Supplier Diversity Metrics & Statistics: 4 Key Trends to Watch in 2025

Supplier diversity programs made meaningful strides in 2024, even amid economic uncertainty and shifting political sentiment. While challenges remain, procurement leaders have become more focused on refining supplier diversity metrics, integrating ESG goals, and expanding programs globally.

Looking ahead, here are four key trends that will define supplier diversity statistics and strategies in 2025.

1. Smarter Data Systems Are Driving Program Maturity

In 2024, it became clear: a supplier diversity program is only as strong as the data behind it. In 2025, expect even more organizations to modernize their systems and focus on accurate, auditable supplier diversity statistics.

According to a Procurement Leaders report, 67% of supplier diversity leaders now rely on third-party data providers—up from the third-most used resource in 2022. This shift reflects growing pressure for accurate reporting, and stronger integration across procurement, ESG, and risk functions.

At Scoutbee, we’ve seen this firsthand. Companies are increasingly using AI-powered sourcing platforms to enrich supplier profiles, track certifications, and surface risks—reducing manual effort and improving transparency.

Collaboration between supplier diversity and ESG teams is also on the rise. While some once feared ESG programs would draw resources away, 55% of supplier diversity leaders now view ESG as a strategic partner, and 38% are responsible for both ESG and supplier diversity reporting. This reflects regulatory trends like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which demands unified, data-rich disclosures.

2. Metrics Are Evolving Beyond Spend

For years, supplier diversity success was measured mainly in spend—total dollars or percent of spend with diverse suppliers. In 2025, those supplier diversity metrics are still foundational—used by 86% and 80% of organizations respectively—but they no longer tell the whole story.

Leading companies are expanding what they measure:

• Number of active, certified diverse suppliers

• Supplier retention and development over time

• Local economic impact (jobs created, wages, taxes)

• Net Promoter Score (NPS) and supplier satisfaction

• Influence of supplier diversity on RFP wins

Some organizations are even using impact-weighted procurement metrics that assign tangible social value to sourcing decisions. These more nuanced supplier diversity statistics help align with ESG goals and create clearer narratives for investors and stakeholders.

Learn how companies are building richer datasets in our post on community-based supplier intelligence.

3. ESG and Supplier Diversity Metrics Are Becoming One

Supplier diversity no longer exists in a silo. As environmental and social impact reporting become more regulated and visible, procurement leaders are aligning supplier diversity metrics directly with ESG performance.

Nearly half of supplier diversity leaders now report both social and environmental metrics, often using the same supplier dataset. This makes sense: many of the most impactful environmental outcomes (like Scope 3 emissions) come from supplier actions. A diverse, local supplier base can also help reduce carbon footprints, increase resilience, and support sustainable growth.

Cross-functional reporting and shared KPIs between ESG and supplier diversity teams are quickly becoming the norm. See how this plays out in Scoutbee’s approach to balancing efficiency and resilience.

For more on the global shift toward ESG-aligned procurement, explore guidance from the World Economic Forum.

4. Global Expansion with Localized Strategies

While supplier diversity has long been driven by U.S.-based certification and mandates, 2025 shows strong international momentum. According to The Hackett Group, supplier diversity programs are expanding rapidly across the UK, Canada, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, and Australia.

However, global strategies require local nuance:

• The UK benefits from certification bodies like MSDUK

• Canada supports diverse suppliers through organizations like CAMSC

• In other markets, self-declaration and local surveys are more accepted than formal certifications

U.S.-based companies expanding abroad are adapting by using AI-powered supplier discovery tools to map diverse supplier ecosystems and assess gaps before procurement planning begins.

Localized strategies are allowing companies to report region-specific supplier diversity statistics while maintaining global consistency—enabling better compliance, inclusivity, and impact.

What This Means for Procurement Leaders in 2025

While 2024 brought both challenges and momentum, 2025 is poised to be a defining year for supplier diversity. The focus is clear:

• Modern data systems that enable reliable, real-time tracking

• Metrics that measure more than spend—impact, engagement, and equity

• Integrated ESG and supplier diversity strategies

• Global programs that flex to local realities

Organizations that lead in supplier diversity today do so with strong supplier diversity metrics, global awareness, and a clear understanding that inclusive procurement is also smart procurement.