A vendor should be regarded as a partner, and like in any relationship a partner is required to pull their weight, if not, the relationship deteriorates. 1. Set clear expectations in writing 2. Communicate Regularly 3. Establish a Buffer 4. Negotiate Incentives for Timely Delivery 5. Conduct a Risk Assessment 6. Hold the Vendor Accountable 7. Diversify or Back-Up Vendors 8. Carry out Performance Reviews 9. Develop a Collaborative Relationship 10. Consider Alternative Providers

Divide the project into smaller, manageable tasks with specific deadlines. This will help you track progress and identify potential roadblocks earlier.

First you have to ask “why?” Are you any part of the reason? If no, then the why is on them and it’s your job to figure out. Strategic questioning will open the door to the answers you need. Ultimately it’s your responsibility to put them on some type of improvement plan. It’s business and not personal. Delivery of product is impacted by many factors but in the end if it’s controllable it’s on you or the vendor.

A strategy I’ve used effectively is implementing a performance-based contract with clear milestones, penalties for delays, and incentives for early or on-time delivery. For instance, we once worked with a tech vendor who consistently missed deadlines for delivering custom software. After several delays, we restructured the agreement to tie a portion of their payment to meeting key delivery dates. This shift improved their accountability significantly. I’ve found that fostering a collaborative relationship, rather than an adversarial one, often motivates vendors to prioritize our projects. Combining accountability with partnership drives better results.

First, it is important to understand the root cause of the delays – whether it's an issue of communication, resources, or production capacity. Based on that, we can create an action plan that includes process adjustments, closer monitoring, and intermediate deadlines to ensure the supplier is aligned with expectations. Additionally, building a relationship of trust is essential. Establishing transparent and frequent communication channels and, if necessary, providing constructive feedback can improve long-term collaboration. Another key point is to review contracts, aligning penalties or incentives for punctuality, to ensure commitment to agreed deadlines.