This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to expose the weaknesses in traditional vendor compliance programs and to identify the characteristics of well-managed vendor compliance programs that foster beneficial trading partner relationships. A well-executed vendor compliance program can control and decrease costs by reducing disruptions throughout the supply chain, from the distribution center to the data center to the corporate office. Vendor compliance data sits at the core of supplier relationship management and supplier risk management, and the data can also be used for the detection and reduction of supply chain fraud. Vendor compliance is important for supply chain efficiencies, and vendors understand this when it is explained to them. In some supply chains such as retail and grocery some enterprises may have a strong desire to allow local managers to purchase from local suppliers.