Supplier Management
ITIL Version: ITIL Version 3 (ITIL V3)
Process Objective: To ensure that all contracts with suppliers support the needs of the business, and that all suppliers meet their contractual commitments.
Part of: Service Design
Process Owner: Supplier Manager
ITIL V3 vs. ITIL V2: Supplier Management
- Supplier Management was covered within ICT Infrastructure Management in ITIL V2
- In ITIL V3, Supplier Management is part of the Service Design process to allow for a better integration into the Service Lifecycle
Sub-Processes of Supplier Management (ITIL V3)

- Providing the Supplier Management Framework
- Process Objective: To provide guidance and standards for the procurement of services and products. This includes the provision of the Supplier Strategy and the preparation of standard Terms and Conditions.
- Evaluation of New Suppliers and Contracts
- Process Objective: To evaluate prospective suppliers in accordance with the Supplier Strategy, and to select the most suitable supplier.
- Establishing New Suppliers and Contracts
- Process Objective: To negotiate and sign a binding contract with a supplier. This process is mainly applied for significant investments, either in externally provided services or in technology.
- Processing of Standard Orders
- Process Objective: To process orders for commodity products and services, and to order pre-defined items within the boundaries of existing contract frameworks.
- Supplier and Contract Review
- Process Objective: To verify if the contractually agreed performance is actually delivered, and to define improvement measures if required.
- Contract Renewal or Termination
- Process Objective: To carry out regular renewals of contracts, to assess if those contracts are still relevant, and to terminate contracts which are no longer needed.
Roles within Supplier Management (ITIL V3)
- Supplier Manager (Process Owner)