Procurement Risks Are Rising, But Payment Integrity ROI Shows Action Can't Wait

Experts discuss how data and AI can reduce leakage, detect risks earlier, and protect public spend

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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In a recent webinar, experts from SAS and FACTS Consulting discussed the growing procurement risks organizations are facing and how proven payment integrity ROI demonstrates that action can't wait. They highlighted how data and AI can be leveraged to reduce leakage, detect risks earlier, and protect public spend.

Why it matters

As procurement processes become more complex, organizations are increasingly vulnerable to fraud, waste, and abuse. Strengthening procurement integrity through data-driven solutions is crucial to safeguarding public funds and maintaining public trust.

The details

The webinar featured insights from Chris McAuley, the global lead for SAS for Procurement Integrity; Sam McManus, a Principal Internal Auditor at SAS; Yolandé Byrd, the Director, CFO and co-founder of FACTS Consulting; and Mary Maul, an Associate Product Marketing Specialist at SAS. They discussed how organizations can leverage data and AI to enhance their procurement processes and mitigate rising risks.

  • The webinar was held on February 16, 2026.

The players

Chris McAuley

The global lead for SAS for Procurement Integrity, with experience in client requirements and IT stacks across many geographies and industry verticals. He is a chartered accountant based in the Middle East.

Sam McManus

A CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) with 20 years of experience as a public accountant for PwC and as a Principal Internal Auditor for SAS. He has led operational and financial audits while championing the use of AI and data analytics to deliver deeper, data-driven insights.

Yolandé Byrd

The Director, CFO and co-founder of FACTS Consulting, an international cyber forensics and data analytics firm. She leads the company's US operations and guided the development of SAS Payment Integrity for Procurement, now a formal SAS product.

Mary Maul

An Associate Product Marketing Specialist at SAS, managing cross-industry for SAS for Procurement Integrity and working closely with a wide range of stakeholders. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC.

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What they’re saying

“Strengthening procurement integrity through data-driven solutions is crucial to safeguarding public funds and maintaining public trust.”

— Chris McAuley, Global Lead for SAS for Procurement Integrity (sas.com)

“We've seen how data and AI can be leveraged to reduce leakage, detect risks earlier, and protect public spend.”

— Sam McManus, Principal Internal Auditor, SAS (sas.com)

“The development of SAS Payment Integrity for Procurement has cemented FACTS Consulting's status as a premier partner.”

— Yolandé Byrd, Director, CFO and Co-founder, FACTS Consulting (sas.com)

What’s next

The experts discussed how organizations can take immediate action to strengthen their procurement processes and mitigate rising risks through the use of data-driven solutions like SAS Payment Integrity for Procurement.

The takeaway

As procurement processes become more complex, organizations must prioritize strengthening procurement integrity to safeguard public funds and maintain public trust. The proven ROI of data-driven solutions like SAS Payment Integrity for Procurement demonstrates that action can't wait.