"Negotiation is not about winning, it's about finding a solution," said Harvey Mackay. When facing supply chain disruptions, negotiating fair terms with vendors is key to minimizing impact. In my experience, start by having an open discussion with your vendors about the challenges and explore mutually beneficial solutions, such as extended payment terms, flexible delivery schedules, or bulk-order discounts. Be transparent about your needs while understanding their constraints. A common mistake is pushing too hard, which can strain relationships. By finding common ground and proposing win-win scenarios, you can secure fair terms that help stabilize operations while preserving vendor relationships.

To secure fair terms with vendors during supply chain disruptions, prioritize open communication to establish mutual understanding and trust. Adapt contract terms for flexibility, such as adjusting deadlines or order quantities, and diversify suppliers to reduce reliance on a single source. Introduce performance-based incentives to encourage prioritization and negotiate contingency clauses to prepare for future disruptions. Engage in collaborative problem-solving, involving vendors in joint planning or logistics solutions. These strategies foster resilience, shared responsibility, and minimize disruption impacts, strengthening the vendor relationship amid uncertainty.

To secure fair terms with vendors during supply chain disruptions, start with open communication to discuss the challenges each party faces. Collaborate to negotiate terms that accommodate current realities, such as flexible payment schedules or adjusted delivery timelines. Consider diversifying your supply base by exploring alternative sourcing options or engaging multiple suppliers to reduce dependency on a single vendor. Focus on building long-term relationships, as a cooperative approach fosters mutual support and understanding. This strategic alignment can help minimize the impact of disruptions while ensuring that both parties remain committed to finding solutions together.

Em segmentos onde a competitividade é menos intensa, um relacionamento forte e duradouro com fornecedores pode ser um diferencial significativo, favorecendo a empresa em rela??o a novos compradores. No entanto, em setores altamente competitivos, nem sempre é possível cultivar rela??es de longo prazo. Diante disso, a manuten??o de contratos com cláusulas de fornecimento bem elaboradas e a exigência de ferramentas que garantam a continuidade do fornecimento ou a presta??o de servi?os tornam-se pilares fundamentais para preservar a cadeia de suprimentos, especialmente em períodos de escassez.

Preventing disruption of supply chains starts on day one and never ends. You need to prove yourself as trustworthy customer to the producer, the intermediary, your logistics partner and your financing partners. In case of crises, you will receive the utmost support from everyone, if you are an appreciated client/customer. Size matters, too. If you consolidate your purchasing with relevant suppliers, the upstream links in your supply chain will be concerned and supportive about your needs. With upcoming legislation that demand supply chain due diligence businesses need to demonstrate a fair and sound approach towards ESG KPI. This might be expensive and time intensive but will prevent data and strategies to prevent worst case scenarios.