In June, we released the third annual State of Supplier Diversity Reports with informative and comprehensive results from over 450 respondents in the industry.

Between the supplier diversity professionals managing and growing their companies’ programs, and the diverse suppliers on the other side of them, both reports provided us with extensive insight into the industry.

We're living in the age of the smartphone, and with that technology come the millions of apps we use collectively every day. According to Statista’s 2019 report, mobile app usage is on the rise, and it’s expected to climb further as millenials and Gen Z continue to show a preference for mobile apps over desktop software. 

For most business functions, quantifying return on investment, or ROI, is an imperative.

It is no different for supplier diversity. ROI applies to companies that already have a solid program as well as to those that are considering or are just starting to build a program. This means that you need to be prepared to quantify the value that supplier diversity brings to your organization in comparison to the investment that applies.

For the third year in a row, we surveyed supplier diversity professionals and diverse suppliers across an array of industries. By asking them about their successes, trials, and tribulations, we aimed to learn more about the state of supplier diversity and what progress still needs to be made. The survey includes multiple-choice and open-response questions—it’s often the latter that are the most revealing.

We know that small businesses are a vital component of our economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), there are nearly 30 million small businesses in the United States, accounting for a whopping 99.9 percent of all U.S. businesses, and 8 million of those are classified as diverse businesses. These 30 million small businesses make a significant impact on our economy through job creation and innovation.