From Compliance To Connection: Building Trusted Supplier Communities

InnovationFrom Compliance To Connection: Building Trusted Supplier CommunitiesByDawn Andre,Forbes Councils Member.for Forbes Technology CouncilCOUNCIL POSTExpertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Opinions expressed are those of the author. | Membership (fee-based)May 29, 2026, 07:15am EDTDawn Andre is Chief Product Officer at Avetta, helping companies build safer, more secure and more sustainable supply chains. getty​In my previous article, I spoke directly to business leaders at supplier organizations about turning compliance with hiring client expectations into a competitive advantage. I explained:“This means compliance is no longer just a cost of doing business; it’s a form of currency—currency that buys trust. For you, that trust translates directly into opportunity…In this sense, compliance is not an obligation to manage, but an asset to invest in that compounds in value over time.”I also explored how purpose-built technologies don’t just streamline compliance, they create something more powerful—a network effect that allows suppliers to become part of trusted communities.It’s this concept of a trusted community that I now want to address with you, procurement leaders deep in the sourcing trenches. Because while suppliers benefit from being part of these communities, the value for you may be even greater.Today’s Procurement RealityThe sourcing landscape today is fundamentally different than even just a few years ago:• Risk is rising. Global supply chain disruptions now cost enterprises an average of $184 million per company annually.• Timelines are tighter. Nearly half of supply chain leaders say pressure on their teams is increasing as they face demands to move faster while their teams shrink. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onload = function() { var iframeDoc = iframe.contentWindow.document; var script = iframeDoc.createEl...