Supply chains move materials, products, information, and money from vendors to purchasers to consumers, driving economic growth in an increasingly globalized world. As minority business enterprises (MBEs) continue to expand their influence in the U.S. economy, commitment to supplier diversity presents an opportunity to access modern markets and innovative products. Here are four facets of the U.S. supply chain through which MBEs are driving growth.
Market Share
The number of minority-owned firms nearly doubled within the past decade, now totaling eight million businesses. As MBEs continue to grow faster relative to the number of all U.S. enterprises, their diverse perspectives and outputs are fundamental to the entrepreneurial economy to which they contribute more than $1 billion each day.
Exports
With 95 percent of the world’s consumers outside the U.S., exporting is not only a strategy for individual enterprise growth but an imperative for American economic competitiveness. MBEs are uniquely qualified to access global markets – they are three times as likely to already have international operations and six times as likely to transact in a language other than English.
Job Creation
MBEs are responsible for the maintenance and creation of millions of jobs annually, and minority-owned businesses contribute nearly $50 billion in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments. Supplier diversity sustains the economic base and encourages business development in the local communities where vendors and customers reside.
Return on Investment
Research from the Hackett Group demonstrates that strategic investments in supplier diversity add, on average, $3.6 million to the bottom line for every $1 million in procurement operation costs. Companies invested in supply chain diversity are likely to see gains through access to new customers and productive relationships with vendors.
Posted at 11:37 AM
