Tackling audit fatigue: A strategic imperative for sustainable supply chains
Over the last years, audit fatigue has been a growing challenge in global supply chains. It affects suppliers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These businesses face repeated audits from multiple buyers to answer the increasing demands for transparency and compliance with both environmental and social criteria. The burden of repetitive and overlapping audits has become a significant obstacle to efficiency, engagement, and progress. At amfori, we recognise this issue. We are committed to driving meaningful change through collaboration, innovation, and strategic alignment.
What is audit fatigue?
Audit fatigue arises when suppliers are subjected to multiple audits from different buyers, often covering similar criteria. This duplication not only drains resources but also leads to confusion, inconsistent results, and disengagement from the improvement process. The impact on SMEs is particularly severe. They lack the capacity to follow fast-evolving legal landscapes. Furthermore, they often have to deal with economic disruption.
The problem grows when compliance is legally binding (e.g., EU Digital Product Passport, Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive). The pressure on suppliers is intensifying as they must show compliance. In this context, reducing audit fatigue is not just about cost savings; it’s about enabling suppliers to focus on remediation, risk reduction, and long-term sustainability.
amfori’s strategic response to audit fatigue
To address this challenge, amfori has developed a comprehensive strategy helping suppliers and buyers work together and commit to responsible sourcing. This includes:
Responsible Sourcing Partner (RSP) concept
With this concept, only one amfori member (the so-called “Responsible Sourcing Partner”) can request an audit for a supplier. The audit report is then shared across linked members. This reduces duplication and promotes business continuity. For example, a supplier linked to 15 members may undergo just one audit per year, with all members benefiting from the audit results. At amfori, 40 000 audits are conducted on average every year. It means that we “save” an estimation of 120,000 audit requests per year.
Read more about the RSP concept
Audit cycle and risk assessments
Suppliers who receive an audit rating of A or B benefit from a two-year audit cycle. This reduces audit frequency while maintaining oversight. amfori also offers environmental risk assessment. amfori is working on a social risk assessment. Both tools aim to help members prioritise and decide when an audit is needed, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed.
Read more on Environmental risk assessment
Self-requested audits
Empowering suppliers to initiate audits fosters ownership and proactive engagement. This approach ensures audits are timely and relevant, while encouraging continuous improvement.
Read more about the self-requested audits for suppliers
The Audit Assurance Programme (AAP)
The AAP is amfori’s overarching framework to harmonise and enhance audit processes across social and environmental dimensions.
It ensures audits are credible, consistent, and transparent. Key features include:
- Integration of amfori BSCI and BEPI under one audit assurance framework.
- Use of APSCA-certified auditors for high-quality assessments.
- Centralised ESG data via the amfori Sustainability Platform.
- Ongoing stakeholder collaboration to calibrate and improve audit outcomes.
Driving convergence and collaboration
Audit fatigue is symptomatic of a fragmented landscape of sustainability standards. During the webinar, Joseph Wozniak, Director of the Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) Programme at the International Trade Centre (ITC) indicated that over 365 mapped initiatives exist. This number goes up to 900 when including benchmarking and reporting frameworks. ITC works on convergence through benchmarking services. These efforts aim for fewer audits and better outcomes.
A call to action to reduce audit fatigue
Reducing audit fatigue is not just a technical fix; it’s a strategic need: harmonise standards, reduce redundancy, and build confidence in audit results. It enhances the credibility of ESG efforts, improves supplier engagement, and ensures that resources are used where they matter most. As Linda Kromjong, amfori’s President, emphasised during the webinar: “Audits are an important tool, but collaboration between suppliers and buyers is key to driving progress and reducing risks.”
At amfori, we work to evolve our practices, foster shared responsibility, and build resilient, sustainable supply chains. Tackling audit fatigue is central to that mission.
Learn how to make social audits work for your business
Would you like to know how amfori BSCI’s high-quality audits and holistic approach help companies turn audit data into targeted action and strengthen supply chain resilience?
Watch the on-demand webinar to learn how to integrate amfori BSCI into risk management, with practical examples from home improvement company Kingfisher and fashion brand AllSaints.