Improving purchasing practices in global supply chains

Better Buying works with suppliers in global supply chains to rate the purchasing practices of brands and retailers.

2019 Better Buying Index Report Released

In a first geographic analysis, the purchasing practices used in key locations around the world will be presented. Data is drawn from 802 independent ratings for 71 brands and retailers.

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About Our Ratings

The Better Buying initiative provides clear, relevant, transparent, and timely information and analysis about good purchasing practices that will change relationships between multinational brands and retailers (buyers), the suppliers responsible for manufacturing their products, and other intermediaries up and down supply chains.

Better Buying is a unique system for suppliers to communicate with their buyers about purchasing practices that are working well and those that need improvement, without risking their business relationship. Created in collaboration with suppliers, our buyer rating system examines seven key buyer purchasing practices that affect a supplier’s ability to adhere to the terms of any contract and operate efficiently while providing a safe work environment and maximizing profitability.

What We Do How to submit a rating

Purchasing Practice #1

Planning & Forecasting

Planning and forecasting measure the visibility buyers provide suppliers into ordering plans. It also measures…

Purchasing Practice #2

Design & Development

Design and development capture the extent buyers are late or inaccurate in providing necessary technical…

Purchasing Practice #3

Cost and Cost Negotiation

Cost and cost negotiation captures whether suppliers receive sufficient funds to meet all the buyer’s…

Purchasing Practice #4

Sourcing & Order Placement

Sourcing and order placement considers two topics–whether supplier compliance to codes of conducts is incentivized…

Purchasing Practice #5

Payment and Terms

Payment and terms measures whether suppliers are paid on time and at the price agreed…

Purchasing Practice #6

Managing the Purchasing Process

Managing the purchasing process looks at whether the time suppliers need for production is offered…

Purchasing Practice #7

Win-Win Sustainable Partnership (formerly CSR Harmonization)

Win-Win Sustainable Partnership includes both the internal alignment of buyer staff on corporate social compliance…

What we do

Better Buying allows suppliers to anonymously rate the purchasing practices of the companies that buy their products and tells brands and retailers which practices can be improved.

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Latest News

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March 18, 2020

Survey of Coronavirus Impacts on Suppliers and their Workers

Better BuyingTM invites all suppliers to participate in a short, three-minute survey about the impact the Coronavirus is having on your businesses and workers. Using… Read More

October 18, 2019

Better Buying Introduces New Program to Support Improved Purchasing Practices

This fall, Better Buying takes supplier ratings to the next level with Learning Loops: a continuous, two-way improvement process between buyers and their suppliers. Learn… Read More

September 2, 2019

Press Announcement | 2019 Better Buying Index Report Released

The 2019 Better BuyingTM Index Report introduces for the first time, country-level analyses and examples of the purchasing practices of individual companies. These new findings… Read More

August 29, 2019

Press Announcement | Promoting Sustainable Business Partnerships through Learning Loops

Better BuyingTM Institute and partner Keystone Accountability are co-designing and piloting a two-way “Learning Loops” improvement process between buyers and suppliers with the goal of… Read More

Improving purchasing practices in global supply chains

2019 Better Buying Index Report Released