A Symbiotic Partnership: Improving Supplier Relationships
These ideas assume, of course, that you are a customer that somebody out there wants. In order to be a valued customer to your suppliers, here are a few things you should do:
Make sure you provide adequate lead time.
When ordering products from suppliers, try to give them as much lead time as possible. Inform them of any significant changes in your estimates and provide them with an honest estimation of your needs unless there’s a compelling, competitive reason to keep them in the dark. It is helpful to understand the production methods and needs of your suppliers when determining your lead times.
Strive for open, honest feedback.
Performance can’t always be at its best, and there’s always room to improve. Trust grows in your supplier relationship when you can communicate openly about where and how to improve. Make your vendors feel like they are part of your company rather than just a supplier of goods or services.
Treat suppliers fairly.
If the buyer feels unfairly treated, they may end their relationship with the provider and look elsewhere. That doesn’t imply either party should give in to every request. Fair treatment is based on contract obligations and supplier relationships.
Be observant of cultural differences
In an increasingly globalised world, collaborating with global suppliers makes sense. If your provider comes from another culture, do your research and learn as much as you can about them. Carry out your due diligence in order to build a pleasant rapport and maintain your partnership.
Fulfill contractual obligations
Your company must trust the supplier to deliver. Likewise, the supplier expects to be paid fairly and promptly. The easiest way to ensure that both parties understand and keep their obligations is to use trading agreements that thoroughly outline them. Continuous respect, transparency, and fairness will help maintain the contract and the supplier relationship.
And make sure you pay on time. You can negotiate payment conditions before placing an order, but not after. If you can’t, contact your suppliers and explain your situation. Inform them of your payment conditions and methods. The benefits and goodwill you’ll gain by following this simple guideline will surprise you.
Talk to your suppliers about future collaboration.
During your regular supplier meetings, discuss ways to help each other. Exchanging referrals or meeting essential persons in non-competing enterprises is possible. Now is the moment to think outside the box when it comes to suppliers.
Share in each other’s success.
Respect for both parties’ hardships, work, and achievement builds trust, which is sometimes lacking in supplier partnerships. Investing in each other’s success means understanding their goals and working together to achieve them. It may require arduous adjustment, compromise, and a combined expedition into unknown territory. When this happens, though, trust grows quickly.
Don’t forget that your suppliers will always play an important role in your retail operations. Strive to locate the best suppliers in your business, and once you’ve secured an agreement, keep the relationship strong through communication, professionalism, and respect.
Globally connected,
locally invested.
