The Sanef Group is a French subsidiary of Abertis, a global leader in the management of motorway infrastructure. As part of its concession contracts, Sanef finances, operates, and maintains a network of 1,807 km of motorways, primarily located in Normandy, Hauts-de-France, and the Grand Est regions.
Guided by a sense of responsibility and commitment, the group is focused on:
- Ensuring the highest level of safety for its customers and employees,
- Offering more personalised customer service and engagement,
- Evolving its network and services to support low-carbon mobility,
- Preserving natural ecosystems by reducing its environmental footprint,
- Contributing to regional development through a strong and active local presence,
- Implementing and upholding ethical standards to combat corruption and influence peddling.
Sanef’s triple certification in ISO 45001, ISO 37001, and ISO 14001 provides long-term assurance and traceability of its actions across these key domains.
Procurement and Supplier Risk Management
As part of a continuous improvement approach to risk management, Sanef’s procurement department has built its procurement and supplier risk framework around three core pillars:
- Procurement risk mapping,
- Supplier risk monitoring,
- Evaluation of operational satisfaction throughout the contract lifecycle.
These tools are regularly updated and consulted at all key stages of the procurement process: prior to tender issuance, before awarding contracts, and during the contract’s execution.
The Challenge
The supplier risk monitoring pillar was prioritised to address financial and regulatory risks. These two risk categories were managed via two separate, non-integrated solutions outside of the ERP system.
Manual entry of eligible suppliers for monitoring was required, and updates were cumbersome and carried out retrospectively rather than in real time.
To address the challenge of implementing comprehensive supplier risk management and effective monitoring, Sanef’s procurement department sought a centralised, ‘360-degree’ solution integrated with its ERP system and designed for ease of use.
Solution and Benefits
Sanef and the broader Abertis group selected the Achilles GoSupply solution. Fully integrated into the ERP system, the platform offers intuitive navigation, simplified tracking, and comprehensive risk analysis. A dedicated support team is available to assist suppliers, drive awareness campaigns, and validate the completeness and consistency of submitted data.
Supplier monitoring begins at the registration stage. Risk types are assessed based on an assigned classification level – critical, strategic, standard, or basic – which can be adjusted at any time.
To generate risk indicators, Achilles GoSupply leverages third-party expertise and invites suppliers to access the platform at no cost to complete a questionnaire and share the required information.
Risk scores – covering financials, compliance, occupational health and safety, ESG, and cybersecurity – contribute to an overall rating and risk level. Results are displayed clearly, and supplier-submitted information is easily accessible.
Achilles GoSupply’s supplier risk assessment tool is now a key decision-making component within Sanef’s procurement process, complementing procurement risk mapping, service performance evaluations, and regular engagements with key suppliers.
It supports decisions on action plans and mitigation measures aligned to the criticality of identified supplier risks.
Looking Ahead
Sanef is advancing its responsible procurement strategy across four practical and foundational axes to ensure agile and exemplary purchasing practices:
- Measuring procurement performance,
- Ensuring internal customer satisfaction,
- Managing supplier risks and performance – dependent on supplier engagement with the GoSupply platform,
- Developing ESG-related initiatives, implementing actions to reduce Scope 3 emissions, promoting circular economy principles, and strengthening safety criteria in tenders.
The tools implemented to manage procurement and supplier risks are essential for building maturity in responsible procurement. They offer real value to procurement professionals, enabling them to support operational teams, ensure business continuity, and uphold the company’s reputation.
Corinne BONTEMS-MARIE
Head of Procurement Process and Performance, Sanef Group
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