When responding to a bid request, suppliers can use the Messages tab to submit questions to the customer privately. These messages are only viewable by the supplier and the collaborating customer(s).
Note: The bid request may include a Questions due date by which the customer would like all questions to be answered.
Prerequisites
Audience: Supplier (Responding to a Bid)
Intent: Communicate with the customer privately regarding a bid request.
Privacy: Your questions and messages are private; neither your bidding competitors nor you can view their private communications.
Submit a Question or Send a Message
Select Quotes on the left panel.
Click View Bid Requests.
The Bid Requests screen will populate. Select the desired bid under the column Bid Request Name.
The desired bid screen will appear. Select the Messages tab.
Click +Add Comment to add a new message or question.
Note: There is a 2,000 character limit for the message, including spaces.
Click Send.
Filtering Messages
The Filter By option allows suppliers to organize the communication history:
| Filter Option | Description |
|---|---|
| ALL | A comprehensive list of all messages and customer notifications. |
| Specified Customer Name(s) | Shows messages exclusively between the supplier and the specified customer(s). |
| Notifications | Displays notifications sent by the customer(s), often alerts sent to all suppliers included in the bid request (e.g., a date extension for the response deadline). |