In the world of sourcing and procurement, data is your most powerful ally. Moving beyond gut feeling and scattered notes to a structured analysis of your suppliers is crucial for optimizing your supply chain. For platforms like GTBuy, where managing multiple vendors is common, a simple yet powerful method involves using spreadsheets and pivot tables to rank and compare seller performance objectively. This guide will walk you through the process.
Step 1: Data Collection – Building Your Foundation
First, you need consistent data. Create a master spreadsheet (e.g., in Excel or Google Sheets) to log every order or significant interaction with your sellers. Key columns should include:
- Seller ID/Name:
- Order ID:
- QC Result:
- Communication Speed:average response time in hours
- On-Time Delivery:
- Order Accuracy:
- Issue Rate:
- Order ID:
Over time, this log becomes a rich dataset for analysis.
Step 2: Structuring Data for Pivot Table Analysis
Ensure your data is in a clean "flat table" format, with each row representing a unique order/transaction. No merged cells. This format is perfect for pivot tables, which will summarize hundreds of rows into clear insights.
Step 3: Creating the Performance Pivot Table
Now, let's create a seller performance dashboard using a pivot table.
- Select your entire data range.
- Insert a Pivot Table.
- Configure the fields as follows:
- Rows:
- Values:
- QC Pass Rate:"Count of". Then add it again, but this time set it to show the "Count of"(Count of Passes / Total Count)
- Average Communication Speed:"Average"
.- Reliability Score:
- Values:
- Rows:
Step 4: Ranking and Comparing Vendors
With your pivot table built, you now have a clear, side-by-side comparison.
- Rank by QC Pass Rate:
- Rank by Communication Speed:
- Rank by Reliability:
- Rank by Communication Speed:
Pro Tip:
Step 5: Making Data-Driven Decisions
The ranked list empowers you to:
- Allocate Volume:
- Initiate Conversations:
- Standardize Expectations:
- Streamline Procurement:
- Initiate Conversations:
Conclusion
You don't always need complex software to gain deep insights into your supplier base. By meticulously logging transaction data and leveraging the powerful, built-in pivot table functionality of spreadsheets, GTBuy users and other sourcing professionals can transform raw data into a strategic vendor performance dashboard. This method brings clarity, objectivity, and confidence to your decision-making, ultimately leading to a more robust and reliable supply chain.
Start your spreadsheet today – your future, more efficient procurement process will thank you.