Customer

Monday, 8th November 2004

A customer pays a supplier

That seems clear enough.
Software supplier -> Software customer
The supply runs left to right, the money flows right to left.

Payments and supplies have a direct relation.

Direct customer-supplier relations improve quality. A supplier must keep his customers content.

Intermediary

Things get more complicated when a third party comes into the play.
/ Software buyer
Supplier, Software writer |
\ Agent, Software payer
For It contract work an there often is an intermediate between customer and the software writer: an agent.

The IT specialist will have two customers:

  1. the software buyer to discuss the desired software, the product.
  2. the agent to discuss just the price.
This gives some tension.
Customer Agent
The customers wants the best possible software but is unable to negotiate directly about the rate of the IT specialist. The agent wishes the lowest possible "purchase" price, but is not interested in the software.
Who is the real customer here? The paying customer has the most decision power in this kind of situations. This brings a potential danger of lower quality. The flow of invoices hampers the interest of the software receiver. The conflicting interests make the business relation less capable of repetition.

Partner

Supplier, Software writer \
Software receiver
Partner /
Another tricky triangular relation is the one with a business partner.

Is such a partner

Conclusion

My conclusion: A business relation in a triangle is way too complex for me. The thesis at the top of this story simplifies things.
Supplier -> SUMit logo
SUMit Roster Software
-> Customer Flatten all triangles by looking at the money flow:
  • A business relation that costs money is a supplier.
  • A business relation that brings money is a customer.
One and the same relation can be supplier now and customer next time. The flow of money determines the roles.

Such a business relation is healthy if both parties find it capable of repetition. It must be attractive in many ways. The financial aspect is the easiest criterion for all business transactions:

All deliveries must be well worth its price.

Till next nut,
Nut

IM: Mohammed Yasser Abdul-Raoef Qudwa al-Husseini, fighter for peace, 24 aug 1929 - 11 nov 2004