The buyer-supplier relationship is an important connection that every business owner must value and care for. How well you work on this partnership can significantly impact daily operations and the future of your enterprise. As a business owner, the goal is for your suppliers to value you as a buyer as well, and the key to achieving “preferred buyer” status is none other than supplier satisfaction.
Keeping your supplier happy means considering their needs and business objectives, not just focusing on your own. By maintaining a professional and mutually considerate relationship, you position yourself as a preferred buyer, earning priority during product shortages, better pricing or payment terms, and early access to innovations or opportunities. For startups, in particular, this status can offer a meaningful edge in competitive or uncertain markets.
In this article, you’ll learn how to strengthen your supplier relationships in ways that make your business one they’re eager to support both now and in the future.
Make Timely Payments a Standard Practice
Like any other business, your supplier relies on your payments to keep things running smoothly. That said, paying invoices on time (or early when possible) signals financial stability, professionalism, and respect. When you consistently meet payment terms, you demonstrate that your business is low-risk, which can lead to preferred pricing or more favorable credit conditions.
These days, thanks to digital solutions like Maya Business Deposit, you can ensure quick and timely payments that support this end. Used by many startups in the Philippines as their settlement account, Maya Business Deposit also features a disbursement tool that can be used as an effective payroll management system as well as to efficiently and securely pay suppliers or vendors. Part of our suite of Maya Business solutions, Maya Business Deposit can help you avoid delayed payments that can hurt your supplier’s cash flow and their ability to manage orders from other customers. Hence, by being a responsible buyer and paying on time, you demonstrate trustworthiness and foster a stronger relationship with your vendors.
See the Relationship from Their Side
Suppliers aren’t just service providers; they’re businesses managing their own risks, margins, and operational challenges. So when you make decisions, ask for adjustments, or negotiate terms, it’s important to consider that those choices affect them, too. From one enterprise to another, demonstrating empathy and awareness of the supplier’s business context tends to be seen as a thoughtful and professional way of doing business..
You can build this understanding by asking questions, staying informed about industry trends that affect their operations, and taking time to learn how they measure success. This kind of insight can help you become a customer they’re eager to support and whose needs they would also consider.
Build a Track Record of Reliability
The world of business is volatile enough, so, as a buyer, being consistent and reliable can help earn you the trust of suppliers. When they know they can count on you to follow through with orders, meet volume expectations, and stick to timelines, they will be more willing to invest time and energy into supporting your business.
Unreliable buyers introduce instability into the supply chain, which increases costs and risks for suppliers. Over time, these patterns can weaken a business’s reputation. Reliable buyers, on the other hand, better terms and deeper collaboration. As such, make sure to commit to consistency. Avoid frequent changes to purchase orders or last-minute cancellations unless absolutely necessary.
Say What You Need Clearly and Early
As with any relationship, clear communication is essential in buyer-supplier linkages. Communication gaps can cause major disruptions and misunderstandings in a supply relationship. And if your suppliers don’t understand your needs, they can’t meet them. Thus, making an effort to share clear product specifications, expected delivery timelines, and projected demand helps your suppliers plan effectively and reduces the risk of errors or delays.
Additionally, being proactive with updates, such as changes in production schedules or shifting priorities, allows suppliers to adjust in ways that preserve service levels. Surprises and vague requests, on the other hand, create friction that erodes trust.
Lead with Professionalism and Courtesy
How you treat your partners and suppliers says a lot about you and your business. Beyond maintaining civil relations, manners and courtesy can go a long way with supplier relations. Likewise, businesses that communicate respectfully, honor meeting times, and respond politely are more enjoyable to work with. And all of this matters, especially when you're asking for flexibility or favors.
Treating your supplier with dignity builds goodwill and improves collaboration. A respectful tone can also help resolve conflicts more efficiently. Furthermore, suppliers are far more likely to go the extra mile for clients who treat them with decency.
Be Flexible When It Counts
Unexpected disruptions are part of doing business, be it supply shortages, shipment delays, or economic fluctuations. When these situations arise, a buyer who responds with patience and a willingness to compromise tends to be remembered positively. This doesn’t mean accepting poor service; rather, it reflects an eagerness to collaborate on solutions instead of escalating tension. Moreover, adaptable buyers look at long-term value over short-term wins. This mindset strengthens loyalty and makes your supplier more inclined to prioritize your needs when the tables turn.
Champion Their Ideas and Progress
Suppliers often develop new products, processes, or technologies that could benefit your business. And as a buyer, being open to these ideas by supporting pilot programs or test runs tells them that you value more than just the current contract.
Similarly, encouraging innovation on the supplier’s side can improve your own operations, reduce your costs, or enhance the quality of your products and services. More importantly, when suppliers see that you’re willing to grow with them, they’re more likely to bring their best ideas to your table first.
Help Them Get Better by Providing Feedback
Giving feedback is part of being a good partner. However, feedback should be thoughtful and aimed at improvement instead of just pointing out flaws. Constructive feedback helps suppliers identify opportunities and align better with your standards, ultimately benefiting you as a buyer.
When giving feedback, avoid vague complaints or an aggressive tone, which can alienate a supplier rather than strengthen performance. Remember that if feedback is delivered respectfully and followed by collaboration, it becomes a tool for mutual growth.
Stay Connected between Transactions
Too often, buyers disappear between purchases or only reach out when there's a problem. Preferred buyers are different, as they maintain a steady line of communication, not to micromanage but to build relationship capital.
Thus, maintain engagement by checking in periodically, sharing updates about your business, and taking an interest in your supplier’s goals. This ongoing connection helps keep the partnership strong and makes collaboration easier when new opportunities or challenges arise.
Building strong supplier relationships is not just about reaping the benefits for your own business. Instead, it’s about creating a foundation of trust, respect, and growth that will see both your businesses into the future. As a startup, working on your supplier relations can reward you with better service, more flexibility, access to innovation, and a stronger supply chain overall.
Make Quick, Reliable Payments to Your Suppliers with Maya Business Deposit
Sign up for Maya Business to ensure secure and timely payments to your trusted suppliers or vendors.
Setting up a Maya Business account lets you open a Maya Business Deposit account, which you can use not only as your settlement account but as your primary supplier payment solution. With an industry-leading 2.5% per annum interest rate, you’ll earn PHP 25,000 in interest per year on a PHP 1 million deposit. Furthermore, you’ll be able to send money to your partners and suppliers for free via InstaPay and PESONet, letting you save more.
Signing up also qualifies you for a no-collateral Maya Flexi Loan offer of up to PHP 2 million in just 3 months, allowing you to have another funding source to further develop your business. Just use Maya as your primary processor for all wallet and card payments. The more you use our solutions, the better the loan offer will be.
Sign up for Maya Business today to enjoy the benefits of Maya Business solutions.
