Steps of category sourcing;

1. Profile the category group = the CS team will establish how many suppliers there are and what power they have. The more power a supplier has the more leverage they have in negotiations. 2. Select the sourcing strategy = buyers can choose what strategy to use; do theywork closely with suppliers in fate-to-face weekly meetings or over the phone only on a monthly basis? 3. Generate the supplier portfolio = potential suppliers that satisfy the required criteria, such as size, credit rating, company ethics, or sustainability requirements, are recorded. 4. Follow the purchasing process = refers back to the pre- and post-order steps 5. Negotiation