How to Choose the Right Business SMS Supplier for Your Company.

Don't regret the supplier you select when you have a how-to guide at your fingertips. 

Selecting the right SMS supplier for your business is critical to ensure that you are able to communicate with your customers about your products and services, whilst remaining compliant. By implementing specific supplier’s selection criteria, it’s possible to identify companies that will work with you to meet your demands.

Here are five tips for finding the right suppliers for your company:

1. Set out your own criteria.

Seems obvious, but many organisations go out to market with no real thought or research about what they really need as a business. Create a list that companies need to fulfil in order to meet your actual needs. This could include things such as:

• Lead times from order to delivery
• Minimum & maximum order quantities
• Functionality 
• Proof of concept period
• Contract lengths and set up fees
• Security
• Payment terms and conditions
• Contactable references
• SLAs

Setting the required criteria in advance will enable you to evaluate potential suppliers on each of the items and ensure that you don’t overlook any important requirements.

2. Define your search process.

?Identify the methods that you will use to find suitable suppliers. Decide whether you will publish your requirements in trade publications and call for bids, or whether you will approach selected companies directly for proposals and estimates. Allocate a time frame for conducting your supplier selection process. Where necessary, appoint relevant members of your team to review the proposals and recommend a short list of suppliers to choose from.

3. Call for bids.

Put out a call for bids according to the selection process you chose. This could be a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Quotation (RFQ). Whatever form it is, you should include full details of the services you need, along with quantities and start dates. Ask bidders to provide information on their business, the stability of their platform and reasons why you should choose them over anyone else.

4. Evaluate the bid submissions.

Compare each submission you receive against your checklist of criteria for suppliers and question any items that appear to be lacking in clarity. Review the scope of the services outlined in the proposal and consider whether they match your requirements. Decide on each criteria’s importance and score all submissions against this for an objective method of evaluation. Identify what the agreement or contract period with each potential supplier comprises to ensure you aren’t drawn into a situation that could be damaging to your business.

5. Monitor the supplier performance.

Even the most reliable supplier can occasionally slip up. Make sure they have a direct contact point at your company and conduct regular performance reviews. This will help you keep tabs on their work and make sure they’re fulfilling their end of the agreement. These reviews will also help you when it comes time to talk about contract renewal, so you know where you stand.

Following these tips will enable you to successfully select suppliers who can support your business requirements by delivering the appropriate services you need on time and within budget.