Introduction

The 2023x FD01 release introduced a new cloud-only role: RFx Manager (RFX-OC).
The RFx Manager role enables Sourcing Managers to negotiate with Suppliers the cost for Sourced Items, directly in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

 This role contains two applications:

• RFX Management used to create RFX, send it to multiple suppliers, receive and analyze their responses, and then make the selection and award the selected suppliers.
• Sourcing Asset Management used to create and manage Vendor Items to track the price of the selected sourced components.
  (Note: This application is not in the scope of this post.)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​In this post, I will be focusing on the RFX process, and explain how to establish the communication with suppliers, to allow them to participate in the RFX process.

What is an RFX and what is it used for in ENOVIA?

Let's start by understanding what is an RFX and what is it used for in ENOVIA.
In the procurement world, the acronym RFX means Request For X, where X is a variable that stands in for different types of vendor questionnaires. For example, RFX could stand for Request For Information (RFI), Request For Proposal (RFP), Request For Quotation (RFQ), and so on.

Using the RFx Manager Role, ENOVIA enables Sourcing Managers to generate RFQ – Request for Quotation and to negotiate with suppliers the cost for a sourced item.

RFQ details the requirements of the buyer, and requests suppliers to respond with pricing & packaging information.
When preparing the RFQ, it is important to provide as many details as you can regarding your needs from the supplier. This will help the suppliers to better answer your RFQ.

Establishing the communication channel with suppliers

Before you submit an RFQ to suppliers,  you must establish the communication channel with them.

To do that you have two other ENOVIA Roles, which are co-requisite of the RFx Manager Role:

• Supplier Company Collaboration Token Role (YCT-OC)
• Supply Network Manager Role (PTN-OC) 

The Supplier Company Collaboration Token (YCT-OC) is a license role. It is not a user-based role. It is the mechanism / token that allows you to activate the communication channel between your company and your Suppliers.

The Supply Network Manager Role (PTN-OC) contains two applications:

• The Supply Network Management app, which allows you to create suppliers, supplier users and manage their information and relationship definition in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

• The Supplier Connect Administration application allows you to allocate the Token to the Supplier Company to allow supplier users to access the Supplier Connect Portal.

RFQ Process

Step #1 – Sourcing Manager creates RFQ and sends it to Suppliers.

Create RFQ based on pre-defined template or from scratch.
The RFQ contains:

• Basic information:
  • Forecasted Product Volume
  • The date and time that the response is expected from the supplier company.
  • Type of currency
  • Line Items:
    In an RFQ process, you ask suppliers to provide the price and delivery time for the item quantities that you specify. These Items are called Line Items.
    The Line Items can be created based on:
    • Engineering Item / Engineering Assembly
    • Manufacturer Equivalent Item
    • Vendor Item

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• Suppliers:
  Add the existing Suppliers that you want to send the RFQ to.

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Attachments:
Any reference documents that you want to share with the suppliers, such as guide lines how to answer the RFQ, Terms & Conditions.

Step #2 – Supplier receives RFQ and provides response.

Once the RFQ is submitted, an RFx Response is generated for each supplier that you sent the RFQ to.

Then, the Supplier representative can log in to the Supplier Connect Portal, review the RFQ, respond to it and send it back.

Step #3 – Sourcing Manager compares responses and negotiates (Optional).

Once the suppliers return their quotes, RFX responses are available to the Sourcing Manager in the Responses tab in the RFX Management application.

Sourcing Manager analyzes and compares the quotes and decides if a new negotiation round is needed or not. A round acts like a new revision of the RFX. Rounds are used to negotiate with Suppliers the cost and terms.

Step #4 – Sourcing Manager makes the selection and awards Suppliers.

Based on the Suppliers responses, the Sourcing Manager makes a decision and award the selected suppliers.
You set the Award Quantity on the Line Item level, which means how many pieces of this item you plan to buy from this supplier.

The following video illustrates the ‘RFX Manager’ role in more details: