When we run supplier prequalifications, the inclusion data comes out automatically because ownership type is a required field at onboarding. What we see consistently surprises procurement teams – not in the aggregate, but in the pattern beneath it. Women-owned and youth-owned businesses are dominant in some categories. Office cleaning: 100%

Every organisation that has ever run a supplier diversity programme knows its aggregate number. Or thinks it does. The percentage of spend that reached women-owned suppliers last year. The share of the supplier base that is youth-owned. These numbers are quoted in board presentations, included in ESG disclosures, and repeated

When we were building Scale’s supplier onboarding flow, Comark, Brian and I had an argument about one field. The field was ownership type. Women-owned, youth-owned, persons-with-disabilities-owned. The argument was simple: should it be required or optional? The case for optional was reasonable. You do not want to add friction at

Despite reforms, procurement remains a black box to most citizens. And yet, it accounts for more than 30% of government expenditure. If we’re serious about economic reform, this is the place to start.

Procurement is evolving. It’s no longer just about price, timelines, and compliance. Today, it’s about purpose, and procurement teams are stepping up to drive real change in how businesses impact people and the planet. At Scale, we’re building the tools to make sustainable, inclusive, and responsible procurement the new normal.