Effective supplier relationship management can be the key to stability! growth and competitiveness.
Let’s look at the main stages How to Work with of working with suppliers and share practical recommendations and life hacks.
1.Determining business needs.
This includes understanding:
– What products or services do you need?
– In what volume are they required?
– What quality criteria are important for your business?
2. Selection of suppliers
Once the needs are defined! start searching for potential suppliers. You can use specialized country email list platforms for this. It is also useful to discuss the possibility of cooperation with colleagues in the industry.
Structure of the logistics department: tasks! functions and KPI
For example! if the owner of a clothing store may be interested in wholesalers who offer high-quality fabric materials or finished products. It is important to study reviews of suppliers! check their reputation and availability of the necessary certificates.
3. Conducting negotiations with suppliers
Once potential suppliers have been identified! the negotiation phase begins. This is an important what organizational structures exist? process that requires the ability to negotiate and compromise. Here are some tips to help you negotiate successfully:
Prepare in advance. Collect i How to Work with nformation about the supplier: its position in the market! history! delivery terms and pricing policy.
Negotiations: How to Conduct! What Skills Are Needed! and What Strategy to Choose
State your requirements clearly. Explain what exactly you need to avoid misunderstandings.
Be prepared to compromise. Sometimes! to achieve the desired conditions! it is necessary to make some concessions.
4. Conclusion of an agreement with suppliers
After reaching an oral agreement! it is important to record all the conditions in writing – to conclude a contract. It should include:
– Volume of deliveries.
– Prices and payment terms.
– Delivery times.
– Return and warranty conditions.
Example: Many companies operating in a distribution system use standard contracts! adapted to their needs! to avoid discrepancies and misunderstandings in the future.
5. Supply management
After concluding a contract! it is important to ensure control over the delivery trust review process: monitoring delivery times! the status of inventory! and compliance with all terms of the transaction.
For proper supply management! the following approaches can be used:
– Automation. Modern ERP systems (for example! 1C: Trade Management) allow you to track all interactions with suppliers! as well as automate purchases.
– Regular reporting. Set up regular supply reports to identify potential issues early. You may want to set up a few KPIs (key performance indicators) to be able to evaluate the supplier’s performance.
6. Building long-term relationships with suppliers
Long-term relationships with suppliers allow you not only to ensure constant and reliable supplies! but also to often obtain more favorable terms of cooperation. To do this! it is worth:
– Analyze the results of cooperation. Hold regular meetings with your suppliers! discuss the results! identify the strengths and weaknesses of the interaction.
– Create mutually beneficial conditions. If you see that the supplier is demonstrating reliability! it may be worth offering to increase the order volume in exchange for a discount or improved conditions.