Google’s Pioneering Approach to Supplier Diversity
When Googlers purchase products and services, they can use a unique tool developed by Google to find small businesses. These are U.S.-based companies with $15 million or less in annual revenue and 50 or fewer full-time employees. Such businesses often offer specialized services or innovative products that might otherwise be overlooked.
Google values working with small, unique suppliers to foster innovation. By incorporating diverse perspectives, they ensure that innovations outside Google are considered and integrated into their value chain.
Launched in November 2014, Google’s Small Business Supplier Diversity program connects Google employees with diverse-owned small suppliers, fosters innovation, and helps these businesses grow online. Unlike typical programs, Google’s approach does not require certification for women- or minority-owned businesses, enabling broader participation.
Google’s open procurement approach empowers its 65,000 employees to make informed purchasing decisions. This ensures that innovations from a wide spectrum of suppliers are noticed and considered.
The initiative was driven by the realization that small and diverse suppliers were not easily accessible for Googlers. The program, spearheaded by Adrianna Samaniego, Chris Genteel, and Adam Gardner, aimed to rectify this by providing clear value and benefits for participation beyond the potential for business.
One key development was the Pivot tool, launched in July 2015, which allows employees to find and rate suppliers, integrating diverse suppliers into search results.
Beyond supplier diversity, Google collaborated with the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College to create the Digital Excellence Program, benefiting participants with enhanced digital strategies. Since its inception, the program has successfully graduated over 200 entrepreneurs.
From Andre Leftwich’s significant business growth to Matthew Moses’s enhanced digital strategies, the impact of Google’s program is evident. As Google continues to expand, the inclusive supply chain remains pivotal to its innovation.
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