One of the key responsibilities of a Vendor Manager is to manage their database. The database is composed of thousands of profiles, one for each supplier. Each profile will contain information such as the supplier’s contact details, services, rates, competencies, performance, tasks performed and all the paperwork required.  Being the main point of reference for project managers when assigning work, the information within the database must be as up to date and accurate as possible. This way, projects can be assigned to suitable suppliers, and Vendor Managers can easily spot any supplier gaps.  The database is constantly changing, not only as suppliers evolve, but also as client’s requirements change. From my experience, the database must be flexible in order to suit any unexpected projects and new clients. This is where you can test whether your database, and by extension, your Vendor Management team, is “proactive” or “reactive”.  A reactive database can be defined as a d...

Translation Vendor Management Group

It is so easy for a translation vendor’s database to get out of control. Unlike other industries, the database of a translation business, big or small, changes every week. Considering that perhaps 80% of a translation business’ success is based on how good the vendors in the database are (combined with how well your PMs can match them with the right clients’ request), the database is one of the main factors for your company’s success or failure. Unless you outsource or have a very good automated process, you really need a staff member looking after the translation vendor’s database in order to keep it under control. The fact is that cleaning the database can be a mammoth task which can make any Vendor Manager feel like a monastic scribe from the Middle-Ages. Hopefully these guidelines will make you feel like a master organiser instead, and help you take ownership of the task ahead. Let’s pause for a moment and think: What does your company need from the database? What is the purpose of...