Digitalisation as a catalyst for supplier diversity, equity and inclusion

Purpose This article aims to investigate digital technologies’ potential to enable supplier diversity, equity and inclusion (SDEI) outcomes by improving procurement processes. Design/methodology/approach An in-depth qualitative case study approach was used to analyse a global energy organisation (Energy-Co) and two of its technology service providers (TSPs), which form two dyads embedded in one case. In total, 39 interviews were conducted, and internal secondary data were also examined. Line-by-line inductive coding was employed to extract 873 participant insights, leading to first-order codes and 6 second-order themes. Findings Artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics technologies improve SDEI outcomes by transforming procurement processes and organisational subsystems. We identified six digitally enabled process changes spanning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)–supplier prioritisation, identification, standardisation, onboarding and engagement, development and performance tracking. Using socio-technical systems (STS) theory, we also found that digitalisation functions as a system-level integrator, helping to resolve misalignments across technical, social and environmental subsystems and enabling more scalable, coherent and long-term SDEI procurement outcomes. Originality/value This paper theorises that digitalisation enables the systemic embedding of SDEI in procurement. It adopts a distinctive dyadic lens by foregrounding the role of TSPs as active co-creators of inclusive procurement infrastructures. The paper identifies six new digitally enabled procurement process improvements; also, by extending STS theory, it introduces subsystem boundary blurring to explain how digitalisation enables SDEI outcomes regarding both volume and value. By offering a systemic lens for exploring DEI transformations across procurement ecosystems, this paper lays the foundation for a research agenda at the intersection of digitalisation, STS theory and inclusive procurement.