Introduction to Managing The Bid Process
Our suppliers are there to make sure our organisations always have the products and services needed to do what we do well. I know that choosing suppliers carefully is of great importance to future success.
If you weigh up a number of suppliers, you can then simply choose the one that fits best with your company. Always follow a formal process to do this, so that it is legal and clear from the start. It’s good when everybody can see that you are open and fair when you select a supplier.
We all know different organisations have their own ways of doing things based on their requirements. To keep it simple I break it down into four stages. The first involves setting out what you want from a supplier and how you will make your selection. The second stage is making a shortlist of suppliers who are happy to do business with you and meet your initial criteria. Next, it is about registering their tenders, or bids. Finally, this is when we review costs and requirements before placing an order.
I have found that managing the bid process needs different skills and experience, so it often needs more than one person or even a team. They need to know what your organisation will need tomorrow, next week and in six months’ time. They should have insights into market trends and product development, with an awareness of the supplier landscape. They need legal expertise to make sure that tenders and contracts are lawful and will not cause legal problems for their company. So lots of things to think about here.
Of course, being in procurement we also have to know how to negotiate the best deals at the right price. I find it all comes down to trust. Without trust, it is difficult to do business with suppliers because you are at risk of things going wrong.
The procurement team will be responsible for a significant share of your organisation’s budget. So, make sure you recruit the right people and give them your full support. This is absolutely critical to your company’s outlook.
If you weigh up a number of suppliers, you can then simply choose the one that fits best with your company. Always follow a formal process to do this, so that it is legal and clear from the start. It’s good when everybody can see that you are open and fair when you select a supplier.
We all know different organisations have their own ways of doing things based on their requirements. To keep it simple I break it down into four stages. The first involves setting out what you want from a supplier and how you will make your selection. The second stage is making a shortlist of suppliers who are happy to do business with you and meet your initial criteria. Next, it is about registering their tenders, or bids. Finally, this is when we review costs and requirements before placing an order.
I have found that managing the bid process needs different skills and experience, so it often needs more than one person or even a team. They need to know what your organisation will need tomorrow, next week and in six months’ time. They should have insights into market trends and product development, with an awareness of the supplier landscape. They need legal expertise to make sure that tenders and contracts are lawful and will not cause legal problems for their company. So lots of things to think about here.
Of course, being in procurement we also have to know how to negotiate the best deals at the right price. I find it all comes down to trust. Without trust, it is difficult to do business with suppliers because you are at risk of things going wrong.
The procurement team will be responsible for a significant share of your organisation’s budget. So, make sure you recruit the right people and give them your full support. This is absolutely critical to your company’s outlook.
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