Tips to be An Efficient Purchasing Agent

Purchasing agents are expected to buy products, supplies, materials and make procurement of services at the lowest possible price, simultaneously maintaining a high level of quality. Procuring agents must be skilled in evaluating current market conditions as they have direct relationship between supply and demand for services and products. 

Factors that are to be considered during the process include assessing reliability, quality, availability and most importantly price. 

·     Conduct research on the Internet to understand the industry

·    Understand the work procedure that requires to meet suppliers and negotiate price with best quality possible

·     Evaluate your skills and abilities to check whether you have aptitude as a purchasing agent

·     Should be able to analyze technical data and to perform financial analyses

·     Review your level of marketing and leadership skills and business proficiency 

The following are some helpful tips on how to become an efficient purchasing agent.

1.   Improve your vendor relationships 

2.   Develop a scorecard for keeping track of vendors’ quality, delivery, overall service and pricing

3.   Obtaining the right information to get  the right vendor costs

4.   Use technology to drive yourself ahead of your competition

5.   Design an incentive program which profits the individual and the company

Working Conditions

Most purchasing agents jobs offer to work in comfortable offices. In US they generally work more than the standard 40-hour week due to conferences, production deadlines and special sales.

Buyers and merchandise managers generally have to work under great pressure. Hence, they require high physical stamina to compete with the fast paced nature of work in retail and wholesale sector.

Purchasing jobs demands to travel at least several days a month. A purchaser of export companies may also have to travel oversees such as buyers of high fashion.

A purchase manager needs to be organized, good with numbers and detail oriented. You need to meticulously research every major purchasing decision. It is all about learning business through on the job training and your earlier qualifications and proficiencies. The goal of a purchasing agent is to find suppliers and to negotiate the best price without sacrificing quality for those goods and services required by their organization.