> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tetherdata.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Suppliers
> Managing supplier relationships in Tether
# Suppliers
Suppliers are the vendors who provide your products and materials. Tether helps you manage supplier information, capabilities, and costs for effective supply planning.
## What is a Supplier?
A supplier is any external party that provides goods to your business:
* Product manufacturers
* Raw material vendors
* Packaging suppliers
* Component providers
* Distributors
## The Suppliers Dashboard
Navigate to **Suppliers** from the sidebar.
### Dashboard Columns
The supplier list displays the following information:
| Column | Description |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Supplier Name** | Company name (links to supplier detail page) |
| **Code** | Short identifier |
| **Status** | Active or inactive |
| **Address** | Physical location |
| **Contact Name** | Primary contact person |
| **Contact Email** | Contact email address |
| **Contact Phone** | Contact phone number |
## Creating a Supplier
Go to **Suppliers** from the sidebar
Click the **New Supplier** button
| Field | Required | Description |
| ----------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| **Supplier Name** | Yes | Company name |
| **Supplier Code** | Yes | Short identifier |
| **Description** | No | Brief description of the supplier's capabilities |
Click **Add Address** to expand the address section:
| Field | Description |
| ------------------ | ------------------ |
| **Street Address** | Street address |
| **City** | City |
| **State/Province** | State or province |
| **Postal Code** | Zip or postal code |
| **Country** | Country |
Click **Add Contact** to expand the contact section:
| Field | Description |
| ---------------- | ---------------------- |
| **Contact Name** | Primary contact person |
| **Email** | Contact email address |
| **Phone** | Contact phone number |
Click **Create Supplier** to create the supplier. You'll be redirected to the new supplier's detail page.
## Supplier Detail View
Click on a supplier to see full details. The detail page has the following tabs:
| Tab | Description |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Overview** | Supplier details and SKU capabilities table |
| **Transactions** | Transaction history with this supplier |
| **Inventory** | Inventory held by this supplier (if linked warehouse exists) |
| **Inventory Settings** | SKU-warehouse assignments for the supplier's linked warehouse |
| **Lead Times** | Transit lead times from supplier's linked warehouse to other warehouses |
The **Inventory**, **Inventory Settings**, and **Lead Times** tabs are fully functional only when a supplier has a linked warehouse. Otherwise, they display a message indicating no warehouse is linked.
### Overview Tab
The Overview tab contains two main sections:
1. **Supplier Details** — Editable form showing name, code, description, address, and contact information. Click **Edit** to modify.
2. **SKU Capabilities** — Data table showing which products this supplier provides and the terms for each.
## Supplier Capabilities
Capabilities define what SKUs a supplier can provide and the terms for each.
### Capabilities Table Columns
| Column | Description |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Collection** | Product collection the SKU belongs to (links to collection page) |
| **Type** | SKU type (e.g., Finished Good, Raw Material) |
| **SKU Code** | Product code identifier |
| **SKU Name** | Product name (links to SKU detail page) |
| **Lead Time (days)** | Production/delivery lead time in days |
| **MOQ** | Minimum order quantity |
| **Cost** | Total cost per unit, with breakdown by cost items |
| **Unit** | Unit of measurement for ordering |
| **Vendor SKU** | Supplier's internal code for this product |
### Viewing and Filtering Capabilities
The capabilities table supports several filters:
* **Product Hierarchy** — Filter by hierarchy fields (if configured)
* **Collection** — Filter by product collection
* **SKU** — Filter by specific SKUs
* **Status Toggle** — Switch between **All**, **Enabled** (SKUs with capabilities), and **Disabled** (SKUs without capabilities)
### Editing Capabilities
Click on any editable field (Lead Time, MOQ, Vendor SKU) to modify it inline:
1. Click the field value to enter edit mode
2. Type the new value
3. Press **Enter** or click away to confirm
4. Pending changes are highlighted in blue
5. Click **Save** to save all pending changes, or **Discard** to revert
### Bulk Editing
Apply settings to multiple SKUs at once:
1. Set values in the **Lead Time** and/or **MOQ** bulk input fields
2. Click **Apply to N Enabled** to apply those values to all enabled (with capabilities) SKUs matching the current filters
## Cost Configuration
Costs are managed through a **cost items** approach, where each SKU's total cost is composed of individual cost components.
### How Cost Items Work
Each SKU-supplier combination can have multiple cost items that sum to the total cost per unit:
| Cost Item | Cost per Unit |
| ------------- | ------------- |
| Raw Material | \$5.00 |
| Manufacturing | \$2.50 |
| Packaging | \$1.00 |
| **Total** | **\$8.50** |
### Managing Cost Items
Click on the **Cost** column for any SKU to open the cost breakdown popover:
1. **View** — See all cost items and their amounts
2. **Add** — Enter a cost name and amount, then click the **+** button
3. **Edit** — Modify existing cost item names or amounts inline
4. **Delete** — Remove a cost item by clicking the trash icon
5. **Save** — Click **Save** to apply changes (only appears when changes are pending)
Cost is always expressed per the SKU's default unit of measurement.
## Supplier Lead Times
Lead times for each SKU are configured directly in the capabilities table.
### Setting Lead Times
1. Navigate to the supplier's **Overview** tab
2. Find the SKU in the capabilities table
3. Click the **Lead Time (days)** value
4. Enter the total lead time in days
5. Save changes
### What Lead Time Includes
The lead time value should account for the total time from placing an order to having inventory available:
* Order processing time
* Manufacturing time (if made-to-order)
* Shipping time to your warehouse
* Customs clearance (if international)
* Receiving and stocking time
Use realistic lead times. Overly optimistic times lead to stockouts. Add buffer for reliability.
## Supplier Held Inventory
Some suppliers hold inventory on your behalf in a linked warehouse. This is the **Supplier Held Inventory** feature.
### How It Works
A supplier can be linked to a specific warehouse (the `linked_warehouse_id`). When linked:
* The **Inventory** tab shows inventory at the supplier's linked warehouse
* The **Inventory Settings** tab allows configuring SKU-warehouse assignments for the linked warehouse
* The **Lead Times** tab shows transit lead times from the supplier's linked warehouse to your other warehouses (using the same interface as warehouse lead time configuration)
### When to Use
Supplier Held Inventory is useful when:
* A supplier maintains stock in their own facility on your behalf
* You need to track inventory at a supplier's location
* Transfer times from the supplier's warehouse to yours need to be configured
## Suppliers in Supply Planning
Supplier data powers [supply planning](/supply-planning/overview):
### Order Recommendations
Tether recommends [purchases](/supply-planning/purchases) based on:
1. Demand forecast
2. Current inventory levels
3. Supplier lead times for each SKU
4. Minimum order quantities
### Order Timing
```
Stockout projected: Day 30
Lead time: 14 days
Order must be placed by: Day 16
```
## Supplier Status
Suppliers can be Active or Inactive:
| Status | Behavior |
| ------------ | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Active** | Available for orders and recommendations |
| **Inactive** | Not used in planning, data preserved |
### When to Deactivate
* Relationship ended
* Quality issues
* Temporary suspension
Deactivating doesn't delete history. Past transactions and costs remain for reporting.
## Best Practices
For supply planning to work well:
* Add capabilities for all SKUs each supplier provides
* Set accurate lead times
* Include cost information with detailed cost items
* Define minimum order quantities
Break costs into components for better analysis:
* Separate raw material, manufacturing, and packaging costs
* Makes it easier to identify cost optimization opportunities
* Provides transparency into total cost composition
Keep information current:
* Review lead times quarterly
* Update costs when pricing changes
* Verify contact information
Use the description field to record:
* Payment terms
* Special agreements
* Historical notes
## Troubleshooting
### Supplier Not Appearing in Recommendations
**Possible causes:**
* No capabilities configured for the relevant SKUs
* Supplier is inactive
* Lead times not set
**Solutions:**
1. Add capabilities for relevant SKUs
2. Verify supplier is active
3. Set lead times in the capabilities table
### Inventory/Lead Times Tabs Show "No Warehouse Linked"
**Possible cause:**
* Supplier doesn't have a linked warehouse configured
**Solution:**
The Inventory, Inventory Settings, and Lead Times tabs require a linked warehouse. These tabs are used for the Supplier Held Inventory feature. If the supplier doesn't hold inventory for you, this is expected behavior.
### Cost Not Showing
**Possible cause:**
* No cost items have been configured for the SKU
**Solution:**
1. Click the cost cell for the SKU
2. Add cost items with names and amounts
3. Save changes
## Next Steps
See supplier recommendations in action
Create purchase orders
Configure warehouse transfer times
View demand and supply projections