Vendor Management
Learn how to set up and manage your suppliers, track relationships, and maintain vendor contacts.
Setting Up Your Vendors
Step 1: Add Vendor Information
Create vendor profiles with contact details
- Enter vendor name and business type
- Add primary contact person and phone number
- Include email address and website
- Set delivery days and minimum order requirements
Step 2: Upload Vendor Products
Import product catalogs and pricing
- Upload recent invoices to extract products
- Review and edit product names and descriptions
- Set up product categories and units
- Confirm current pricing and pack sizes
Step 3: Set Order Preferences
Configure ordering methods and requirements
- Choose ordering method (phone, email, online)
- Set minimum order amounts and delivery fees
- Configure lead times and delivery schedules
- Add special instructions or notes
Step 4: Test Your Setup
Verify everything works correctly
- Create a test order to ensure accuracy
- Check that all products are properly linked
- Verify contact information is correct
- Test the ordering workflow end-to-end
Types of Vendors
Primary Suppliers
Your main food and beverage suppliers
Specialty Vendors
Suppliers for specific ingredients or products
Equipment & Supplies
Non-food items and equipment suppliers
Best Practices
Keep contact info current
Update phone numbers and email addresses when they change to avoid order delays.
Set realistic lead times
Account for actual delivery times to avoid stockouts and rush orders.
Organize by frequency
Group vendors by how often you order from them for easier management.
Track performance
Note which vendors are reliable and which ones cause problems.
Common Issues & Solutions
Can't find a vendor's products
Make sure you've uploaded recent invoices from that vendor. Products are extracted from invoice data.
Wrong contact information
Click edit on the vendor profile to update contact details. Changes take effect immediately.
Products showing wrong prices
Upload newer invoices to get current pricing. Tally uses the most recent price for each product.
Can't place orders to vendor
Check that you've set up the ordering method (phone, email, etc.) in the vendor preferences.
Example Vendor Profile
Sysco Corporation
Food & Beverage Distributor