Suppliers

A supplier is a vendor you purchase materials from. Supplier records store the identity and contact information you need to place and track purchase orders.

What a supplier includes

Each supplier record has:

• Name: the vendor's business name
• Number: a unique identifier for internal reference
• Note: free-text field for any relevant details about the vendor
• Addresses: bill-to and ship-to addresses used on purchase orders
• Material count: the number of materials this supplier provides

Supplier materials

A supplier doesn't just exist on its own: it's linked to the specific materials it can provide. The supplier material relationship is a junction that connects a supplier to one or more materials they sell.

This link is used when:

• Creating purchase orders: you select a supplier, and only their linked materials appear as line-item options
• Comparing vendors: you can see which suppliers carry a given material and compare pricing
• Reporting: filter purchasing history by supplier to understand spend distribution

Where suppliers are used

• Purchase orders: every PO is issued to a specific supplier
• Material records: each material can list the suppliers that provide it
• Receiving: deliveries reference the supplier through the parent purchase order

Tips for managing suppliers

• Keep supplier numbers consistent: use a standard numbering scheme so your team can reference suppliers quickly. We auto-create supplier numbers for you, but you can change them to match any scheme you like.
• Maintain accurate addresses: bill-to and ship-to addresses flow onto purchase orders and receiving documents.
• Link all relevant materials: if a supplier carries a material you haven't linked yet, add it so purchase orders reflect the full catalog.

Next: Purchase orders