What is supplier management?
Supplier management is a PureField capability that lets a company maintain supplier relationships in structured records, coordinate RFQ and purchase order processes with suppliers, and offer self-service access through user accounts for your suppliers (supplier portal). It is an integral part of the purchasing module.
Evidence
What does supplier management hold?
| Area | What is managed |
|---|---|
| Supplier record | Company name, contact, tax info, contract |
| Product/service scope | Supplied category or material list |
| RFQ history | Sent requests and submitted quotes |
| Order history | PO list, delivery, and invoice status |
| Performance | Lead time, quality, and price consistency |
What are user accounts for your suppliers?
The supplier portal works through user accounts assigned to each supplier. With this account, a supplier can:
- view RFQs sent to them and submit quotes
- track approved purchase orders
- update delivery and invoice status
- see communication history on one surface
The supplier user account runs independently from the internal team panel but connects to the same data model. Each supplier sees only their own records; data isolation is maintained.
Benefits of the supplier portal
- Speed: RFQ responses are collected through the portal instead of email; comparison happens instantly.
- Visibility: You can track which supplier responded and when.
- Self-service: Suppliers check order status themselves; phone and email load decreases.
- Security: Role-based access; suppliers see only their own RFQ and PO records.
- Record integrity: All supplier interaction is logged on the purchasing record.
Connection to CRM and purchasing
Supplier management intersects with sales and service operations at these points:
- material lists from closed quotes can go directly to suppliers as RFQs
- parts needed in a service work order are routed to the relevant supplier
- low stock alerts from the stock module can trigger automatic RFQs
Related links
Frequently asked questions
Short answers that can also work well for search and answer-engine retrieval.
What is the supplier portal?
The supplier portal is a web surface where your suppliers use their assigned user account to respond to RFQs, track orders, and view communication history.
Is there a separate user account per supplier?
Yes. One or more user accounts can be defined per supplier company; access is role-based.
Can suppliers see the internal panel?
No. Supplier user accounts access only their own RFQ, order, and communication records; they cannot access internal team data.
Is supplier management separate from CRM?
No. It is part of the purchasing module and works in connection with supply needs originating from CRM or service records.