Supplier Tagging: Getting started

Find the right vendors faster

Supplier Tagging lets your program organize suppliers in a way that fits their business. Customizable tags can be created and applied based on what matters most—such as service type, location, skill sets, preferred status, or any custom category you define. These tags form a centralized taxonomy you can reuse across sourcing activities, making it easier to keep supplier data organized, up to date, and ready to act on.

During bid creation, you can search and filter suppliers based on tags set up for your program, improving relevance and reducing manual effort. You can still add or override suppliers as needed, ensuring flexibility.

Why it matters

• Ensures sourcing decisions align with organizational taxonomies by applying consistent, client‑defined classifications to all project industry suppliers.
• Supports contractual and policy compliance by identifying and prioritizing preferred vendors when preferred and non‑preferred tags are used.
• Improves supplier fit and bid quality by matching vendors to required categories and validated capabilities.
• Reduces sourcing risk and inefficiency by minimizing reliance on ad‑hoc supplier selection.

Who it’s for

Competitive bid owners and program office users

Action required

Your Beeline Enterprise system administrator must set up Supplier Tagging for your program. Then you can leverage tags when you create a competitive bid. You can also report on tags using the Tags fields in the Supplier Definition report.

How it helps

Supplier Tagging delivers value across sourcing, governance and operational efficiency:

• Improves bid relevance by surfacing suppliers that match selected categories and validated capabilities.
• Supports contractual compliance by prioritizing preferred suppliers and enforcing sourcing policies.
• Allows you to leverage program organizational tags to quickly search and filter suppliers by during bid creation.
• Enhances governance through consistent use of client‑defined taxonomies and supplier classifications.

How it works

1. Supplier tagging uses client‑defined attributes that reflect the organization’s sourcing strategy and taxonomy, which may include

   • Categories and subcategories

   • Industry verticals

   • Validated capability tags

   • Preferred or non‑preferred designations

2. Competitive Bid creation
   • When creating a competitive bid, users manually select supplier tags—such as categories and required capabilities—to filter and choose which suppliers to invite.
3. Optional. Override and add vendors
   • Users can override vendor suggestions and add vendors as needed.
   • This preserves adaptability without compromising governance or visibility.
4. Result: A smarter, faster, and more compliant sourcing process that balances structured governance with real‑world flexibility.

How to steps

1. Select New > New Competitive Bid. Choose your competitive bid template from the New Competitive Bid list. A Create Competitive Bid page displays.
2. Select Start Competitive Bid. A Competitive Bid (Ready To Define) page displays.
3. Follow your program’s business processes to enter information and initiate the competitive bid.
4. Select the Invite Suppliers tab.
5. In the Selected Supplier section, select the Search icon. A Select Supplier dialog displays.
6. To quickly filter the list of suppliers, select the Tags icon. A Search or Add tags field displays.
7. Find and select as many Tags as you want. Currently, tags you select are applied as OR operands. So, your results will contain this tag OR that tag (or both).
8. Select Search.
   TIP:  Tags you select are applied as OR operands on your search. So, your results will contain this tag OR that tag (or both).
9. From the Select Supplier dialog, choose the supplier or suppliers you want, and then select Save.
10. Follow your program’s business processes to enter information and finish creating the competitive bid.