Supplier Diversity

How diverse are your suppliers or vendors?

Supplier diversity is a step in the diversity process that often goes overlooked.

What is supplier diversity? It is a business strategy that ensures a diverse supplier base in the procurement of goods and services. It is the creation of a diverse supply chain that works to secure the inclusion of business owned by diverse individuals or groups in procurement plans.

Diverse vendors could affect all areas of your organization, from dining services, to marketing, to human resources, to facilities.

Source: supplier.io. Read the full article.

Steps to Starting your Supplier Diversity Program

Adapted from this SupplierGATEWAY article.

Determine which groups your supplier diversity program will include. Organizations that are at least 51% owned and operated by any of the following groups are considered diverse suppliers:

Women
Persons with disabilities
Minorities (US, or where a minority group is recognized by a country’s government) including:
- Native American
- African American
- Asian American
- Hispanic American
Veterans and military-service-disabled veterans
People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender

Determine what certification types your program will accept and join. These are third-party programs that verify organizations' diversity status and maintain databases for organizational access.

Third-Party Supplier Diversity Certificates

National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC): African-American (Black), Asian-American, Native American, Alaskan Native American, Indian Sub-Continent American, or Hispanic-owned businesses
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): Woman-owned businesses
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC): LGBT-owned businesses
United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC): Hispanic-owned businesses
Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC): Asian-American and Pacific Islander-owned businesses
Native American Chamber of Commerce (NACC): Native American-owned businesses
Vets First Certification Program: Veteran-owned businesses
Disability:IN: Disability-owned businesses
SupplierGATEWAY Enhanced Digital Certification: African-American (Black), Asian-American, Native American, Hispanic, Woman, Veteran, and Disability-owned businesses. Also small and small disadvantaged businesses.

Determine metrics and who will be responsible for maintaining the relationships. Will this be on a department-by-department basis, or will one individual have responsibility for the whole organization?