Responsible Sourcing Programs Remain Strong

The 2025 State of Supplier Diversity report released by Supplier.io reveals that supplier diversity programs are strong and evolving to prioritize small and local suppliers for increased supply chain competitiveness.

The research found 87% of organizations report steady or growing executive support for programs, despite adapting to economic pressure and political noise with new priorities, repositioned messaging, and a 22% reduction in public reporting.

“Supplier diversity programs are directly tied to business performance and resilience. As the cultural and political landscapes shift, it’s critical to redefine responsible sourcing strategies to prepare for tomorrow’s volatility,” says Neeraj Shah, CEO and founder of Supplier.io. “Our research shows leaders aren’t retreating in the face of change. They are repositioning programs, strengthening data and reporting, and elevating small and local suppliers more than ever. They are evolving for the next era of inclusive sourcing.”

Key takeaways:

·        38% plan to deepen their focus on small suppliers, and 46% expect to increase small-supplier sourcing efforts, tying supplier diversity more directly to sourcing strategy, competition, and resilience.

• Leaders anticipate political and cultural shifts to be the biggest risk to their supplier diversity program (39.6%), followed by the economy (20.7%), and potential budget cuts (18.9%)– fueling the need to adjust messaging and positioning even more.
• Teams reported moving beyond traditional spend reporting and tracking a broader set of business performance-related results, such as impact on RFP wins (46%), economic impact (43%), and cost savings (40%).
• The research shows a 74% increase in companies with no certification agency council membership. As organizations reduce reliance on traditional certification bodies, data issues persist. Teams using onboarding data or manual processes reported 40% more data challenges.
• As supplier diversity becomes more scrutinized, 33% of organizations report an increased focus on data quality. Twenty-eight-point seven percent are prioritizing improved technology support. In 2026, teams expect a 30% increase in internal tracking, a 34% increase in economic impact reporting, and 56% plan to report publicly, signaling the need for a strong data foundation today.