From Vulnerability to Resilience (Part 5): Why SMEs Will Shape the Next Chapter of Compliance

For the past two decades, compliance has been defined by scale. Robust programs, multilayered policies, and sophisticated monitoring tools are all hallmarks of a well-managed compliance program. Yet, as this series revealed, resiliency is not a result of size but rather a product of connection. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of many economies, can leverage their small size into an advantage. These SMEs will shape the future of compliance.

The networks these SMEs have created will be vital to the future of compliance. SMEs have natural networks comprising regulators, multinational corporations, and civil society organizations, all of which work towards shared, transparent, and accountable compliance systems. SMEs will continue to play a crucial role in these networks, especially as traditional compliance systems face strain under the complexity and speed of global risk. SMEs have a built-in advantage that offers a unique solution: agility, deep local relationships, and connection to on-the-ground dynamics and changes.

Operating so close to the ground and real-world dynamics means that SMEs are the first to recognize change. They are the first to see changes in corruption schemes, gaps in procurement practices, and shifts in local norms. Their proximity allows them to understand what integrity looks like, not just on paper but in practice. Often, SMEs are viewed as compliance risks rather than compliance partners. Traditional systems that focus solely on compliance fail under stress. But systems built on collaboration can adapt and endure. Sectoral collaboration, technology, and professional associations are all tools that allow SMEs to enhance their impact on the next chapter of compliance. Using these tools, SMEs have built a ready-made ecosystem that allows the experiences and insights of one to strengthen others.

These shared experiences are what enable SMEs to transition from vulnerability to resilience. A single SME navigating compliance alone may struggle with capacity and costs. But within a trusted network, they become a force that can shape local policy, influence industry standards, and demand accountability. In doing so, SMEs become both the beneficiaries and architects of integrity.

For compliance professionals, this demands a change in mindset. As global risks evolve, success will depend on seeing compliance as a shared strengthening, not as individual obligations. In the next chapter, compliance professionals will need to consider SME realities and co-design compliance systems that allow for two-way visibility and maximize SME advantages.

Compliance and integrity rules are not going away; however, the risks they were developed to address are evolving rapidly. In this fast-paced environment, SMEs connected by technology, shared values, and mutual accountability will have an advantage they can use to form the new backbone of global integrity. The next chapter of compliance will be defined by collaboration. The most resilient organizations will not be those that go it alone, but those SMEs that use their agility, ingenuity, and trust to build the future together.

Michele Crymes

Anti-Corruption and Governance Expert