What is Supplier Master Data?

The term “supplier master data” refers to vital information about the suppliers with whom you work.
In this article we cover the definitions, importance, benefits, challenges and processes… everything you need to know about supplier master data and master data management!

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7 Supply Chain Trends to Watch in 2021

The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 has prompted the rethinking of existing supply chain models to sustain the momentum with more of a focus on hedging against risks and uncertainties.
It has inevitably led to the redefining of certain trends in this space.
Here are what we see as the key supply chain trends to watch as we go into the final quarter of 2021.

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SourceDogg’s tips for landing new clients

Increase your visibility

It is important to make your company stand out. When buyers are searching through the SourceDogg database for suppliers they can have a look at your supplier profile to perhaps get a better understanding of what your company offers. To make the most of this its vital that you populate your profile with key information. Your SourceDogg profile allows you to display a company logo and an overview where you can give prospective new customers a summary of what you can offer them. Be brief but comprehensive. Let them know what makes you stand out from the crowd. You can also include some contact information so if they want more information they have some contact points.

Click here for help on how to update your profile.

Ensure your certification is up to date

Where once having certifications was seen as having a competitive advantage, now its being seen more as an absolute necessity. It gives buyers a sense of confidence and security that your organisation has the knowledge and talent required and is prepared to handle their needs now and in the future. SourceDogg allows you to display those hard-earned certifications and accreditations to make your organisation more appealing to work with. Keeping those certifications up to date on SourceDogg is equally important and because of that we will send you periodic reminders when they are due for renewal. Properly maintained and accurate list of key certifications on SourceDogg will show potential buyers that your company is highly professional and provide products or services of the highest quality.

Click here for help on how to update your certifications.

Upload your Datasheets

A Datasheet is a document that provides the details and specifications of your product range and, used correctly, can do a lot of your sales work for you. Buyers are using SourceDogg to find suppliers that provide the products or service they are looking for. They can search through the SourceDogg database of datasheets and then if they like what they see they can then invite that supplier to a Request for Quotation (RFQ) and ask for more details or pricing. You can now upload your datasheets, spec sheets, pricelists, risk assessments, PPE assessments or any other sales paraphernalia to SourceDogg. These documents can then be shared with selected buyers or made publicly available to all buyers.

Click here for more information on our Datasheets.

Make yourself a preferred supplier

Find out if the buyers you know on SourceDogg are running a Supplier Onboarding event and ask if you can take part in it. Many buyers are using SourceDogg to gather information from their suppliers and to add them to preferred supplier lists, or ‘supplier pools’. Getting into these pools will increase your chances of being invited to future tenders they may publish. Many SourceDogg buyers are running the new supplier applications publicly so you might consider applying for these. You could find these in the Public Requests area of your account.

Keep your ear to the ground

Although most tenders on SourceDogg are private and by invitation only, there are also some published publicly. By checking the Public Requests area on SourceDogg periodically you can ensure nothing relevant will pass you by. We also recommend to register on Contracts Finder and Tender Electronics Daily websites as many of SourceDogg buyers are government organisations such as councils and hospitals and you can set up for any notifications to be sent to you when a new tender is published.

Let your Datasheets do your sales work for you

Let your Datasheets do your sales work for you

Are you making the most of your SourceDogg account?

Put yourself in the shoes of your customers for a moment, perhaps a junior member of a purchasing team.

You’ve been tasked by a senior colleague with finding a product. They have shared a specification document, but it is not a finalised spec and you do not understand half of the technical jargon anyway. First of all, you want a place to go to and, quickly and easily, navigate among your preferred suppliers to search their product ranges. Then, when you enter some key words from the specification and find the product you are looking for that looks like it matches your specification, you want to be able to deliver the results to your busy boss in an easily digestible format containing all the key information, perhaps just by sending a link or supplier’s datasheet directly with the technical details.

Now step back into your own shoes again. An important client of yours uses SourceDogg for purchasing and you’ve been through their onboarding form to be a preferred supplier. Remember your customer’s junior purchaser and be one step ahead of him and have your Datasheets already uploaded to SourceDogg for when they go looking. Now think beyond this one client; by making your Datasheets publicly available on SourceDogg you can let your Datasheets do your sales work for you by letting prospective new clients find you!

  • Tips on how to make a good Datasheet
  • Describe what makes your product unique or better than other producers
  • Make it easy to find your datasheets, tag your documents with some key words or use the UNSPSC categorisation – when a buyer is looking for a specific category, they will find your documents in no time!
  • It should be detailed enough to answer any initial questions a customer may have but not so overloaded with information that it puts your client off.
  • If your product is very technical and has a lot of features include a link in the Datasheet, perhaps to a video or more detailed white paper, so the client can find out more.
  • Use simple language with minimal jargon. You know your product inside out but your clients may not, and may not need to as its possible they are not the end user.
  • Include some FAQs about your product. If they have come up in the past with other customers, it will save time to include them here.
  • You can also decide to share your datasheets with your existing clients, by inviting them to create a free buyer’s account.

For more information on our Datasheets you can watch a video here.

Upload your Datasheets here today and don’t forget to tell your client!