What is a supplier portal and how it helps the corporate supply chain

The Covid emergency highlighted the importance of better managing organizational processes and business contacts with customers and suppliers. We are not just talking about multinationals and large companies, but also about SMEs.

Also due to the recent outbreak of war in Ukraine, problems in the management of goods and suppliers are on the agenda. Therefore, it is increasingly necessary to move towards the digitalization of the supply chain, making the exchange of documents and information immediate along the B2B supply chain. How? By using a supplier portal.

What is a supplier portal and what is it for?

A supplier portal is an IT tool for managing and optimizing the processes underlying the exchange of information between the company and its suppliers. Through the portal it is possible to monitor the situation of suppliers and their characteristics, as well as the progress of the order / receipt of goods.

Digitizing the processes through a supplier portal allows you to prevent errors, delays, urgencies and anomalies in the management of processes and to intervene in time in the event of any problems.

What are the general requirements of a good supplier portal?

Notwithstanding that each company is unique and that, in the case of software for companies, a certain degree of customization is usually the ideal solution, there are some basic features and functionalities that, in our opinion, a supplier portal must guarantee, namely:

1. A fluid user experience

Well-made software is software that is simple to use. Anyone must be able to use it, even those without special knowledge or technical skills.

2. Data security and integrity

It is important to guarantee the encrypted connection between the user and the portal, using the https protocol. It is also good practice to assign precise access privileges to different accounts, to maximize protection.

3. Alert and notification management

The portal reports deadlines, validations, actions to be taken and any anomalies in real time, from opening to closing each request.

4. Setting of customized indicators

It is essential to keep track of supplier performance and measure the achievement of business times and objectives.

5. Data storage

The portal must record every action of the management of requests, filing the related documentation. The data must be stored in such a way as to ensure its recovery at any time.

6. Responsive mode

The portal must be usable from any device, in order to guarantee access even in mobility, smart working and remote work.

7. Preparation for future additions

The portal must be flexible enough to be adapted to any organizational reality.

The objectives of a supplier portal

The Supplier Portal communicates with the company management system and uses the data (without duplicating them internally).

The goal is to streamline communication between the parties, concentrating it as much as possible within the software and giving suppliers and the company a complete tool to control expiry notifications, requests for quotes, orders, delivery plans, payment certificates etc… Of course, the more documents exchanged, the more useful it will be to have only one repository for management.

Are you interested in developing a tailor-made portal from scratch? Contact us without obligation!