Your suppliers’ success is your success. It’s a bold statement, but an accurate one that we’re reminded of time and again. The successful movement of your products through the supply chain, the quality of that product and the integrity of your brand is directly impacted by your suppliers’ ability to consistently, efficiently and transparently deliver. And much of that delivery, as well as the symbiotic relationship with your supplier, is based on their user experience.
Throughout 2020, much of FoodLogiQ’s product development has focused on the supplier experience, and in supporting supply chain partners through improved usability, automation and communication. Most recently, as part of the Summer 2020 Release, FoodLogiQ introduced two new features to further simplify the supplier experience in FoodLogiQ Connect and in doing so, drive task completion and enhance compliance. Introducing: Supplier Workflow Shortcuts and Dashboard Quick Actions.
Centralized, Dynamic Task Completion on a Single Dashboard
Supplier Workflow Shortcuts and Dashboard Quick Actions are designed to work hand-in-hand from one centralized location: the Supplier Dashboard. By hosting workflow steps and progression directly on the dashboard, Supplier Workflow Shortcuts enable users to fulfill each step in a workflow without ever having to depart from the dashboard itself. The same logic that powers FoodLogiQ Connect workflow functionality applies; however, the steps needed to fulfill these common tasks are minimized and hosted in one, consolidated space.
Workflow items such as adding documents, products and locations, and completing audits or assessments are reflected step-by-step in cards that resemble Supplier To-Dos, which are also conveniently located on the dashboard. Suppliers can then progress through each task, clicking directly into the workflow step or choosing to provide the requested information through Dashboard Quick Actions. The latter feature allows suppliers to quickly and easily add new members, products and locations as needed from the top of their dashboard.
Whether adding them directly from a workflow or through Dashboard Quick Actions, suppliers can add products in bulk or on an individual basis. In addition, as FoodLogiQ Connect prioritizes the ability to upload information once and share multiple times, suppliers have the option of adding net new locations or choosing from existing ones that are already in the system. Upon selecting a pre-existing location, the supplier need only add any custom attributes that apply.
Dashboard Quick Actions and Supplier Workflow Shortcuts are built to interact together to provide suppliers with clear, direct pathways for supplying key, common information. Without having to navigate to additional areas of the platform, such as Product or Location pages, users can complete required tasks quickly, easily and with certainty, ensuring ongoing compliance with the brands to which they supply. Not only does this support their relationship with supply chain partners – it also allows suppliers to recycle saved time and apply it to other required activities.
Monitoring Progress, Completion and Compliance
Additionally, as workflow steps and Dashboard Quick Actions are completed, the Supplier To-Do List dynamically updates, reflecting new tasks and removing finished ones. For example, upon completing a step in an onboarding workflow, a supplier’s To-Do List may reflect new tasks based on business-level requirements, such as an I-9 form or audit request, or product or location-level requirements, like performing a facility assessment.
While continuing to work through the workflow and affiliated actions, FoodLogiQ Connect automatically calculates new To-Dos. In addition, workflow progress is not only reflected in the Supplier Dashboard, but is also reflected in the To-Do Digest email deployed on a weekly basis. As a result, suppliers have multiple access points to updated information on key requests and activities requiring their attention. Upon fulfillment, they are also able to mark workflows as complete directly from the dashboard, as well.
Together, Supplier Workflow Shortcuts and Dashboard Quick Actions enhance FoodLogiQ Connect by maximizing the platform’s ease of use for an instrumental audience: the supplier. It is our aim to make the supplier’s experience as simple as possible to not only reduce friction, bolster productivity and maximize efficiency, but to also fortify your program’s compliance and improve your supply chain partnerships. As FoodLogiQ continues to expand, invest in and improve our platform, we look forward to continuing to do just that.
To learn more information about supplier management functionality, consult FoodLogiQ’s Knowledge Base, or contact us to request a live demo.