Krungsri Group places importance on managing the relationships between the Bank and/or companies in the Financial Business Group, and vendors of goods and/or services, or ‘suppliers’, including sustainable supply chain management through establishment of the common standards of fair treatment of suppliers, including service providers, intermediaries, and agents for equality, fairness, and non-discrimination. All suppliers are managed and encouraged to adopt their corporate governance guidelines, while strictly complying with regulatory requirements related to self-governance and responsibly undertaking business by taking social and environmental issues into account.
Sustainable supply chain management promotes business continuity of Krungsri Group toward our set goals. It does not only reduce the risk of business interruption due to economic, social, and environmental impacts but also enhances cost management efficiency. In addition, the cooperation between Krungsri Group and vendors or suppliers in the development and creation of innovative financial products and services helps promote the flexibility of the domestic economy and finance system as well as transparency, thoroughness, and equality—eventually lead to sustainable supply chain management.
Management Approaches
- Establish the ‘Supplier Code of Conduct’ as a guideline to encourage all suppliers to adopt corporate governance guidelines and code of conduct standards in the same fashion as Krungsri Group did, particularly regulatory requirements related to their respective corporate governance guidelines, such as laws regarding countering all forms of direct and indirect bribery and corruption, and laws regarding human rights and labor, workplace well-being and safety. They are also encouraged to undertake their business responsibly taking into account impacts on social and environmental aspects. Therefore, Krungsri and companies in the Financial Business Group, as well as suppliers, can sustainably thrive together.
In this regard, the Bank communicated with all suppliers about the 'Supplier Code of Conduct' through our website (www.krungsri.com), including notifying them about the statements and The Spirit and The Letter, Environmental Disclosure Statement, and Human Rights Disclosure Statement, as well as social and environment responsibility with active suppliers through e-mail for their compliance. This is to encourage all suppliers to adhere to the same practices, in a similar manner to Krungsri Group.
The Supplier Code of Conduct covers four main aspects, namely:
Workplace well-being
and safety
- Establish the ‘Supplier Relationship Policy’ as a guideline to promote governance and ensure that they are treated and managed in a prudent manner and not against laws, other internal policies, and procedures. The Policy helps foster relationships between Krungsri Group and vendors or suppliers so that the business activities can be carried out in an efficient and fair manner. Krungsri Group expects that the vendors or suppliers acknowledge and comply with the Policy as well.
- Formulate supply chain management strategies, with sub-strategies including increasing productivity and efficiency strategies to align with the Bank's Medium-Term Business Plan. The supply chain management strategies consist of:
- Supplier management: To ensure fairness and transparency and reduce risks arising from procurement activities.
- Cost management: Manage limited or multiple suppliers in the market, outsourcing services, and centralized procurement.
- Use of technology for procurement activities: Develop tools or software to support procurement activities such as e-bidding software, developing AI systems for supplier identity verification etc.
You can read more information from https://www.krungsri.com/th/esg/sustainable-banking/esg/governance > Supply Chain Management > PDF: Supply Chain Management Strategies
- Stipulate ‘a fair supplier selection process’ with a focus on conducting procurement activities with honesty, transparency, fairness, and accountability, in accordance with good corporate governance principles and best practices, by promoting and providing equal opportunities to all partners in conducting businesses with Krungsri Group. This also included small enterprises, those of the underprivileged, minority groups, females, disable veterans, etc., who are business owners to compete in offering products and/or services in order to gain a share of the Bank's purchase volume and take into account environmentally responsible procurement to enhance business operations in parity with related standards and reduce adverse social and environmental impacts.
Supplier Selection Process
Consider the appropriate bidding method to ensure transparency such as bidding through electronic systems (e-Auction)
Establish a taskforce comprising representatives from related business units, and experts or specialists to select suppliers
Consider the verification results of suppliers’ information before engaging in transactions with them, such as Know Your Customer (KYC), transactions that may have conflicts of interest, and other relevant factors of all suppliers
Evaluate suppliers by the functions using such service after the service is completely delivered by filing out the Supplier Performance Evaluation Form
Provide whistleblowing channels for suppliers
- Established Green Procurement, Krungsri Group has implemented green procurement practices by establishing social and/or environmental criteria as selection criteria for suppliers. These criteria are specified in the Request for Quotation Form (RFQ) and the Request for Proposal Form (RFP). The same criteria are used to evaluate both active and new suppliers.
- Establish appropriate ‘credit terms’ for suppliers, with an average of 45 days, depending on the agreements between the Bank and the suppliers. This also includes establishing practices to stipulate payment terms to suppliers, categorized by the characteristics of products and/or services provided, as follows:
- Utility and government agency suppliers: Payment within 15 days
- Tourism and commission-based suppliers: Payment within 15 days
- Other suppliers: Payment within 45 days
The payment period is counted from the date the supplier submits a complete and accurate invoice that meets Krungsri Group's conditions.
- Established the procedure on ‘Know Your Customer and Customer Due Diligence of the Third Party’, requiring that all suppliers be verified to prevent making transactions involving conflicts of interest. Criteria have been clearly defined such as Related Party Transactions (RPT), Supplier Risk Assessment, or criteria for certain outsourced suppliers that could impact business continuity, as well as compliance with the Bank's Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) policy and Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption policy and measures.
- Require that risk assessments be conducted on suppliers, both new and existing, in terms of their economic situation as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks, according to specified evaluation or review criteria and through various channels such as questionnaires, business status verification, and supplier evaluations.
- Formulate agreements to uphold and safeguard the confidentiality and proprietary information of Krungsri Group while Krungsri Group is also obliged to protect suppliers' information as stipulated in confidentiality agreements. Furthermore, notifications regarding personal data protection have been disseminated through email and the website (krungsri.com) to active suppliers, seeking their acknowledgment and compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (PDPA).
- Conduct ‘Supplier Classification’ to ensure that Krungsri Group can continually deliver customer services by grouping suppliers as follows:
- Critical vendors refer to vendors or suppliers that are highly crucial to Krungsri Group's operations. There may be one or a limited number of critical vendors or suppliers. Their inability to provide services to the Bank could result in significant harm to the Bank's business.
- Significant vendors refer to vendors or suppliers involved with specialized products and/or services. The nature of work is complex, and while it is possible to find replacement partners, it may take time to procure them. Therefore, this could impact business operations.
- General vendors refer to common vendors or suppliers. If they are unable to offer services to the Bank, it will not result in any harm to the Bank's business.
- Communicate to suppliers about the Anti-Bribery and Corruption Program, covering all forms of bribery and corruption, both directly or indirectly, and become members of the Thai Private Sector Collective Action Against Corruption (CAC Recertification), as well as invite vendors or suppliers to join such anti-corruption organization. The Bank also specified and communicated about the Procedure for Gift and Entertainment.
Performance
E-Auction
Target: Increase supplier selection through the electronic system by 10 percent from 2022
Performance: In 2023, Krungsri selected 70 vendors and suppliers through e-Auction, a 19 percent increase from 59 suppliers. This shows the Bank's commitment to encouraging vendors and suppliers to continually submit bids through the electronic system, promoting equality and transparency in the presentation of their work to the Krungsri Group.
Promoting sustainability values among suppliers
Target: Conduct training sessions for suppliers at least twice a year and disseminate comprehensive information on sustainable procurement practices within Krungsri Group to reach 100 percent of suppliers
Performance:
- Organized three online seminars on ‘Sustainable Procurement at Krungsri Group’. The seminar covered the topics such as operating practices related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG), supplier code of conduct, green procurement, and anti-corruption policies. This effort was to encourage the adoption of this knowledge for the sustainable growth of suppliers. In 2023, a total of 267 suppliers participated in the seminars.
- Communicated to all active suppliers, including new suppliers, on essential topics such as the Gift and Entertainment policy, principles of good corporate governance, supplier code of conduct, Privacy Notice, and the Bank's membership in Thailand's Private Sector Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption. The messages were disseminated via email, to ensure that 100 percent of suppliers, both existing and new, were communicated.
Supplier classification
Target: Assess supplier classification of Krungsri Group on an annual basis
Performance: In 2023, Krungsri Group's supplier classification was reviewed, focusing on 1,356 awarded supplier list between 2021 - 2023. The categorization is detailed as follows:
- Critical vendors: These suppliers are divided into two subgroups based on the characteristics of their products and/or services as follows:
- Direct sellers of products/services without intermediaries (Critical Tier 1): No suppliers fell into this category.
- Indirect sellers of products/service via intermediaries (Critical Non-Tier 1): One supplier identified, representing 100 percent of critical vendors and accounting for 0.07 percent of total suppliers.
- Significant vendors: a total of 27 suppliers were identified, accounting for 1.99 percent of the total suppliers.
- General vendors: a total of 1,328 suppliers were identified, accounting for 97.94 percent of the total suppliers.
Procurement of environmentally friendly products and services
Target: Procure a minimum of 40 percent of environmentally friendly products and services, adhering to the criteria outlined by Thailand's Green Office project from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Additionally, organize training programs for suppliers at least twice a year.
Performance: In 2023, the Bank procured 88 percent of qualified products meeting environmental standards. This included the procurement of ENERGY STAR-certified computers (100 percent) and 100 percent recycled toilet paper. Accommodations with environmental certifications, such as Green hotels, and other environmentally friendly products and services were also selected. This was to encourage employees to select eco-friendly goods and services, promoting choices with minimal environmental impact. Also, there was communication and three online training sessions under the topic ‘Sustainable Procurement at Krungsri Group’ were organized to enhance suppliers’ knowledge related to the green procurement.
Assessment of economic situation of suppliers
Target: Conduct the assessment or review of economic risk of suppliers who meet the assessment criteria totaling 100 percent.
Performance: In 2023, 137 suppliers who meet the assessment criteria were assessed in terms of product and service quality, business status, and reliance on limited suppliers. The assessment revealed that 100 percent of the suppliers had “no economic risk” issues.
Risk Assessment Process
Collect and evaluate performance
Analyze and evaluate supplier risks
Summary of evaluation results
Evaluation of suppliers on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects
Target: Conduct supplier identity verification and review totaling 100 percent of suppliers
Performance: In 2023, 454 new and existing suppliers underwent the verification and review process. The assessment revealed that 100 percent of the suppliers had “no ESG risk” issues.
Risk Assessment Process
Set evaluation criteria and prepare evaluation forms
Supplier evaluate themselves and respond
Analyze and evaluate supplier risks
Summary of evaluation results
Complaints related to corruption and human rights violations
Target: Communicate policies and foster awareness among suppliers to ensure that they realize the anti-corruption and human rights violations on an annual basis.
Performance: In 2023, the Bank communicated policies and disseminate knowledge on such issues to new and existing suppliers. There were no complaints related to the reception of gifts and entertainment during festive seasons from suppliers and no human rights violation incident was reported. Based on these results, it can be conclusively stated that there was “no risk” of corruption and human rights violations within the assessed areas.
Payments to suppliers
Target: Make payments to suppliers and vendors according to specified timelines
Performance: Krungsri Group stipulated that the payment be made to suppliers within 45 days depending on the agreement. In 2023, average actual payment period was 25 days from date that the correct and complete invoices were received, reflecting commitment to comply with supplier payment terms.