How to locate potential suppliers & trade successfully using B2B portals
Ever surprised, how some importers get suppliers and manufacturers around the world so effortlessly? An increasing number of people are searching for options to trade locally or globally for the product that they wish to buy on business to business portals. If you have lately decided to search for manufacturers and suppliers, using e-commerce platforms, you can certainly find sellers and supplier from other countries without difficulty and successfully.
To be triumphant in today’s competitive business world, having an excellent product, finest on hand technology and aggressive process is not enough in itself. You have to go for business-to-business platforms. This will assist you to spot, locate, enumerate, and target the customers that are really noteworthy for their businesses.
Here are some tips on how to locate potential Suppliers and Trade Successfully-
Everyday new suppliers register with B2B portals, hence if you were not lucky enough to find your product today you may find it tomorrow. Therefore source online regularly.
If you were unable to locate your product and services via online sourcing, use the” Offer Board” to post your inquiries and ask our Trade Support to assist you for the same.
Important guide lines to keep in mind when sending an enquiry to a supplier. In the request there should be a detailed information quoting:
I
Exactly what you are looking for
II
The required quantity
III
Expected price range
IV
Your location
V
Delivery time solution
VI
Other requirements etc.
If you expect a useful response, then the details mentioned in the request should be really prescribed and should nearly cover your entire enquiry. Else sending a vague or incomplete request never serves the purpose. They are also not taken seriously by potential suppliers.
Once you are able to locate your supplier then call him/her or talk to the person in charge. There should be no communication gap between the supplier and you, and one should be in regular touch via mail and phone.
If you get a chance to meet the supplier or the manufacturer face to face then you should never leave such an opportunity because communicating face to face makes it easier to interact and also eliminates any issue or problem directly. There would be very less space for miscommunication.
To know the background of the suppliers is very important and to do so, some B2B portals also helps you in checking suppliers’ past manufacturing and export experience. This is vital for you to evaluate the risk of buying from a particular supplier.
Checking of the supplier’s product quality before ordering is very important.
These are few guide lines which one should keep in mind when selecting a supplier for his business. These guide lines would help you to have a more professional approach and will help you to prosper in the business.
How to judge a suppliers quality
One should provide the clear picture of what is needed regarding the product quality, material specification, dimensions etc.
Checking the quality certificates including material composition reports, independent quality reports, Pre Shipment Information and other evidence.
Getting samples for assessment is also a good idea. For checking the standard quality level for small items, purchase more than just one or two so that it becomes easier for you to assess.
Visiting the factory may also help in checking the quality parameters laid by the supplier. As there are times when suppliers may not keep up to the quality which they quote. By visiting the factory you can ask for the evidences for their quality measures such as procedural flow charts, quality inspection records, internal audit reports etc.
Giving proper feedback to the supplier about the product makes it easier for the manufacturer to understand the requirements of the buyer.
Product Quality and Payment Terms
One should never depend on the manufacturers in terms of inspection. The quality and inspection should always be done by the buyer before ordering, during the production process and just before the shipment takes off. Always remember not to make the final payment till you are certain of receiving the goods.
If you have such guidelines in mind then the prosperity in this business is waiting for you. These will help you to take better decisions for your business and would also help you to judge between good and bad.
About the author:
Made-from-Indiais an innovative and comprehensive online business-to-business (B2B) portal, which provides a professional platform for the Indian exporters, producers, suppliers and others who are involved into import-export trade. Since inception in 2007, Made-from-India emerged as an international plateau for thousands of consultants, importers-exporters, agencies and firms to transact business globally without any intermediaries.
