Answer

Customers who clearly communicate with their suppliers before engaging with them via the platform, are more likely to see maximum engagement and data/questionnaire completion rates from their suppliers. You should set out a clear mandate for your request and communicate the consequence for suppliers who do not respond to your request for a completed questionnaire.

Background

It is important that the first communication that your suppliers receive is directly from you. This communication should come from a senior representative within your organisation and it should clearly outline your requirement and explain why you are asking your suppliers to provide data and/or complete a questionnaire.

Steps

Before creating a campaign on the platform and inviting your suppliers, you will need to prepare your supplier data and agree your supplier communication strategy.

Supplier data you will need (minimum)

1. The correct email address for the supplier contact person who will complete the questionnaire.
2. Information about the scope of the questionnaire that the supplier needs to complete. The scope must be easily understood by the supplier contact person-this could be a location address, a DUNS number (recommended where possible), or another similar scope.
3. The more information you can provide to your suppliers and in the campaign upload file on the platform, the fewer questions your suppliers will have and the more likely they are to share or complete the questionnaire for the correct scope.

Your communication strategy with your suppliers should include

1. An initial and direct communication explaining the purpose of the request and how the data will be used.
2. Commitment from senior representatives within your organisation so that suppliers understand the importance of the request.
3. Information about any potential consequences for suppliers who do not participate.
4. A request for suppliers to confirm the correct point of contact.
5. An introduction to the NQC platform explaining that further communication will come from the system.
6. The more information provided before starting a campaign, the more likely suppliers are to take the request seriously and act on it.