To help organisations get started in retrieving, capturing and unlocking supplier data, ISPnext has created a roadmap. Dirk Jan Leppers, Pre Sales Consultant at ISPnext, explains the steps.
1. Vision and strategy
First of all, define the goals. Which legislation applies to me? In which risk environment am I operating? And what supplier data do I need for that? In short: map the landscape.
2. Separate responsibility
Data are often scattered throughout the organisation: some in Legal, some in Finance, Supply Chain, and so on. Make one person (or several) fully responsible for supplier data and make sure there is a clear picture of the desired situation per supplier.
3. One database
Make sure you have the right tools at your disposal. Use one source for managing supplier data. It is too voluminous and complex to keep track of in Excel, let alone on paper. And a traditional ERP system is often not suitable for all functions and requirements.
4. Segment suppliers
The impact of a facility service provider is different from that of a commodity supplier. Classify suppliers according to aspects such as cost impact, compliance, security of supply, for example, and then determine what you need to know about which parties.
5. Momentum: onboarding When a new supplier presents itself, that is the moment to request necessary information, about certifications for instance. Make use of this momentum. The supplier will then want to cooperate, because it is in his interest to do so. Once in operation, this is a lot more difficult.
6. Use existing platforms Do not bother suppliers unnecessarily by requesting everything from them. A lot of information is available on platforms. Think of the Chamber of Commerce, but also parties like IntegrityNext, GraydonCreditsafe, Hellios, Dun & Bradstreet.
Leppers stresses that the
BSM platform has links to such third parties. "That sharing of existing data is what we call silo unlocking," he says.
