Everything you need to source products from Indian manufacturers
What is our process for sourcing the best products and ensuring their timely delivery to you?
At SAI, we follow a streamlined process to ensure a seamless and efficient product sourcing experience for our clients. Our process encompasses the following key steps:
1. Assess Your Needs: Getting on top of the detail is the first thing we do. This means understanding what you are looking for from the suppliers, the product and us! With this done, it is possible to set up a smooth and efficient critical path.
2. Understand the Product: As part of ISO 9001, we always look to clearly document the product specification so that there are no misunderstandings from any party. We look to capture all the product details at this stage.
3. Vet Suppliers: We reach across our qualified supplier base and beyond - making sure that we visit any new factories prior to any production - to find the most suitable partner to manufacture your products. This covers product expertise, market knowledge, capacity, financials and ultimately price points and quality!
4. Quotation: We provide you with a quotation taken from at least 3 suppliers to make sure you are getting the best option.
5. Sampling and Development: We will manage the development critical path leading up to PP sample sign off before production starts. This is an important stage and sets up getting the product right for bulk production.
6. Production: We work with the factory to ensure that everything is being moved forward according to plan and provide updates to our clients against the production schedule.
7. Quality Control: As part of our service, we do a range of quality control inspections as appropriate on site – raw material, inline, final inspection and loading inspection – followed by video and photo commentary at the time of each inspections to give our client’s visibility of the products before shipment.
8. Shipment: We will help book the containers and arrange for the goods to be shipped to port usually on an FOB basis. In some cases, we help with different shipping terms such as CIF, DDU and DDP.
Key areas we focus on while sourcing products from India
Partnering with SAI enables businesses to streamline their sourcing processes, reduce costs, ensure regulatory compliance, maintain superior product quality, and accelerate time-to-market, ultimately driving success in the global marketplace.
Compliance: We ensure that all the legal and procedural requirements are satisfied by the manufacturers.
Cost: We evaluate the quotations from multiple suppliers and optimize the costs throughout the supply chain.
Quality: We perform a random inspection of 20-30% of goods after 100% readiness of the goods.
Speed: We optimize end-to-end time from need identification to transit period to accelerate time-to-market.
Connect with time-tested local manufacturers in India
India is a powerhouse of manufacturing and exports, and supplies wholesale and private label products to importers around the world. Products made in India comes from a vast regional industrial clusters.
Sourcing in the right region, understanding different specifications and materials, and knowing how and when to get the best price from a potential manufacturer are just a few of the considerations we make to save our customers time and avoid any unnecessary pitfalls along the way.
Source products directly from Indian factories
70% of products we source for our clients are not listed on Alibaba, IndiaMart or other B2B websites. As one example, many factories will only attend trade shows in India for their industry. Often, these are some of the best manufactures in their field.
Sourcing Agent India (SAI) has the expertise to source a diverse range of products from India, including textiles, handicrafts, automotive components, pharmaceuticals, and much more directly from the manufacturers.
Everything you need to know about our sourcing services
Are Indian manufacturers able to match western quality standards?
Yes. In fact, most high-end products including smartphones, auto parts, pharmaceuticals are now made-in-India. Most manufacturers-exporters have international standards certifications and they welcome third-party inspections from western agencies as well.
How long will it take you to identify a suitable manufacturer for my sourcing requirements?
The time taken to identify a suitable manufacturer depends on the complexity of your requirements and the availability of relevant suppliers in our network. We strive to provide you with options within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 3-4 days.
If I want a quote from a factory in India, what information do I need to give you?
To obtain a quote from a factory in India, we would require details such as product specifications, desired quantity, packaging requirements, delivery terms, and any other specific information related to your sourcing needs.
What are the modes of payment to the supplier? Which is the most reliable?
Most often, the approach of Indian manufacturers towards payment term is to deal in partial advance and balance at the time of dispatch from factory with new clients. Some manufacturers also accepts LC and online payment via PayPal.
The most reliable mode depends on the specific circumstances and the level of trust established. Although, our on-the-ground presence in India means our team can verify ‘who is who’ and separate ‘the good from the bad’ enabling your company to make informed decisions. Moreover, when you do business with us, you can be assured that all payments will always be handled safely and reliably. As your sourcing agent in India, you won’t ever need to worry about scams and frauds.
Do you sign a non-disclosure agreement with your clients?
Yes, we prioritize the confidentiality of our clients' information.
What make Sourcing Agent India (SAI) different from other sourcing companies?
Our people are a key part of the service we deliver to our clients. We are soley focused on our client’s needs and look to deliver value in everything we do. Also, we have integrity and are accountable for what we do which is so important when doing business overseas.
Where is Sourcing Agent India (SAI) located?
We are located in Surat, Gujarat, India. We have a strong presence and local expertise to effectively manage your sourcing requirements throughout India.
What does Sustainability and Ethics mean to Sourcing Agent India (SAI)?
We prioritize working with manufacturers who adhere to ethical business practices, promote fair working conditions, and prioritize environmental sustainability. In addition, we are always looking for ways to be more sustainable against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals both on a product level but also in how we operate and behave.