In an economic climate in which budgets and resources are being tightened, it has become more important than ever for purchasing decision makers to select the right supplier.

In light of this, how can those in charge of the procurement process select the right service provider? Some may choose to appoint a service provider based on price, but how can they see past suppliers’ initial promises to ensure they will fulfil the business’s needs?

After all, a supplier may promise to deliver at a lower price than others, but may not have the capability to deliver on this in reality. It is essential that service providers are not only able to fulfil the brief to meet current operational targets of the business, but are able to grow as the company changes, in order to also deliver on future business aspirations.

Another course of action for clients to consider is to outsource their entire back-end function to one supplier. Many businesses may outsource specific functions to a range of different suppliers, but this often results in a more fragmented process, with hidden cost.

By appointing one supplier to manage an entire cycle, it is not only cost-effective, saving time and resources on another tender and pitch process, but also helps to build a long-term relationship based on trust with that supplier. Additionally, from an operations perspective, it is much easier and more convenient to have everything handled by one company in one place.

However, service providers must also have the technical capability to deliver on what they promise at the pitch. Technology is crucial to ensure a robust infrastructure is in place. This technology should be bespoke to fit seamlessly with the business’s own systems.

Flexibility is another key area when searching for a supplier. Some suppliers may have the ambition but lack the capability to react to busy periods. Here at Prolog, we are often able to scale up during busy periods to meet client demand, and this should be a vital part of any supplier’s strategy; offering the right blend of services and resources to fulfil client needs.

Finally, it is imperative in the procurement process to choose a supplier that truly understands the market in which your business operates. If a supplier has in-depth knowledge of the market, they will be able to make suggestions that demonstrate insight and add value to the company both in terms of sales and in expertise.