11.10.2017
100 days isn’t really a natural time frame to measure things in, is it? Three months and a few days. 14,3 weeks. Nevertheless, it is commonly used to measure initial progress - famously so in terms of a US President’s ability to live up to ambitious campaign promises. And if it’s good enough for the President, it’s good enough for me! So here are a few takeaways from my first 100(+) days at TenderEasy.
Alright, I’ll admit right off the bat that (like a campaign promise) I might have slightly misrepresented my tenure at TenderEasy, as it’s closer to 150 days. Nevertheless, I feel it’s appropriate to share with you some of the insights I’ve gained so far. Like these:
While many companies have the taken step into the future and started using services like the one we supply, a surprising amount of companies are still stuck in the ways of yesterday, puzzling with excel sheets and comparing incomparable bids sheets.
Buying a solution like TenderEasy will undoubtedly help in simplifying and speeding up the RFQ process. This does not, however, mean that it will replace the fundamental competence of the buyer. A thorough understanding of the supply chain as well as it’s internal and external demands are still paramount to the setup of a successful tender. You need reliable data to maximise the benefits. Unfortunately (for some), the old saying also applies in the digital world…shit in…shit out….
As tempting as it can be to dig into the intricacies of the system, the functionalities and technical benefits, what we really sell is time. Time subtracted from setup, bid collection, validation, evaluation and analysis – time that can be used where a skilled buyer can add the real value, like negotiations and contracting with enough time to do it properly!
During my first time at TenderEasy, I’ve encountered many happy customers. But in addition to that, I’ve also encountered some happy forwarders. It turns out (unsurprisingly) that it’s not just the buyer that values a structured, easy and, as a result, fair RFQ process.
So in conclusion – while it will always be hard to live up to every expectation of the voter customer, my initial experience at TenderEasy have left me strengthened in the belief that what we do is of great benefit to the industry. And not just the buying part, but the entire supply chain.
4 more years!
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