Create a solicitation in Solicitation Management
Creating a solicitation is the first step to getting information from suppliers. This process applies whether you need details on specific products or broader agreement terms.
- From any tab within theSolicitation Managementscreen, select+ Create Solicitation.
- A form will appear. Fill in the following:FieldInformation neededTitleEnter a descriptive title for the solicitation.importantMake sure you enter a name that is easily recognizable, since it will be key for other future actions.Due dateSpecify the deadline for the suppliers to respond.importantBy default, the date is +30 days from current date.Document start dateIndicate when the qualifying period starts.Document end dateState when the qualifying period concludes.Select FTAChoose the applicable trade agreements.
- SelectSave.
- In theDraft Solicitationscreen, you will access 3 tabs:
- Available products
- Selected products
- Missing supplier information
- Select the products you want by checking the boxes next to them. The available products will show as follows:ColumnInformationProduct numberUnique identifier for the product.Product descriptionBrief description of the product.Supplier IDUnique identifier for the supplier.Supplier EmailSupplier's email address.Edit Supplier InformationSelect the link to go to the company maintenance screen, where you can edit supplier information, such as email.Use theSearch barto find specific products quickly.
- If a product isn't listed in theAvailable productstab, you can upload them using an Excel spreadsheet. Here's how:
- Go to theSelected Productstab.
- SelectUpload Products. A pop-up window will appear.
- Download the spreadsheet template (it might be named "report" at first).
- Open the downloaded file and fill in the "Product Number" and "Supplier ID" columns.
- Save the completed spreadsheet.
- Drag and drop or browse for the file in the pop-up window.
- SelectSave.To manage your solicitation after adding products, you can easily view and modify your selections. Go to theSelected Productstab to see all the products you have chosen. If you need to remove any item, simply check the corresponding boxes next to the products in this tab and selectRemove from selected productsto delete them. For any changes to the solicitation details, locate theEdit solicitationbutton at the top right of the screen and select it to update the necessary information. Additionally, if supplier details need to be adjusted, navigate to the specific line that requires editing and select theEdit Supplier Infocolumn.
- SelectMove to selected productsto add products to the solicitation.
- Go to theSelected producttab and review the items added to the solicitation.
- Once you have finished making all necessary changes, selectSend Solicitation.
- This action will open a screen where you will need to complete a simple 2-step process to send the solicitation:
- Step 1: Add message
- Enter a message for the supplier. (This step is optional.)
- Step 2: Preview email
- Review the email that is going to the supplier.
- SelectSend solicitation.
This action will submit your solicitation for the next phase, which involves a review process and the notification of your suppliers.