This blog was originally published on 3/13/2019 and updated on 12/10/2019. 

As more companies grow savvy to the benefits of cultivating a diverse supplier base, supplier diversity programs have grown in popularity and in number. For a supplier diversity program to succeed long term, however, it needs to have a sustainable growth strategy—and that’s where supplier development programs offer a strategic advantage.

One of the key acknowledgments of our supplier diversity programs is that there is a pool of suppliers out there full of untapped potential because they do not have access to the same opportunities that their majority-owned counterparts do. Five decades of work toward equality and equity for United States-based diverse suppliers is paying off, allowing us to focus on an even bigger picture: global supplier diversity and the enormous potential of diverse suppliers outside the U.S.

Let’s cut right to the chase: The United States is the global leader in supplier diversity. 

Successful businesses are built on good relationships with clients and vendors. For diverse-owned businesses, building and maintaining relationships with corporate partners should be a top priority. Firms committed to supplier diversity and inclusive supply chains are a boon for diverse suppliers that are up against systemic barriers and outright discrimination.

For the third year, we at CVM, a supplier.io company, conducted our survey of supplier diversity professionals and diverse suppliers. This first-of-its-kind survey gives insight into what supplier diversity professionals experience within their own programs, as well as how diverse suppliers navigate the supplier diversity environment.