As a supplier, how can I collaborate with a customer on RFIs and RFQs? Follow

When using the Supplier Portal as a supplier, you will often want to communicate back and forth with the customer to get detailed clarification on specific items in a request for information (RFI) or request for quote (RFQ). The Customer Messaging Tab serves this function and gives you an interface for collaborative communication after the issuance of an RFI or RFQ.

From the Smart RFX Dashboard, click on any open item in the RFX List, this will drill into the details for that RFX and includes a sub-tab called "Customer Messaging" which appears as below:

Follow these steps to navigate around key areas of the Customer Messaging Interface:

1. View Conversation(s): Clicking on any existing conversation loads it into the left-hand frame.
2. Respond to the Conversation: At the bottom of a conversation is an input panel where you can type your response and hit [Send] to deliver back to the customer.
3. Upload Attachments: If your message requires an attachment that the customer should review, it can be added by clicking [Upload] button above the text input field. The attachment will indicate when it has been successfully attached and can be deleted by clicking [X] next to it.
4. New Conversation: Click on the (+) icon to the right of Conversations on the right-hand side in order to start a new conversation. Fill out a subject field, input the text message that you need conveyed, and upload any file attachments that are relevant for your new message. Once you hit [Send] it will appear as a new conversation with Subject and Date on the right-hand side under the Conversations header.

You should now be able to read and respond to Customer Messages and Notes, as well as create your own as a supplier which opens a collaborative dialogue between you and the customer attempting to issue the RFI or RFQ. Using these collaborative tools allows both parties to better understand each other and come to agreements on key elements of these requests.