Import & international sourcing

1. Brief service summary

Prepare international sourcing by comparing supplier markets, import arrangements and coordination conditions. The engagement helps identify options and checks required before selecting a supplier or committing to a transaction.

2. Your needs

You are considering foreign sourcing to diversify sources, meet a new need or examine alternatives. Information on products, terms and costs is inconsistent.

You wish to avoid a comparison limited to the stated price without considering quality, transport, payment or market-access constraints.

3. Objectives of the engagement

The engagement aims to clarify the import need, compare options and prepare assessment criteria. It helps distinguish stated information, verified elements and conditions still requiring confirmation before commitment.

The objective is a documented sourcing decision with an explicit allocation of responsibilities.

4. Indicative scope

The work may address source countries, product categories, channels and known cost components. Quality, service and documentation requirements are examined within the agreed scope.

Specialist checks, samples, visits and customs conditions are identified for separate treatment. Supplier research neither validates suppliers’ statements nor authorises contact with them.

5. Possible delivery arrangements

Document analysis, interviews and scenario comparison help prepare research. An authorised supplier consultation may be included using common criteria; tests and technical checks require appropriate scoping and expertise.

6. Possible deliverables

Deliverables may include a sourcing-options map, comparison framework, conditional cost estimate and list of checks before a decision.

7. Conditions and limitations

No supplier, price or delivery deadline is guaranteed. Purchasing, inspection, payment, transport and customs representation are not automatically included. Service 09.03 examines supplier selection in greater depth; practice 13 addresses compliance and customs questions.