Case Study
Enhancing Compliance: A US Defence Tech Company’s Journey in Military Sanctions Screening
Executive Summary
A leading global technology company faced significant challenges in managing its third-party due diligence process. With Approximately 2,000 new third-party engagement requests processed annually, the company struggled with inconsistent risk exposure, decentralized operations, and prolonged due diligence cycles. Further, they also had a backlog of more than 1,500 existing business partners who haven’t gone through any due diligence. We helped them close that gap in 2020.
The Challenge
A leading global technology company faced significant challenges in managing its third-party due diligence process. With approximately 2,000 new third-party engagement requests annually, the company struggled with:
Inconsistent Risk Exposure: Different standards were applied across regions, leading to
varied risk assessments.
Decentralized Operations: Lack of centralisation resulted in inefficient resource allocation
and inconsistent practices.
Extended Due Diligence Cycles: The process took three times longer than desired,
impeding timely business deals.
Resource Strain: The high volume of requests (2,000 annually) overwhelmed internal
resources.
The Solution
The company partnered with Rule, a best-in-class third-party due diligence provider, to overhaul its processes. Rule implemented a comprehensive solution that included:
Closed Gap: Also ensure no more backlog
Centralized Processing: All due diligence requests were routed through a single, streamlined system. This was possible as Rule was able to provide multi-lingual and multi-jurisdictional support.
Risk-Based Approach: Implemented a tiered due diligence process based on risk levels.
Standardized Procedures: Established consistent global standards for risk assessment.
Dedicated Team: Assigned specialized analysts to handle the company’s due diligence
requests.
The Result
The partnership with Rule yielded remarkable results:
Efficiency Gains
- Due diligence cycle time wsreduced by 75%, from 60 days to an average of 15 days for
high-risk third parties, 7 days for medium risk and roughly 1 day for low risk. - 98% of all requests processed within agreed service level agreements (SLAs)
Risk Reduction
- High-risk third parties identified increased by 80%, enhancing overall risk management
- 100% compliance with regulatory requirements achieved across all regions
Resource Optimisation
- Internal resource allocation for due diligence was reduced by 85%
- Cost savings of roughly $1.5 million annually through outsourcing and process optimisation
Enhanced Compliance
- Standardized global risk assessment led to a 30% increase in risk identification accuracy
- Audit trails and documentation improved, resulting in a 100% pass rate in regulatory audits
Business Impact
- 50% reduction in deal delays due to faster due diligence processes
- 25% increase in approved third-party engagements, supporting business growth
Conclusion
Partnering with Rule helped the tech company transform its due diligence process, achieving efficiency, risk reduction, and compliance gains, while supporting timely business growth.