← Arkestro
Arkestro role-play cheat sheet
For the mock cold call at the end of most SDR interviews.
What they sell, in one line
AI procurement software that predicts supplier offers and automates negotiations so buyers get better deals with less back-and-forth.
Who you'd be calling
CPOs, VPs and Directors of Procurement, Strategic Sourcing and Category Managers at large enterprises
Your opener
“Hi Jordan, this is Alex from Arkestro. We help procurement teams get better supplier pricing without running long bid rounds. Can I ask how your team handles sourcing events today?”
Problems you solve for them
- Sourcing events and bidding rounds take weeks and strain small teams
- Buyers can't review every supplier, so savings are left on the table
- Supplier negotiations are reactive and relationships suffer
Discovery questions to ask
- How are supplier quotes and negotiations handled today?
- How much spend goes untouched because the team lacks time?
- How do you measure savings from sourcing right now?
Objections they'll throw at you
“I don't have time for this.”
→ Understood, I'll keep it short. We help cut the time sourcing events take. Could we grab 15 minutes next week to see if it's relevant?
“We're not interested.”
→ No worries. Is that because sourcing is running smoothly, or just not a priority this year?
“We already have a procurement platform.”
→ Makes sense, most teams do. Does it help you decide what to offer suppliers, or is it mainly for managing the process? That's the gap we focus on.
“Send me an email.”
→ Happy to. What's the one sourcing problem you'd most want solved, so I make it relevant?
Competitors worth knowing
Coupa, Ivalua, Jaggaer, GEP
Interview tips for this company
- Learn basic procurement words: RFP, sourcing event, spend, tail spend, supplier negotiation.
- Expect a skeptical senior buyer. Be able to explain the AI in one plain sentence without buzzwords.
Written from public information about Arkestro to help you practice. Ask an insider what their role play looked like; it's the best prep there is.