Communication in business is vital, with most companies being dependent on one another. When one business relationship falters and fails, be it the customer relationships, employee relationship or the supplier relationship, your business can suffer as a result. There are numerous ways to strengthen your business relationships. However, it pays to invest time in building a strong supplier relationship.
1. Meet your suppliers face-to-face
When looking for new suppliers, it is vital to meet them face-to-face and build a report before signing a contract and working with them. By meeting those who you will be working with, trust can be instilled, and by seeing how their business operates, you review whether their methods and procedures are reliable and productive.
For instance, if you build cars but outsource the engine from an external supply chain, you will want to watch how their production line and business operates, otherwise it could have negative consequences for your business.
2. Keep in regular contact
The best way to remain on the same page is to have an open dialogue with anyone who works within your business – this includes your suppliers, too. Update your suppliers on strategic changes early on so that everyone can adapt with minimal disruption. You can keep in contact via:
- The phone
- Skype
- Meetings in person
- An SAP Supplier Portal
3. Invest in useful software
Software is invented and created every day, but determining which is useful and essential to your business can be overwhelming. Supplier Portals, such as those provided by Weaveability.com, are a web-based portal that allows businesses to keep in contact with their suppliers through real-time. Again, if we are to use the example of a car manufacturer, the manufacturer can manage purchase orders, share demand forecasts and raise quality notifications with their suppliers so that their production line is always informed and can respond rapidly to any changes in key information.
4. Place orders in good time (avoid rushing them)
Forgetting to place an order happens, but you should do everything in your power to avoid rushing them. SAP Supplier Portals can help avoid this mistake, but you will also want to keep lines of communication through other devices open, too.
Be clear about reoccurring orders, keep on top of deadlines and forecast when there will be an increase in demand. Also, do not forget to pay your suppliers on time, otherwise this can jeopardise any headway you have made towards building a supplier relationship.
5. Offer relevant business opportunities
Keep an eye open for any business opportunities that may be fruitful to your suppliers. If you, for instance, are a well-known car manufacturer who is releasing a luxury sports car, ask if they would like to take part in the project; this can help build a respectable brand image for themselves, too.
By making your business important to your suppliers, they are more inclined to work harder for you, and also offer discounts and deals if you are a liable and reoccurring customer to them. Building a report with your suppliers can have long-lasting business opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Supplier Relationship
Why is it important to have a good relationship with suppliers?
As a defined and establish supplier relationship develops, communication improves. Suppliers gain a more complete understanding of the businesses they serve, and this allows them to meet their needs more effectively. Delays in the supply chain will decrease, and the flow of operations will greatly improve.
How do you influence suppliers?
- Take action. There are several ways to persuade your suppliers to make changes. …
- Do (not) break off cooperation. It is important that you do not just break off cooperation with a supplier that finds it difficult to comply with your Code of Conduct.
- Ensure remedies.
How can we reduce supplier power?
Backward integration: This is one of the techniques widely employed today to reduce the bargaining power of suppliers. Backward integration is the process through which an organization acquires its suppliers to reduce the volatilities in the supply chain or create a monopoly in its industry.
What are the types of supplier relationships?
Five types of supplier relationships: buy-the-market, ongoing relationships, partnerships, strategic alliances, and backward integration.
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Amenorhu kwaku is an author, internet marketer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of SuccessValley, a network community for students and aspiring entrepreneurs. He is also the founder of Republik City News and Whoop, a news portal and a business directory.
