Procurement teams are under increasing pressure to deliver more strategic value across their organisations. That means reducing risk, ensuring continuity and getting the best possible performance from suppliers.  

But, without the right systems in place, these goals can be difficult to achieve, especially when supplier information is fragmented across different tools or processes. 

Supplier risk and performance management software offers a more joined-up approach.  

By bringing together risk assessments, service level monitoring and supplier performance data into a single platform, teams can better protect their organisation from disruption and build stronger, more accountable supplier relationships. 

What is supplier risk and performance management? 

Supplier risk and performance management involves two closely linked activities that work best when you focus on both at the same time. Here’s what each activity involves: 

Supplier risk management 

This is the process of identifying and tracking potential issues that could affect your supplier’s ability to meet their obligations. These can include financial instability, regulatory compliance concerns, data security risks or ESG-related issues, such as modern slavery or environmental impact. 

By understanding where risks exist and monitoring them over time, procurement teams can take early action to minimise the impact on operations, whether that means finding alternative suppliers or to risk working with existing partners to address weaknesses.  

Supplier performance management 

This focuses on measuring how well suppliers are delivering against their agreed terms. That could include on-time delivery, product or service quality, responsiveness to queries, or innovation and added value.  

Clear metrics help teams identify where improvements are needed and provide a basis for constructive supplier engagement. They can identify any drop offs in performance and take action before it becomes a serious issue. 

When done effectively, performance management helps ensure that suppliers remain aligned with your organisation’s goals and continue to deliver value throughout the life of the contract. 

Why it matters more than ever 

Managing risk and performance across your supplier base is not new, but it has become increasingly important as supply chains grow more complex and business resilience becomes a central priority. 

Ensuring continuity and compliance 

Geopolitical events, climate impacts, regulatory changes and supply bottlenecks can all affect supplier performance with little warning. Without visibility over where your dependencies lie and how suppliers are performing, these disruptions can catch teams off guard. A more proactive approach helps maintain continuity and reduces exposure to compliance failures. 

Building stronger supplier relationships 

Performance management isn’t just about monitoring metrics, it’s about maintaining open lines of communication with suppliers, setting shared expectations, and working collaboratively to resolve issues. This approach supports better long-term outcomes, from improved service levels to innovation and driving value. 

What to look for in supplier risk and performance management software 

Not all tools consider the specific needs of procurement teams, so it’s important to choose a solution that reflects the way your team works and the types of risk and performance indicators you need to manage. 

A central view of supplier activity 

A complete, centralised record of each supplier gives teams confidence they are working with accurate and up-to-date information. This includes risk scores, contract links, performance indicators, and any communications or issues raised, all in one place. 

Integrated SLA and performance tracking 

The ability to define and track service levels within your system helps ensure that performance issues are picked up early. Missed targets can trigger alerts or reviews, while well-performing suppliers can be recognised and retained. 

Support for ongoing risk monitoring 

Rather than relying on one-off checks during onboarding, a good system allows for continuous monitoring of supplier risks. Changes in financial status, expired certifications or new regulatory concerns can be flagged automatically, keeping teams informed without additional admin. 

Custom dashboards and reporting 

Different organisations need to focus on different measures of success. Whether you’re looking at performance by supplier, contract, department or category, configurable dashboards give teams the flexibility to monitor what matters most to them. 

Embedding value through joined-up systems 

Supplier risk and performance management works best when it’s not treated in isolation. It should form part of a broader supplier relationship management approach that brings together risk, compliance, delivery, and commercial data. 

The Atamis platform is designed to support this integrated way of working. Our supplier relationship management solution includes a set of flexible tools that can be tailored to how your organisation operates. 

The Supplier Assurance Enhancer enables teams to issue risk questionnaires automatically, with responses stored against each supplier record. The Risk & Issues Enhancer makes it easy to track and manage any concerns raised, whether internally or by suppliers, from initial logging to final resolution. 

Performance data can be tracked using the SLA Monitoring Enhancer, giving teams visibility of service levels over time. Combined with our Contract & Supplier App, these tools support an end-to-end view of each supplier relationship, from onboarding and contract award through to review and renewal. 

A practical step forward for procurement teams 

Supplier risk and performance management doesn’t need to be complex, but it does need to be consistent and embedded in day-to-day practice. With the right tools in place, procurement leaders can gain a clearer view of supplier activity, make more informed decisions, and support better outcomes across the business. 

A connected platform gives teams the insight they need to manage supplier performance more proactively and build stronger, more resilient relationships with key partners. For organisations looking to enhance their procurement capabilities, investing in supplier risk and performance management software is a practical, high-impact step forward. 

Next Steps 

Ready to take control of supplier risk and unlock performance insights? Discover how Atamis can support your goals with flexible, tailored SRM solutions that fit the way your team works. 

Visit our Supplier Relationship Management page to learn more.