There are two ways to approach this:
1. Send a broadcast email Bcc’ing all vendors and stating their expectations to qualify for bid acceptance.
2. Send a broadcast email with all vendors clearly visible in the “To†Line and stating their expectations to qualify for bid acceptance.
When done effectively, the two approaches are very powerful from the end-user’s perspective. Both can help save money in their own ways. However, not using them appropriately can almost guarantee that you will overpay. What a procurement manager, telecom engineer, or field technician must realize is what specific equipment they are asking for and how it relates to the current market conditions and availability.
I interviewed two Senior Procurement managers (Bill P. & Don B.) separately on how and why they choose the different approaches for their purchasing needs. Both have been in the telecom industry for over 25 years, and each has successfully managed to systematically save their respective companies millions of dollars throughout their tenure by utilizing these different approaches. In the end, they both came up with the same answer; you have to know what you’re asking for and how to ask for it.
Although Bill P. & Don B. take different approaches on how they list their vendors on email requests, both are equally effective and here is why:
Bill P. chooses to Bcc all vendors when sending out a RFQ.
Some advantages:
Some possible disadvantages:
Don B. chooses to include all vendors on the To line when sending out an RFQ.
Some advantages:
Some of the possible disadvantages:
These two styles emphasize that there can be several variables that go into sourcing telecom gear. That isn’t to say that this is always the case. Based on company needs or requirements at a given time all of the above mentioned can be thrown out of the window. We see this when there is an outage and a company needs equipment the next business day. This calls to mind the old telecom sayings “hurry up and wait†or “I need it yesterday.†Our industry mandates adaptation by both end-users and vendors.
If you are a procurement manager, telecom engineer, or field technician that has the luxury of time to work with your vendors, then you may want to consider the above options. Tailoring your approach to an RFQ can ensure savings. Just remember that the most important thing to take into consideration is knowledge of the equipment you are buying. This is how Bill P. and Don B. have become so successful. They understand that not every RFQ is the same nor will they all bring the same results. Knowing how you can strategically use your vendors to your advantage can keep you in the business for over 25 years. It also doesn’t hurt to show your company that you have saved them money in their CAPEX budget.
What is your preference? Do you use the Bcc or To line when emailing an RFQ?