Finally, a risk management tool that works for everyone

How a procurement director found simplicity, speed and strategic value in a modular Third-Party Risk Management App

When Nicole van Deventer joined her new role as Group Procurement Director at Cegeka, she quickly encountered the reality of managing supplier risk in a fast-paced IT environment. The process was fragmented, manual and time-consuming, spread across departments and reliant on incomplete questionnaires. With increasing regulatory pressure and limited resources, the inefficiencies became impossible to ignore. “It was long and labour-intensive,” Nicole recalls. “And many suppliers didn’t even respond.”

After exploring the market and finding most off-the-shelf Third-Party Risk Management platforms too complex, Nicole turned inward. Leveraging her company’s in-house development expertise, she initiated the creation of a modular Third-Party Risk Management App tailored to real-world procurement needs.

Built around the process, powered by AI

The app’s core strength lies in its process-first design. It integrates seamlessly with external data sources and uses Artificial Intelligence to pre-fill questionnaires, perform gap analyses and suggest follow-up actions. Suppliers can validate and adjust AI-generated responses, making the experience smoother for everyone involved.
“The simplicity of the tool is what impressed me most,” Nicole says. “It’s so much easier than other solutions we saw, yet it delivers the same, if not better, functionality.”

From implementation to impact

The implementation was smooth, with a responsive development team that anticipated future needs, including ERP integration. Even when challenges arose, such as external data source issues, they were resolved swiftly.

The turning point? Supplier feedback. “One of them said: ‘Finally a tool that uses the full potential of digitalization.’ That’s when I knew we had something special.”

Real results, real efficiency

Since adopting the app, Nicole’s team has seen:

• Faster processes through automation
• Improved data accuracy
• Continuous monitoring without extra resources
• Reduced administrative burden across departments

Advice for other Procurement Leaders

Nicole’s key takeaway: “TPRM isn’t as complex as some vendors make it seem. You need a solid process tool, good data integration and flexibility to adapt.”
Her advice to others? “Start with a risk assessment, choose reliable data sources and opt for a modular solution that grows with your strategy.”