Stop mandating supplier portals – opt for true supply chain digitization

In the world of retail digitization, one mistake is persistent and widespread: retailers requiring their suppliers to use their own or purchased supplier portal. What seemingly seems like a step forward in digitization, in practice turns out to be more of a step backward – especially for suppliers.

Retailers are investing in portals with the best of intentions. They want a grip on their supply chain, insight into data and faster communication. But by forcing suppliers to log into yet another system, they create a maze of portals, processes and exceptions. Many suppliers supply dozens of retailers – each with their own portal and requirements. For suppliers, what was meant to be efficiency ends up in wasted time, mistakes and frustration.

The reality is that suppliers are not waiting for yet another portal, yet another Excel template, yet another manual. They want one digital way of working that works for all their retail customers — not dozens of separate solutions. This proliferation of portals stands in the way of scalable digitization.

The solution? Think broader than your own supply chain. True supply chain digitization requires interoperability and standardization. Facilitating digital information exchange through a neutral, scalable network in which suppliers integrate once and can then collaborate digitally with all their customers — that’s the way forward.

At SPS Commerce, we see this every day. Suppliers working through our network do not have to adapt every time. They benefit from one uniform way of working, no matter which retailer they do business with. And retailers, in turn, benefit from faster supplier onboarding, fewer errors and higher delivery reliability.

Want to know how we can help you improve your supply chain? Contact us.

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Majke Zoethout

Marketing Specialist at SPS Commerce

Majke is a Marketing Specialist at SPS Commerce, responsible for marketing strategies for the Benelux region.

Latest posts by Majke Zoethout (see all)

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