Supplier Management · Procurement intelligence
How to evaluate suppliers: criteria and a scoring method
Evaluate suppliers on a fixed set of criteria, score each one the same way, and let price be one factor among several. The method matters more than the exact weights.
Published 2026-09-13. Written and reviewed by the Complyra team under our editorial policy.
Criteria that belong on every scorecard
- Price against your target, on a comparable delivery basis.
- Compliance: does the product pass the applicable regulations and can the supplier evidence it?
- Delivery: lead time against your required date and delivery location.
- Track record: responsiveness, completeness of documents, history with you or on the platform.
- Capacity and minimum order quantity relative to your volume.
- Sustainability criteria where your requirement includes them.
Weighting
Weights should follow consequences. For a regulated product a compliance failure is disqualifying, so compliance is either a gate or the heaviest factor. For a commodity with no regulatory exposure, price and lead time dominate.
Whatever you choose, write it down and apply it to every supplier in the same round. Changing weights after seeing the quotations is how the cheapest supplier always wins.
Scoring in practice
- Define the requirement precisely, including the document list.
- Collect the same fields from every supplier: price, MOQ, lead time, delivery terms, documents.
- Score each criterion on a fixed scale and apply the weights.
- Review the top three by hand; the scorecard produces a shortlist, not a decision.
How Complyra scores
Complyra ranks matched suppliers on price, compliance result, delivery, trust signals and eco criteria, and shows every factor with the match. The trust score is computed from the supplier's activity on the platform, such as profile completeness, uploaded documents and RFQ responsiveness, with a confidence level.
Frequently asked questions
How many suppliers should I evaluate?
Enough to compare, few enough to check properly. Three to five quotations for a defined requirement is typical.
Should new suppliers be evaluated differently?
New suppliers lack track record, so document quality and responsiveness carry more weight until there is history.
Next step
Complyra checks product and supplier information against regulatory requirements to support procurement decisions. It does not issue certifications or guarantee legal compliance; final responsibility for compliance remains with the buyer and supplier.
Related
Related guides
- How to compare supplier quotations beyond unit price — RFQ
- How to find compliant suppliers — Supplier Sourcing
- Supplier compliance checklist for regulated products — Supplier Compliance
Tools
- RFQ template generator — build a structured RFQ