Supplier Identification Lessons Learned<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>PurchTips edition #361<\/p>\n<\/div>
Why Is Good Supplier Identification Not As Easy As It Sounds?<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div>NLPA Member Question: What is the first go-to place for identifying suppliers?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe typical knee-jerk answer is \u201cthe Internet.\u201d But that ignores a source that can help you avoid an embarrassing introduction to a supplier you should already know. A source that reveals the suppliers that are the easiest to onboard. A source that doesn\u2019t require that you engage with a third-party technology provider. What is that source?<\/p>\n
That source is your own procurement system! \u00a0Furthermore, a common problem among large organizations is that many buyers do business with a single supplier and fail to leverage the organization\u2019s aggregate volume. Sometimes, the same supplier will charge different prices to different departments in the same organization. Sometimes, a fellow employee may be managing a supplier relationship that has an importance unbeknownst to you. Therefore, I always recommend checking your own systems for suppliers first. You may uncover some important information!<\/p>\n
I also recommend using more than one source to find an important supplier. Just because a supplier has done business with your organization in the past, doesn\u2019t mean that it will be the best supplier for you in the future.<\/p>\n
NLPA Member Question: Do we need to send a solicitation of interest before sending an RFP?<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen your response rate is uncertain, it can be a good idea to request a \u201cnotification of intent to bid\u201d from suppliers. However, because more and more RFP\u2019s are being ignored by a jaded supply base, it can be even better to have personal conversations with each supplier. This way, you can make them feel that they actually have a legitimate chance of earning your business, get them excited about responding, and get assurance that they will indeed respond.<\/p>\n
One of the most embarrassing things for a procurement department to endure is for no proposals to show up by a due date that has been communicated to stakeholders. You always want to have a feel for how many proposals to expect.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Last Chance to Make Procurement History!<\/h5><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/04\/2016-conference-email-logo.jpg\" "\\"2016-conference-email-logo\\"")
<\/span><\/div>If you want to \u201cMake Your Mark on Procurement History,\u201d time is running out!<\/p>\n
The deadline to register for the 2016 NLPA Conference is October 10 at Noon Eastern US time.<\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t already researched the NLPA Conference, this year\u2019s event is packed with value for procurement professionals who want to innovate! It is being held on October 24-25, 2016 at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
Secure your spot today and join your peers in becoming procurement history makers!<\/p>\n<\/div>
PurchTips edition #361<\/p>\n<\/div>
Why Is Good Supplier Identification Not As Easy As It Sounds?<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div>NLPA Member Question: What is the first go-to place for identifying suppliers?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe typical knee-jerk answer is \u201cthe Internet.\u201d But that ignores a source that can help you avoid an embarrassing introduction to a supplier you should already know. A source that reveals the suppliers that are the easiest to onboard. A source that doesn\u2019t require that you engage with a third-party technology provider. What is that source?<\/p>\n
That source is your own procurement system! \u00a0Furthermore, a common problem among large organizations is that many buyers do business with a single supplier and fail to leverage the organization\u2019s aggregate volume. Sometimes, the same supplier will charge different prices to different departments in the same organization. Sometimes, a fellow employee may be managing a supplier relationship that has an importance unbeknownst to you. Therefore, I always recommend checking your own systems for suppliers first. You may uncover some important information!<\/p>\n
I also recommend using more than one source to find an important supplier. Just because a supplier has done business with your organization in the past, doesn\u2019t mean that it will be the best supplier for you in the future.<\/p>\n
NLPA Member Question: Do we need to send a solicitation of interest before sending an RFP?<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen your response rate is uncertain, it can be a good idea to request a \u201cnotification of intent to bid\u201d from suppliers. However, because more and more RFP\u2019s are being ignored by a jaded supply base, it can be even better to have personal conversations with each supplier. This way, you can make them feel that they actually have a legitimate chance of earning your business, get them excited about responding, and get assurance that they will indeed respond.<\/p>\n
One of the most embarrassing things for a procurement department to endure is for no proposals to show up by a due date that has been communicated to stakeholders. You always want to have a feel for how many proposals to expect.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Last Chance to Make Procurement History!<\/h5><\/div><\/span><\/div>If you want to \u201cMake Your Mark on Procurement History,\u201d time is running out!<\/p>\n
The deadline to register for the 2016 NLPA Conference is October 10 at Noon Eastern US time.<\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t already researched the NLPA Conference, this year\u2019s event is packed with value for procurement professionals who want to innovate! It is being held on October 24-25, 2016 at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
Secure your spot today and join your peers in becoming procurement history makers!<\/p>\n<\/div>
NLPA Member Question: What is the first go-to place for identifying suppliers?<\/strong><\/p>\n The typical knee-jerk answer is \u201cthe Internet.\u201d But that ignores a source that can help you avoid an embarrassing introduction to a supplier you should already know. A source that reveals the suppliers that are the easiest to onboard. A source that doesn\u2019t require that you engage with a third-party technology provider. What is that source?<\/p>\n That source is your own procurement system! \u00a0Furthermore, a common problem among large organizations is that many buyers do business with a single supplier and fail to leverage the organization\u2019s aggregate volume. Sometimes, the same supplier will charge different prices to different departments in the same organization. Sometimes, a fellow employee may be managing a supplier relationship that has an importance unbeknownst to you. Therefore, I always recommend checking your own systems for suppliers first. You may uncover some important information!<\/p>\n I also recommend using more than one source to find an important supplier. Just because a supplier has done business with your organization in the past, doesn\u2019t mean that it will be the best supplier for you in the future.<\/p>\n NLPA Member Question: Do we need to send a solicitation of interest before sending an RFP?<\/strong><\/p>\n When your response rate is uncertain, it can be a good idea to request a \u201cnotification of intent to bid\u201d from suppliers. However, because more and more RFP\u2019s are being ignored by a jaded supply base, it can be even better to have personal conversations with each supplier. This way, you can make them feel that they actually have a legitimate chance of earning your business, get them excited about responding, and get assurance that they will indeed respond.<\/p>\n One of the most embarrassing things for a procurement department to endure is for no proposals to show up by a due date that has been communicated to stakeholders. You always want to have a feel for how many proposals to expect.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> If you want to \u201cMake Your Mark on Procurement History,\u201d time is running out!<\/p>\n The deadline to register for the 2016 NLPA Conference is October 10 at Noon Eastern US time.<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t already researched the NLPA Conference, this year\u2019s event is packed with value for procurement professionals who want to innovate! It is being held on October 24-25, 2016 at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n Secure your spot today and join your peers in becoming procurement history makers!<\/p>\n<\/div>Last Chance to Make Procurement History!<\/h5><\/div>
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