A practical explanation of what a sourcing agent does, what they do not do and how to define a useful engagement.
The work is a defined scope
A sourcing agent is not a substitute for the buyer's commercial decision. The role is to gather information, coordinate agreed checks and make the decision path easier to manage.
- Supplier search or validation
- Commercial comparison inputs
- Factory, product or shipment checks
A useful brief comes first
The buyer supplies the product requirement, the target market, the expected quantity, the timing, and the specific questions that need an evidence-based answer. A brief written as a list of questions produces a more useful result than one written as a list of wishes, because each question has a check attached to it and a wish does not.
- Product and packaging requirements
- Quality-critical points
- Target delivery and decision dates
Define the evidence before the work
The deliverable should state what will be checked, which records or photos will be provided, what cannot be confirmed and who decides the next action.
- Written inclusions and exclusions
- Named findings and source material
- Decision and escalation route
Need this applied to your sourcing brief?
Tell us the product, market and decision you need to make. We will confirm whether a scoped sourcing, verification or quality service is suitable.
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