5 work hacks for improving supplier relationships
Keeping suppliers on-side is essential in most industries. So how can you build effective relationships and develop better collaboration with your suppliers? Read our top tips here.
To foster long-term harmonious relationships with your suppliers and partners, there needs to be trust and good business communication. But what are the best ways to establish these relationships in the first place, or improve relations with suppliers you already have?
1. Understand the contract
The contract between you and your supplier forms the bedrock of your relationship so it’s vital for your business collaboration that things are transparent. Make clear what you expect the supplier to deliver and when, and that they understand and are able to meet the terms. Ensure that you keep to your side of the contract. Share with your partners the information they need to deliver and always meet the agreed terms of payment.
2. Invest in collaboration tools
The right tools are essential for facilitating communication between you and your suppliers. Being able to discuss, plan and share information with each other is the key to a successful relationship.
Untangle work with Workplace
From informing everyone about the return to the office to adopting a hybrid way of working, Workplace makes work more simple.
Platforms like Workplace can be a powerful way of building closer partnerships with suppliers and other 3rd parties. Using tools like Multi-Company Groups enable you to collaborate with external teams, partners, and customers in a secure space. They also provide easy document sharing and a useful record of your day-to-day discussions with suppliers. This can be a key way to grow relationships and collaborate effectively.
3. Address problems straight away
You may think that things are starting to go wrong with your supplier but feel reluctant to say anything in case it damages the relationship. This is a mistake. Addressing issues as soon as they arise will ensure that you both can nip problems in the bud.
4. Keep an accurate record
When every discussion is consistently saved on one platform, it’s easy to keep track of responsibilities on both sides. This makes it easier to see where things went awry, should any problems occur.
It’s easy to shift blame onto someone else when something goes wrong. But keeping a record of your business conversations helps reduce the potential for misunderstandings and enhances business collaboration on both sides.
5. Enjoy working together
By aligning yourself with your suppliers and seeing your relationship as a business partnership, both businesses are likely to achieve higher success rates. Enhancing business collaboration means higher productivity and capability for innovation. Costs and price reductions might even be on the cards – a huge benefit to you – which will, in turn, boost your loyalty to your supplier. Facilitating collaboration is win-win for all parties involved.
Managing suppliers and partners can be a time-consuming process. It can be a full-time job. As new tools and working practices change the way people work, it’s more important than ever to connect, engage and collaborate with external teams.
Identify the working practices that will enable you to do this. And experiment with platforms which integrate with the business tools people use every day. That way, you can find new ways to develop your long-term relationships with suppliers.
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