Finding the right business partners isn’t always easy. And when it comes to finding foreign suppliers, it can seem even more daunting.  So how can you measure their performance and make sure they are the right fit? Here are some key things to keep in mind. 

Discovery Phase

During your first contact with a foreign supplier, you want them to be open and inviting. Having the opportunity to speak to someone directly, share your projects, and have them give insights is a great way of finding whether they are a good fit. Getting clear and timely answers to your questions is of utmost importance! If a supplier is hard to get a hold of during this phase, don’t expect them to be easy to contact once the sale has been made. 

Post-sale service

Once you shop around a little bit and find a company that seems to suit your needs, you might decide to buy from them. But, of course, your relationship with a foreign supplier can’t end once the sale is finalized. In a way, it’s really where the relationship gets started. You want your supplier to be communicative, answer your questions, and keep you in the loop with important updates. 

Big Picture Vision

The reality is that your project is much more than just a single material or product. And you want your supplier to be sensitive, even open to that. They need to understand your entire vision and plan to be able to give you the proper service

Delivery

Of course, all the previous points are for nothing if your materials or products are not delivered on time. In previous articles, we’ve detailed the importance of this and how to reduce supply chain lead times, but to make a long story short: communication is key. You need to have conversations early on with your supplier, so they understand your timelines (hereby the importance of the previous point) and make a clear plan to make sure that you’ll have what you need when you need it. 

While choosing a foreign supplier might not be easy, choosing Atlantic Link is a walk in the park. We make it easy to work with foreign suppliers because we do the heavy lifting for you. We already have the contacts, the relationships, and the expertise to make sure your materials are delivered right on time. 

Interested in seeing how Atlantic Link can help you import materials from Italy?

Check out our past projects and see what we are able to do for you!