Organizations with an eligible RBA membership or qualifying RBA-Online subscription can use RBA-Online to connect with suppliers, establish and maintain Trading Relationships, and manage supplier-related activities.

This guide will help you understand who qualifies as a supplier, who can manage suppliers, and where to go in RBA-Online to get started.

What qualifies as a supplier?

A supplier is an organization that provides goods, materials, components, labor, or services to another organization. The supplier may provide these directly to your company or support your company's operations through another business arrangement.

Examples include:

• Raw material or component suppliers
• Contract manufacturers
• Organizations manufacturing goods for an OEM or brand
• Labor agents and workforce providers
• Contractors and on-site service providers
• Other organizations providing goods or services to your company

In RBA-Online, the connection between your organization and another organization or facility is managed through a Trading Relationship , commonly referred to as a TR.

Who can invite and manage suppliers?

Your organization must have an eligible RBA membership or qualifying RBA-Online subscription to invite and manage suppliers.

Before you invite or manage a supplier

Before getting started, complete this quick readiness check to make sure the necessary account, supplier, and relationship requirements are in place.

1. Confirm your organization's eligibility.
   Your organization must have an eligible RBA membership or the RBA-Online Unlimited Subscription package.
2. Confirm that the supplier is registered.
   Search for the supplier before beginning a new registration or onboarding process. The supplier may already exist under a legal company name, parent organization, or facility name.
3. Confirm the applicable subscription status.
   Verify that the applicable RBA-Online subscription requirements are satisfied for the relationship or activity.
4. Confirm the Trading Relationship.
   Verify that the appropriate Trading Relationship connects your organization with the supplier organization or facility.
5. Confirm your account permissions.
   Make sure your account has the appropriate access for the supplier-management activity you are attempting to perform.

Where do I manage suppliers in RBA-Online?

To locate your organization's supplier relationships:

1. Sign in to RBA-Online.
2. Open Supply Chain.
3. Select Trading Relationships.
4. Search for the supplier organization or facility.
5. Review the available relationship information and actions.

What are you trying to do?

Use the table below to quickly identify where to start based on your supplier-management need.

How do I find an existing supplier?

Before beginning supplier onboarding, search RBA-Online to determine whether the organization or facility already exists.

Try searching by:

• The supplier's full legal company name
• A common or abbreviated version of the company name
• The supplier's parent organization
• The supplier's facility or site name
• Alternative spellings of the organization name

What is a Trading Relationship?

A Trading Relationship (TR) connects organizations in RBA-Online and represents the relationship between them within the platform. Learn more about creating and managing Trading Relationships .

A Trading Relationship may be needed before your organization can:

• Manage a supplier relationship in RBA-Online
• Designate an organization as a Major Supplier
• Invite a supplier to participate in certain RBA programs or tools
• Perform activities that depend on an established supplier relationship

What is a Major Supplier?

A Major Supplier is a specific supplier designation associated with applicable RBA criteria. Not every supplier connected to your organization should automatically be designated as a Major Supplier.

Review the applicable RBA requirements before applying the Major Supplier designation.

How to designate a Major Supplier

1. Open Supply Chain in RBA-Online.
2. Select Trading Relationships.
3. Locate the appropriate supplier.
4. Select Options, then Edit.
5. Select the Major Supplier checkbox.
6. Save your changes.

For additional guidance, see How to Set Up a Major Supplier in RBA-Online .

How do supplier invitations work?

Supplier invitation requirements may vary depending on the RBA program or tool your organization is using. Before sending an invitation, confirm the applicable relationship, subscription, and access requirements.

Before sending an invitation:

• Confirm that you have selected the appropriate supplier organization or facility.
• Confirm that the applicable Trading Relationship exists.
• Confirm the applicable subscription status.
• Confirm that your user account has the necessary permissions.
• Review the guidance for the specific RBA program or tool.

What if the supplier does not have the required subscription?

Certain supplier relationships or activities may require an active RBA-Online subscription . If the applicable subscription requirement is not satisfied, the Trading Relationship or associated program activity may not be available.

Depending on the applicable process, your organization may need to discuss the subscription requirement with the supplier or determine whether sponsorship is appropriate.

Why can't I find or manage a supplier?

Check the following before contacting the Helpdesk:

• The supplier may be registered under a different legal or parent organization name.
• The applicable relationship may be connected to a facility rather than an organization, or vice versa.
• The required Trading Relationship may not yet be established.
• The applicable subscription may be inactive or expired.
• Your user account may not have the required permissions.
• Your organization may not have an eligible membership or subscription package.

Still need help?

Related resources