Qualities of a Good Sourcing Agent9374978
Any individual advises you never to hire a sourcing agent, since they are infamous for absence of loyalty and professionalism and trust, he is probably only referring to some separated events, or simply switching your attention to something else he promotes. You can disprove him by showing how to find a really good one. It is same as you need a chance to find a good product, you also need efforts and wisdom to find a good sourcing agent. Listed below are 6 top attributes you need to evaluate a sourcing agent.
1 ) Trustworthiness
A buyer should note trustworthiness is the first and foremost quality when it comes to the selection of a sourcing agent. If you work with a fraudulent sourcing agent, you will never be aware that your sourcing agent is actually ripping you off by secretly asking the supplier for hidden commission payment or kickback while showing to offer low or even "free" sourcing service. A professional sourcing agent, however, persistently makes it the golden rule that no information about the supplier should be covered or faked to the buyer including number of employees, market performance, reputation, registration information, real business type, product original price, etc. Without this, the buyer's plan of getting better price and services by entrusting an acquiring consultant is totally wrecked, in other words, the buyer is simply interacting with another trader.
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An excellent sourcing agent should spare no attempts in tirelessly searching and talking to the recommended suppliers rather than stopping the efforts too early before finding out the best choices. Careful research should be carried out on the official registration details, shop, year of organization, production capacity, engineering ability and technical standards to ensure the required numerous be made with ideal standard and quality. Also, each supplier is chosen by the buyer, a good sourcing agent should take the time to see a factory in person to check mount lines, warehouse, quality control requirements, etc and provide the latest information and research to the buyer with photos, meeting minutes, written reports for the company's analysis and decision-making.
3. Accountability from presales to aftersales Service
A finding agent's mission does not end when the copy is made. He should take the responsibility to follow in the production and shipment of the goods, coordinate with the suppliers to offer technical support for trouble-shooting, and assist in arranging the earnings and refund in line with the conditions and agreement between the two parties. This matter can be hugely worthwhile of consideration when a buyer deals with a technically unsound trader or a factory where no person speaks English, in particular when it comes to professional products, timely, in-depth and effective communication between the finding consultant and the technical engineers are crucial to ensuring the products work ideally to meet the consumers' targets. So the buyers can dedicate themselves as being professional, answerable and reputable in their house market and keep their business blooming.
4. Be a colleague of the buyer
A simple direction that the sourcing consultant needs to work to has been a colleague of the customer. He is supposed to fully represent the shopper's interest in the company procedures, that is, he is merely a bilingual colleague of the buyer working in the procurement/buying office. In the course of the business enterprise negotiation or technical communication, the sourcing agent needs to learn the information, if any, that the suppliers would like to hide from the buyer and report it to his client in a timely manner yet also in an appropriate occasion. In such situations, however, the sourcing agent should not decide without the buyer's knowledge, instead, the decision of how to respond is still left with the buyer to consider.
5. Become a friend to the suppliers
In some countries, business culture is strongly associated with relationship and connections. Some business people are more likely to offer more favorable conditions who they are better with or whom they find more intimate. As a result, together with the buyer, the sourcing agent should work to enhance the relationship with the suppliers, rather than always exerting pressure on them. Closer business ties does good to the likelihood of the supplier's better care of the production, delivery and service. For example, if the buyer finds it necessary, the sourcing agent can pass the products to the supplier to enhance the business marriage between the two celebrations.
6. Protect the potential buyer's business secrets
Information is an issue of maximum importance to business people. For the duration of the joint work with the customer, the acquiring consultant is exposed to considerable amount of information including products, price, design, components, technologies and suppliers. Long lasting buyer does not wish someone else to know, everything should be kept as absolute business secrets by the sourcing agent to in order for the buyers to keep competitiveness in the market.
