The Invite a New Supplier module is where Buyer Admins can add a new Supplier to the Marketplace, either by sending them an invitation to participate in the Marketplace, or by adding them in an Inactive state and inviting them later.
[Screenshot of Invite a New Supplier Page (Additional details collapsed)]
All that’s required to add a new Supplier to the Marketplace is the Supplier’s name and email address. Enter them in the fields provided. As you enter the Supplier name, the system may suggest Suppliers with similar names who already have accounts in the Agora commerce system.
Additional Details
When the Additional Details section is expanded by clicking the arrow on the left-hand side of the section, you can add information about the Supplier before you invite or add them to the Marketplace.
Drag and drop a file into the uploader or click the Browse Files button to upload a .PNG or .JPG logo for the Supplier. Replace an existing logo by clicking the X button in the top right corner and uploading another. Enter a description for the Supplier in the text area. Use the checkboxes below the file uploader to provide or restrict editing permissions to the Supplier. When all three checkboxes are selected, the Supplier will be able to edit their logo, name, and description.
[Detail Screenshot of (first) Additional Details section]
Contract
Supplier contract management in the Agora Admin Console can be a key piece of Buyer organizations’ control and oversight of Suppliers. If a Supplier is contracted with the Buyer organization, upload their contract with the Buyer organization and enter the tem of the contract in the Contract block. Then choose an Admin to receive a notification email before the defined contract term has lapsed. Finally, enter the number of days prior to the end of the contract term that the reminder email should be sent.
[Detail Screenshot of Contract block]
Choose whether or not the contract and term are visible to Site Users on the Supplier’s front-end Profile page in Quoting Settings.
[Detail Screenshot of front-end Supplier Profile contract section]
Contact Information
The Contact Information block controls all public contact information for the Supplier that will appear on their front-end Profile.
[Detail Screenshot of Contact Information block with collapsed info blocks]
An email to the address entered in the Default Contact Email Address field will be drafted when a Site User clicks on the Contact Supplier button on the Supplier’s front-end Profile page.
[Detail Screenshot of Contact Supplier button on the front-end Supplier Profile]
The URL entered in the Website URL field will open in a new tab when a Site User clicks on the Visit Website button on the Supplier’s front-end Profile page.
[Detail Screenshot of Visit Website button on the front-end Supplier Profile]
The Info Blocks section allows Buyer Admins to create any number of multi-purpose info sections that list relevant contact methods, representatives, or addresses.
[Detail Screenshot of Contact Information block with 1 expanded and 1 collapsed info blocks]
[Detail Screenshot of corresponding info blocks on the front-end Supplier Profile]
Click the checkbox next to Supplier can add Info Blocks to give the Supplier permission to add additional blocks to the section.
Click the Add a contact info block region to create a new info block. All fields in an info block are optional, and any combination of fields can be used to represent any form of information. Click the checkbox next to Supplier can edit this Info Block to give the Supplier permission to make changes to this info block. Click the Delete Info Block button to remove the block. Click and drag the reorder icon to reorder multiple info blocks on the page. When you’ve finished making your changes, click the arrow in the top right-hand corner of the block to collapse it. When an info block is collapsed, clicking the arrow will expand it into an edit state.
Designations
Designations are tags used to call out what makes certain Suppliers unique. They make it easy for Site Users to filter for Suppliers that have characteristics they value when browsing the Directory or choosing Suppliers to receive a Quote Request. Click here for more on Supplier Designations. The Designations block can be used to add Designations to the new Supplier.
Click the Add Designations button to assign additional Designations to the Supplier. A popup will open.
[Detail Screenshot of Select Designations popup]
All Designations that have been created in the Supplier Designations module will be listed in the popup. Use the checkboxes to add or remove Designations from the Supplier. Click Add Designations when you’ve finished making your selections.
[Detail Screenshot of Designations block with several assigned]
Click the X icons next to each Designation to remove them from the Supplier.
Categories
Supplier Categories are used to group Suppliers based on the kinds of products and services they can provide. Categories are the primary way that Suppliers are organized in a Marketplace. Click here for more on Supplier Categories. The Categories block can be used to add the new Supplier to Categories.
[Detail Screenshot of Categories block with several tiers of categories]
Click the X icons next to each leaf-level Subcategory in the Category tree to unassign the Supplier from those Subcategories. Click the Add to Categories button to assign the Supplier to additional Categories. A popup will open.
[Detail Screenshot of Add to Categories popup]
All Categories and Subcategories that have been created in the Supplier Categories module will be listed in the popup. Use the twirl down the arrows next to each Category to view the Subcategories in them. Checkboxes will appear next to the leaf-level Subcategories in the Category tree. Use the checkboxes to add or remove the Supplier from those Categories or Subcategories. Click Add to Categories when you’ve finished making your selections.
When you’ve finished adding the Supplier’s name and email address, (and any other optional details), it’s time to add the Supplier. There are two options at the top and bottom right-hand side of the page:
- Send Invitation. Click this button to send an invitation to the Supplier email address you entered. When the Supplier accepts your invitation, they will be connected to the Marketplace, appear in the Supplier Directory, and can receive Quote Requests.
- Add and Invite Later. Click this button to add the Supplier in an inactive state to the Marketplace without sending an invitation. The Supplier will not appear on the front-end Marketplace and won’t be able to receive Quote Requests. Activate the Supplier at any point by sending an invitation to the Supplier from the Edit Supplier page.
[Detail screenshot of Add and Invite buttons]
Click the Manage Suppliers button on the confirmation popup once the Supplier has been added or invited to return to the Manage Admins module or close the popup to add another Supplier to the Marketplace.