What Supplier Management Software does for a import & export business
Supplier management software tracks purchase orders, supplier contacts, payment terms, delivery schedules and stock reorder points in one system. For a import & export business, the value shows up exactly where the work is hardest.
An import-export business tracks shipments from source to destination with costs, duties and timelines. Import-export margins vary widely by category and routing, often 15-30 percent after all costs.
Customs documentation, eTIMS invoicing and VAT recovery are critical for registered traders. Veira handles that as part of the same sale, so compliance is not a separate evening job.
Import & Export Businesses run differently, and the software should too
A generic till misses the details that decide whether a import & export business makes money. These are the ones that matter:
- 1
The daily reality
Complex shipment tracking and costs. Supplier Management Software built for a import & export business turns that into a number you can act on, and you also keep track of purchase orders from creation through delivery and payment.
- 2
Where the margin leaks
Customs and regulatory compliance. Supplier Management Software built for a import & export business turns that into a number you can act on, and you also never miss a delivery date: get alerts when orders are due, and confirm receipt when goods arrive.
- 3
What slows the counter
Currency exchange and payment timing. Supplier Management Software built for a import & export business turns that into a number you can act on, and you also manage payment terms: know which suppliers need cash on delivery and which offer 30-day terms.
- 4
What buyers expect
Quality control across borders. Supplier Management Software built for a import & export business turns that into a number you can act on, and you also compare prices across suppliers so you order from the cheapest option each time.
What to look for in Supplier Management Software for a import & export business
- Purchase order creation and tracking from order to delivery. This matters for a import & export business because of complex shipment tracking and costs.
- Supplier contact and payment term management. This matters for a import & export business because of customs and regulatory compliance.
- Delivery date reminders so you know when to expect stock. This matters for a import & export business because of currency exchange and payment timing.
- Price comparison across suppliers for the same item. This matters for a import & export business because of quality control across borders.
A notebook and a basic till, or Veira
| Notebook or basic till | Veira | |
|---|---|---|
| Counting stock | By hand, rarely matches the shelf | Live by item, branch and value |
| M-Pesa at the counter | Checked on a separate phone | Matched to each sale automatically |
| eTIMS invoices | Typed in later, if at all | Filed on every sale, even offline |
| Knowing your numbers | A monthly guess | Live margin and takings on your phone |
A real import & export business example
A Mombasa importer sourcing textiles monthly cannot track shipment costs, customs duties or margins per shipment.
- Complex shipment tracking and costs.
- Customs and regulatory compliance.
- Currency exchange and payment timing.
- Keep track of purchase orders from creation through delivery and payment.
- Never miss a delivery date: get alerts when orders are due, and confirm receipt when goods arrive.
- Manage payment terms: know which suppliers need cash on delivery and which offer 30-day terms.
Every sale on Veira files a compliant KRA eTIMS invoice, online or offline. Customs documentation, eTIMS invoicing and VAT recovery are critical for registered traders.
Supplier management software tracks purchase orders, supplier contacts, payment terms, delivery schedules and stock reorder points in one system. Here is what that looks like with Veira:
- Keep track of purchase orders from creation through delivery and payment
- Never miss a delivery date: get alerts when orders are due, and confirm receipt when goods arrive
- Manage payment terms: know which suppliers need cash on delivery and which offer 30-day terms
- Compare prices across suppliers so you order from the cheapest option each time
Frequently asked questions
Is Supplier Management Software hard to set up for a import & export business?
Does it keep working offline?
Does it handle M-Pesa for a import & export business?
Is it KRA eTIMS compliant?
How much does Supplier Management Software cost for a import & export business in Kenya?
Can it run more than one import & export business?
Based on KRA eTIMS regulations and interviews with 5,000+ Kenyan businesses
Whether you run one import & export business or several across Kenya, Veira gives you supplier management that fits the trade instead of fighting it. Book a free demo and see it work with your own imported goods from Asia and Middle East.