Successful Vendor Management – Be Realistic!

For years, I’ve given workshops to try to encourage better practices for project and vendor management (particularly for pharmaceutical clients, but the principles are universal).

For many who have attended, there are multiple a-ha! moments. Stuff that should be covered in an on-boarding program, but instead is typically learned the hard way (if at all).

I give the full-day public Successful Vendor Management workshop quarterly. For my readers, I’ve decided to capture some of these practices in one-minute videos.

Here is the first: clients and vendors both need to be realistic about what type of vendor/partner, and project, is being engaged. Some agencies can turn around project changes on a dime; but others cannot, and everyone’s expectations should be aligned accordingly.

Here is why:

Vendors, have honest communications up front with clients about change expectations, especially if the project involves software development, or multi-step content review. And clients, though a marketing agency may be able to turn around a graphic or a print ad in 24 hours, that doesn’t set the standard for other types of development that requires more intricate processes.

Next, we’ll talk about an important principle of communication: establish the communication “style” up front.

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Impactiviti is the Pharmaceutical Connection Agency. As the eHarmony of sales/training/marketing, we help our pharma/biotech clients find optimal outsource vendors through our unique trusted referral network. Need something? Ask Steve.

Learn more about us here.