What are the criteria for selecting a vendor that can meet your delivery requirements?

1 Delivery capability

The first criterion to consider is the vendor's delivery capability, which refers to their ability to produce and deliver the goods or services you need, in the quantity, quality, and time frame you specify. You can assess the vendor's delivery capability by asking them about their production capacity, lead time, inventory management, quality control, and delivery methods. You can also check their track record of meeting delivery deadlines and standards, and their responsiveness to changes or issues.

2 Delivery performance

The second criterion to consider is the vendor's delivery performance, which refers to how well they deliver on their promises and expectations. You can measure the vendor's delivery performance by using key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time delivery rate, order fill rate, order accuracy rate, and customer satisfaction rate. You can also monitor the vendor's delivery performance by requesting regular reports, feedback, and reviews, and by conducting audits or inspections.

3 Delivery cost

The third criterion to consider is the vendor's delivery cost, which refers to the total cost of acquiring and receiving the goods or services from the vendor. The delivery cost includes not only the price of the goods or services, but also the shipping and handling fees, taxes, duties, and other charges. You can compare the vendor's delivery cost with other vendors and with your budget, and negotiate for the best value for money. You can also look for ways to reduce the delivery cost by optimizing the order size, frequency, and timing, or by sharing the risk or responsibility with the vendor.

5 Delivery innovation

The fifth criterion to consider is the vendor's delivery innovation, which refers to their ability and willingness to improve and adapt their delivery processes and practices to meet your changing needs and expectations. You can gauge the vendor's delivery innovation by asking them about their research and development, product or service improvement, process optimization, and technology adoption. You can also encourage the vendor's delivery innovation by sharing your insights, challenges, and opportunities, and by co-creating solutions or initiatives.

6 Delivery risk

The sixth criterion to consider is the vendor's delivery risk, which refers to the potential threats or uncertainties that could affect their delivery performance or capability. You can identify the vendor's delivery risk by analyzing their internal and external factors, such as supply chain disruptions, quality issues, compliance violations, or market changes. You can also mitigate the vendor's delivery risk by developing contingency plans, implementing risk management practices, and monitoring risk indicators.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?