Necessary Change: Why addressing vendor issues is more important than ever
Addressing challenges with preferred suppliers and key vendors can be daunting. During a pandemic, a change may seem impossible.
Is it really that difficult? Are organizations making this seem bigger than it needs to be?
If you are “stuck” and not sure where to go next, consider these three questions:
- How many hours do you and your team spend “working around”, “cleaning up” or “apologizing” for the vendors shortcomings?
- Do you have metrics and service levels in place to manage the relationship? Are you using these metrics to drive improvement and make decision about continuation of the contracts?
- What is holding you back from considering other options?
If you are frustrated or feel you don’t have the bandwidth to make a change, that is all the more reason to consider alternatives. Take the time to reach out to knowledgeable partners who can help you quickly and accurately identify new options, develop metrics that support your business and lead your team through the change. In most cases, the cost savings resulting from new or renegotiated relationships combined with the hours recovered from re-work will pay for the project within 3 to 6 months.
