An RFQ (Request for
Quote) is a request to a supplier
for a price or for more information.
An RFQ is a useful first step in
making a purchase whether you are buying a product that’s already in
a supplier’s catalog or if you want a bid on something that will be
custom-made for you.
The RFQ you transmit via Evente
enables you to communicate directly with one or several suppliers
in a secure environment over the Internet. You are not
limited to a few lines or even a few pages of text; to ensure that
suppliers clearly understand your needs, you can attach diagrams,
CAD drawings and other files to your RFQ, even if they are
megabytes in size.
An RFQ need not be that
elaborate, however. It can simply consist of a header and at
least one line item describing the item you wish to purchase. You
also need to specify where you would like the goods shipped, and set
other appropriate parameters for this transaction. For example, you
can specify if the order must be shipped complete, or if will you
accept a partial shipment with the rest on back order.
Each RFQ you create is
automatically stored for you by Evente. Not only can you easily
refer back to it, but you can use it as a template for future
purchases -- from the same supplier, or to obtain bids on similar
merchandise from other vendors. This saves you time and reduces the
potential for errors when you enter new data. (RFQs are archived by
Evente for a full year; longer-term storage is available for a
nominal fee.)
Once you initiate an RFQ, it can
become the starting point for a series of communications between you
and your suppliers, culminating in your decision to place an order.
When you submit an RFQ, you
communicate directly with the supplier online in a secure
environment. If the supplier responds to you online, Order Online
sends you an email and provides a link to the supplier’s
response. You and the supplier can respond to each other as many
times as needed. You can proceed directly from an RFQ to placing
an order online.
You use two screens to create
your RFQ.
The first screen is to
Create or Edit a Request Header. Here you provide
the basic information a supplier will need, such as where and
when the order is to be delivered.
Next you will create a Line
Item, or several Line Items, to describe precisely what you
are purchasing.
Here again you can duplicate
or "clone" a line item, to save time, editing the new line item
to reflect the changes you want in the line item
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