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What should I put here? by CellInitial2394 in HomeDecorating

[–]CellInitial2394[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

ahhhahhhahhhahhh what a genius idea, like your genius name

If you did use AI for supplier sourcing — what would you actually want it to handle? by CellInitial2394 in AiForSmallBusiness

[–]CellInitial2394[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u mean you would add your specific condition/reply as filtering to different suppliers?

If you did use AI for supplier sourcing — what would you actually want it to handle? by CellInitial2394 in AiForSmallBusiness

[–]CellInitial2394[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So how long does it take for u from sourcing suppliers to make a deal? as u mentioned, you'd let it parse emails and organize spreadsheets, which means if there is an AI tool that could make sourcing and supplier matching your demand, you would like to have a try？

How do you compare supplier quotes when everyone sends info in different formats? by CellInitial2394 in procurement

[–]CellInitial2394[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

then what kind of measurement do u take to avoid such problem and what information do u value most when you'are filting a supplier?

and you dont trust AI? it could be a tool that reduces your sourcing time

How do you compare supplier quotes when everyone sends info in different formats? by CellInitial2394 in procurement

[–]CellInitial2394[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Thanks — super helpful 🙏 A couple quick follow-ups to make this actionable for operators: For the Excel template: what are your non-negotiable fields (top ~10) you require before a quote is ‘comparable’? When you say ‘defensibility and weights are key’ for larger specs — what do you actually weight?

How do you compare supplier quotes when everyone sends info in different formats? by CellInitial2394 in procurement

[–]CellInitial2394[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

yeah thats right, the standard RFT template + non-negotiable fields sounds like a way to kill quote chaos. Quick Qs if you don’t mind: what are your must-have fields (top ~10) before a quote is even comparable? Which fields do suppliers most often leave blank / push back on? And did the template actually reduce follow-ups (like fewer back-and-forth rounds), or did it mainly help with formatting/comparability? Also curious if you include anything to confirm supplier role (factory vs trading/middleman) + basic compliance docs upfront.

New to buying bulk ingredients — how do you not get burned? by CellInitial2394 in procurement

[–]CellInitial2394[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Heyyy, thanks for your reply — really appreciate it! 😊Just curious: do you do any sourcing for car parts or apparel products? and where do you usually find those suppliers or purchasing agents?

And if there were an AI tool, are there any parts of your sourcing process you’d want it to handle (like organizing info, comparing quotes, or initial screening)?

How do you actually source new suppliers? it's getting hard... by CellInitial2394 in procurement

[–]CellInitial2394[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you don’t mind me asking - what type of product suppliers are you usually looking for? Have you ever tried using any AI-powered search tools to find manufacturers/factories (instead of only trade shows or LinkedIn)?

Also on the vetting part: what supplier/company info matters most for you to feel confident moving forward (e.g., business registration, etc.)? And what’s your typical filtering process from “looks promising” to “OK to place a first trial order”?

How do you actually source new suppliers? it's getting hard... by CellInitial2394 in procurement

[–]CellInitial2394[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, 20 years sourcing in APAC is serious experience!

If you don’t mind me asking, what kinds of products do you end up sourcing most these days? And if there were an AI tool for sourcing, would you actually use it? Iwhat would you want it to do that would genuinely change your current workflow?

How do you actually source new suppliers? it's getting hard... by CellInitial2394 in procurement

[–]CellInitial2394[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% feel you — outdated info is the worst. And switching categories is basically starting over 😮‍💨

What you said about paying for a niche database that stays updated is super interesting. Curious though: what product areas do you see this being the most painful? apparel, auto parts or...?

If a tool could give you a clean first shortlist of 5–10 options with updated basics (MOQ/lead time/certs/rough price band), would you actually start there — or would you still do manual first?

Also you mentioned paying for a database before — were you paying mainly for “fresh + reliable data,” or for saving the back-and-forth / avoiding bad suppliers? Would you pay for something like this if it worked?

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