It's a very old phrase, apparently first used in print by William Congreve, but it is ever more pertinent in the world of work. How many supplier relationships have started full of promise only to be foundering a year down the line. Most of the time, this is because the foundations of the relationship have been built on sand - an informal or thin-in-detail contract and neither party really knows what is being delivered or received.
If you want a good relationship with your technology suppliers, the effort is all in the prenuptials. Here are some ways to ensure that you don't end up in the divorce courts a few years down the line:
Choose Well: Making sure you have the right supplier for your company is a good start. Using a company just because a colleague from your chamber of commerce does is not a good enough reason. Your selection process needs to be rigorous. Don't ever allow a supplier to think they're in a one-horse race.
Be Clear: Make it very clear specifically what you want from the relationship, write it down and make sure the supplier understands what you want as well, get them to explain to you what they believe you want and if they've got it wrong go round it one more time.
Service Levels: If you don't agree your service levels, then this is going to be a major sticking point at some point in the future. If you don't know the rules to the dance, then you're going to be treading on each others toes. For instance, you need to know whether you can call them on a weekend and what service you can expect from them.
Communications: Once you're in a relationship, on-going communications is essential. Don't just leave it until something is going wrong. Meet regularly, have a fixed agenda to work through and a desired outcome. Review the reports, comment on performance. Above all, don't ignore your supplier because that's a sure way for the things to go west.
Relationships: Build relationships with the supplier, get to know them and make sure they get to know you. Face to face meetings, regular telephone calls, it all helps to build those relationships which means you gain flexibility and an improved service. Don't underestimate the value of a great relationship.
If you do end up repenting at leisure, don't hold on hoping things will improve. Initiate an improvement process with the supplier and if it doesn't work, terminate the relationship and walk away.
GreenBOLD can help you manage your IT suppliers, it's an integral part of what we provide to our customers. We help you build those relationships and get the most out of your suppliers.
If you want a good relationship with your technology suppliers, the effort is all in the prenuptials. Here are some ways to ensure that you don't end up in the divorce courts a few years down the line:
Choose Well: Making sure you have the right supplier for your company is a good start. Using a company just because a colleague from your chamber of commerce does is not a good enough reason. Your selection process needs to be rigorous. Don't ever allow a supplier to think they're in a one-horse race.
Be Clear: Make it very clear specifically what you want from the relationship, write it down and make sure the supplier understands what you want as well, get them to explain to you what they believe you want and if they've got it wrong go round it one more time.
Service Levels: If you don't agree your service levels, then this is going to be a major sticking point at some point in the future. If you don't know the rules to the dance, then you're going to be treading on each others toes. For instance, you need to know whether you can call them on a weekend and what service you can expect from them.
Communications: Once you're in a relationship, on-going communications is essential. Don't just leave it until something is going wrong. Meet regularly, have a fixed agenda to work through and a desired outcome. Review the reports, comment on performance. Above all, don't ignore your supplier because that's a sure way for the things to go west.
Relationships: Build relationships with the supplier, get to know them and make sure they get to know you. Face to face meetings, regular telephone calls, it all helps to build those relationships which means you gain flexibility and an improved service. Don't underestimate the value of a great relationship.
If you do end up repenting at leisure, don't hold on hoping things will improve. Initiate an improvement process with the supplier and if it doesn't work, terminate the relationship and walk away.
GreenBOLD can help you manage your IT suppliers, it's an integral part of what we provide to our customers. We help you build those relationships and get the most out of your suppliers.
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