Sourcing companies in India are an important part of many large companies’ supply chains, so it’s crucial to find one that will meet your company’s needs with excellence. And while you might think that a sourcing company and a global sourcing company are the same things, the fact is that there are substantial differences between these two types of companies. So, if you want to hire an outstanding global sourcing company that will serve your business well for years to come, then read on! Here are 7 tips to help you find the best global sourcing company to hire.
What Makes Up An Outstanding Global Sourcing Company?
A great global sourcing company should have both strategic expertise and operational capacity. By operational capacity, I mean that it can take your idea and put it into action. A strong sourcing firm will have all of its operations in-house so that there is no communication gap between strategy and implementation. To choose a company with these characteristics, ask yourself questions like What are their operations? What kind of supplier network do they have access to? Do they offer strategic advisory services? If you’re looking for a great global sourcing company, think about going local too – i.e., choosing a firm based near you with a proven track record serving U.S.-based companies. Proximity is often essential when you’re working with different cultures around the world – especially across time zones.
Customer Feedback
Word of mouth and online reviews are essential when it comes to finding a great sourcing company. These days, you can’t simply rely on recommendations from your business partners or former employees; before you pick a company, make sure to check its online ratings and customer reviews. After all, your top priority should be ensuring that you get top-notch service; only then will you be able to achieve your goals. Given how important customer feedback is these days, it’s hard to find quality sourcing companies in India without some positive reviews —but if one springs up out of nowhere with no mention in social media circles or message boards, keep looking! After all, you’ll want someone who can deliver consistently superior performance time after time.
Industry Awards
Any industry awards? Any honors? The best way to learn about your potential suppliers’ strengths and weaknesses are by speaking with people who have worked with them, so it’s vital that you understand what they are saying. Find out how your potential outsourcing partners performed in terms of key performance indicators (KPIs), such as quality, cost, time to market, etc. And don’t forget to ask about customer service; great service can also be a very strong predictor of future success. Awards are another important metric—even if it isn’t widely publicized or publicized at all!
Reputation
In today’s hyper-connected world, a reputation is everything— and a company with a good reputation can do no wrong. So how can you tell if a sourcing firm has what it takes to get your work done on time and on a budget? Look at their past performance. Request references from former clients, and pay close attention to what they say. A good firm will have no problem giving you honest feedback. When they do, look for three things: 1) They’re prompt in responding; 2) Their response shows that they know your business; 3) If there were issues, they tell you what happened and how it was resolved—so you don’t end up repeating mistakes of the past.
Longevity
What’s in a name? Everything. If you want to be taken seriously, your business name should do one thing above all else: make it clear what your business does. Your business name also needs to imply stability, longevity, and profitability— all of which will make potential clients confident in working with you.
Expertise of Staff
One of, if not THE most important aspects of sourcing success is the staff. It doesn’t matter how comprehensive your tools or how modern your technology is, if you don’t have a knowledgeable and helpful team behind it all you won’t get very far. This goes back to company size and structure, too: even some of the best tech in a smaller company will fail to meet expectations when staff isn’t educated on how to utilize it properly. Always check out staff expertise before hiring a company and ensure that their team matches up with what you need—and how much experience they have—before making any final decisions about who will work on your business. Always check out staff expertise before hiring a company and ensure that their team matches up with what you need—and how much experience they have—before making any final decisions about who will work on your business. Always check out staff expertise before hiring a company and ensure that their team matches up with what you need—and how much experience they have—before making any final decisions about who will work on your business.