The cost of a poor decision can be steep in B2B relationships. Whether you're sourcing raw materials, software, logistics, or services, your suppliers and vendors directly affect how well your company can deliver on what it promises. Unlike consumer-level transactions, these partnerships often involve complex coordination, contractual obligations, and long-term dependencies. A vendor that can’t meet expectations—or worse, misrepresents their capabilities—can disrupt your operations and compromise your growth.
That’s why it’s critical to ask the right questions before entering into any formal agreement. At Maya Business, we can make sure you pull your weight when it comes to both current and potential partnerships. Our enterprise-grade financial solutions are designed to support your business through every stage of its journey—from managing disbursements to maintaining stable cash flow. We also provide expert insights to help you approach vendor selection with confidence, clarity, and the right criteria in mind.
Let’s discuss some key questions you should ask any potential supplier or vendor before committing to a partnership.
What Are Your Lead Times and Delivery Capabilities?
Before making any commitments, you should understand how quickly and consistently a vendor can fulfill your needs. Ask about average lead times, fulfillment processes, and how they accommodate urgent or high-volume orders. If your business depends on tight production or delivery schedules, even minor delays can have ripple effects on your operations and customer satisfaction.
What Are Your Payment Terms and Conditions?
Any business relationship requires all parties involved to be transparent about costs. It's not just about the quoted price—it's about understanding how, when, and under what conditions your partner will expect payment. You’ll want to know whether they offer standard invoicing terms, early payment discounts, or penalties for late remittance. Make it a point to identify any additional charges that may not be part of the initial quote, such as shipping fees, service add-ons, or transaction costs.
Once you know what you’re dealing with, you’ll want to make sure your company has a reliable digital deposit tool that you can use to manage supplier payments without a hitch. Maya Business Deposit is increasingly becoming the go-to settlement account for many small businesses in the Philippines. For one thing, it features a disbursement tool that you can use both as an effective payroll management system and as a means of paying suppliers and vendors efficiently and securely. You can even choose to pay multiple suppliers in one go for a fully hassle-free experience.
How Do You Handle Disruptions or Supply Chain Issues?
Every business faces unexpected challenges, but what sets a reliable vendor apart is how they prepare for and respond to those disruptions. Your vendor should be able to explain their risk management strategy in the event of unforeseen difficulties. Incidents they should be prepared for might include delays in raw materials, breakdowns in logistics, geopolitical issues, or environmental hazards. It’s generally a good sign if they have alternative suppliers, backup inventory, or contingency protocols in place.
Can You Scale in Line with Our Growth Targets?
A vendor that suits your business today may not be able to support you tomorrow. That’s why it’s important to assess whether a potential partner has the capacity to scale with your growth. You can determine this by looking into their production limits, staffing flexibility, and investment in infrastructure. Can they handle increased order volumes or expanded service areas? What are their plans for future upgrades or innovations? Ultimately, a supplier that understands and anticipates your evolving requirements will reduce the friction and cost of switching partners later on.
How Do You Communicate with Clients?
Effective communication is a key component of any successful partnership. Poor responsiveness or unclear updates can lead to misunderstandings, delays, or costly mistakes. That’s why you should ask how they typically interact with clients: Which channels do they use? Is there a dedicated point of contact? How quickly do they respond to inquiries or escalate issues, and are they proactive about sending status updates? A vendor who values clear, consistent communication is more likely to support a smoother working relationship.
Can You Provide References or Case Studies?
Any vendor can make bold claims, but real-world examples provide more reliable proof of performance. Ask for references from current or past clients—ideally in the same industry as you or of a similar business size. These can offer insight into how the vendor operates under pressure, how they handle issues when they arise, and whether their service quality holds up over time. If they’re hesitant to share references or only offer outdated ones, that may be a red flag worth investigating further.
Become Every Supplier’s Dream Partner with Support from Maya Business Solutions
Vendors and suppliers will always put in their best effort for clients who prove easy and rewarding to work with. Sign up for Maya Business today, and you’ll get access to top-of-the-line financial management tools that can help you fine-tune your operations and meet all your commitments stress-free.
Setting up a Maya Business account allows you to open a Maya Business Deposit account and use it as your settlement account. 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. You’ll also get to send money to your partners and suppliers for free via InstaPay and PESONet for more savings and less overhead spending.
Your Maya Business account also qualifies you for a no-collateral Maya Flexi Loan offer of up to PHP 2 million in just 3 months, which you can use to improve your processes or chase potentially fruitful growth opportunities. 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.
You’ll enjoy all these benefits and more if you sign up for Maya Business now, so don’t wait!
