Supplier

Suppliers & Vendors

Definition

An organisation that provides goods or services to a buyer in exchange for payment.

Explanation

Supplier (often used interchangeably with vendor) is the counterpart to the buyer. Managing the supplier base — who they are, how they perform and what risk they carry — is a core procurement responsibility that shapes cost, quality and resilience.

Example

The company's 400 active suppliers range from a sole stationery vendor to strategic manufacturing partners.

Related terms

Vendor — A seller of goods or services; in procurement, usually a synonym for supplier.
Supplier Management — The discipline of selecting, onboarding, evaluating and developing suppliers to maximise value and minimise risk over time.
Supplier Base — The full set of suppliers an organisation actively buys from.
Approved Supplier List (ASL) — A controlled list of suppliers that have been vetted and authorised to supply a business, often by category.

Related concepts

Supplier Management — Onboarding, qualifying, evaluating and governing the suppliers a business relies on — turning a scattered vendor list into a managed supply base.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Supplier?

An organisation that provides goods or services to a buyer in exchange for payment. Supplier (often used interchangeably with vendor) is the counterpart to the buyer. Managing the supplier base — who they are, how they perform and what risk they carry — is a core procurement responsibility that shapes cost, quality and resilience.

Can you give an example of Supplier?

The company's 400 active suppliers range from a sole stationery vendor to strategic manufacturing partners.

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