05/06/2026
A few years ago, clients mainly wanted to know:
Can you do the job?
Can you deliver on time?
And what will it cost?
Now the conversation looks very different.
Businesses are being asked about supplier relationships, internal processes, workplace standards, governance, and how operations are actually managed behind the scenes.
For many SMEs, this can feel frustrating because the issue is often not poor performance. The business is running well, but the paperwork, reporting, and structure clients now expect simply were never needed before.
We are seeing more companies lose time in procurement processes because they cannot quickly provide the information larger organisations are asking for.
Transparency is quickly becoming part of doing business.
The companies that prepare for this early are making procurement conversations easier, building stronger trust with clients, and standing out in a very competitive market.
Read our full article for more insights: https://www.crowe.com/za/crowedna/insights/supply-chain-transparency-why-businesses-are-being-asked-harder-questions