Compensator = quality of the road, maintenance, and navigation
• What it does: Converts potential energy into controlled, measurable outcomes.

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY: This is how to translate ProcureTech AI theory into real-world, working mechanics.

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