Choosing a supplier can be a daunting task due to the number of companies out there offering similar products and services. This decision will help you give excellent quality and service to your customers, so it needs to be the right one for your requirements. There are several factors to consider when choosing the right partner. Plus, you don’t have to stick to one to get the best deals and service.
Identifying potential suppliers is the first step, and these can come in a range of different ways, including:
- Online directories
- Word of mouth
- Trade associations
- Social media
- Trade shows
Once you have a selection of suppliers to consider, then comes the hard part, choosing one or several that meet your criteria. It’s essential to create a criterion to make the process easier, and some aspects to include are:
Quality of service
The service you get from suppliers is often more important than bagging a low price. It’s essential to build a relationship with a company that delivers excellent customer service and can adapt to your needs. And, how would you plan to achieve it? Well, recommendations can definitely help. As an example, if you wanted to open your own medical clinic or hospital chain, you would need the expertise of people with experience in the same field as they may have access to more services who can provide the right quality of supplies. As a result, you might enroll yourself on platforms like Sermo and ask individuals over there to share their opinions. In doing so, you can be assured of receiving the level of service you desire.
Quality of products
Consistent and good quality products are also important when choosing a supplier. You can arrange to see samples or check out previous reviews to gauge the type of quality you might receive.
Cost
Cost is another vital factor, and although you want the best price, you don’t want to scrimp on quality. Comparing costs from different suppliers can help put you in the right ballpark for affordability. Plus, you also have options such as medical-supermarket.com that can provide prices for bulk buys.
Reliability
Your business needs to know they can rely on a supplier to deliver products and services as required. In some cases, you may have lead times on items, and this is a consideration to make to help you meet your customer commitments. The supplier also needs to be reliable in terms of consistent quality and service, as if these dwindle after the first few orders, it can mean moving onto to another.
Other factors to consider when choosing your supplier:
After you’ve set your criteria, there are a few other aspects to think about before committing. These include:
National or international business
The distance the supplier is from you can have an impact on how you get stock to your customers. Although international companies may be cheaper, you may have longer lead times and other elements such as public holidays that could affect the supply chain.
How long have they operated?
It is often thought that the longer a business has been in operation, the more financially stable and resilient it is. It does not mean that you should rule out fledgling suppliers. Keeping your mind open to opportunities and evaluating risk is a crucial thing to consider, and it can help you make the best choice for your company.
These are some of the critical areas to consider when choosing a new supplier. By creating a plan, you can assess risk and make a suitable choice for your company.
