Automated RFQ (request-for-quote) dispatch to suppliers

Purpose

1.1. Automate sending of RFQ (Request-for-Quote) emails or messages to pre-defined supplier lists whenever new stock, customer inquiry, or low-level inventory triggers are detected.
1.2. Automates data capture from purchase requirements, standardizes supplier communication, and reduces manual intervention for plastic bags procurement.
1.3. Automates extraction of SKUs, order quantities, specification details, and deadlines from internal ERP/CRM or email systems into templated RFQ formats for supplier outreach.
1.4. Enables automated RFQ aggregation, downstream tracking of quotes, follow-ups, and consolidated supplier response reporting.
1.5. Automator addresses inconsistent, slow, or error-prone manual dispatch processes within plastic bag wholesale operations.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Automating RFQ dispatch can be triggered by a low-inventory threshold in inventory management software.
2.2. Automator can run upon new or recurring customer order entry exceeding available inventory.
2.3. Automated trigger by scheduled batch purchasing cycles (daily/weekly/monthly).
2.4. RFQ automation initiates on manual procurement request submission by staff (form fill or ticket creation).
2.5. Automates recurring vendor RFQ requests for price comparison at regular intervals.

Platform Variants

3.1. Gmail API
• Feature/Setting: Automate sending templated RFQ emails; configure 'users.messages.send' with HTML body and supplier addresses.
3.2. Outlook 365 REST API
• Feature/Setting: Automates email RFQ dispatch using 'SendMail' endpoint, set up dynamic To, Cc, and Bcc for multiple suppliers.
3.3. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Automates bulk RFQ delivery via 'Mail Send' API, supports personalization and scheduled sends.
3.4. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Automates supplier SMS RFQ with 'Messages' API; configure for instant or batch SMS.
3.5. Slack API
• Feature/Setting: Automates direct message or channel post to supplier-integrated Slack; use 'chat.postMessage' for RFQ alerts.
3.6. Microsoft Teams Graph API
• Feature/Setting: Automates posting in supplier procurement channels with 'sendActivityNotification' or 'chatMessage'.
3.7. Zapier
• Feature/Setting: Automates multi-platform RFQ dispatch workflows using pre-built Gmail, SMS, and webhook automators.
3.8. HubSpot Workflows
• Feature/Setting: Automates supplier contact selection and RFQ email automation from CRM with drag-and-drop triggers.
3.9. Salesforce Process Builder
• Feature/Setting: Automates supplier RFQ task creation, automated emails using 'Action: Email Alerts'.
3.10. DocuSign eSignature
• Feature/Setting: Automates sending RFQ documents for sign-off; configure 'Envelopes: create and send' for supplier approval flows.
3.11. Airtable Automations
• Feature/Setting: Automates record-based RFQ email dispatch using 'Send email' or 'Webhook' automation triggers.
3.12. Zoho CRM Workflow Rules
• Feature/Setting: Automates supplier RFQ email tasks and SMS with workflow triggers (sales orders, inventory fields).
3.13. Pabbly Connect
• Feature/Setting: Automates cross-platform RFQ dispatch by configuring Gmail, SMS, and webhook modules.
3.14. Mailgun
• Feature/Setting: Automates RFQ bulk and transactional emails by configuring 'messages' API endpoint.
3.15. Monday.com Automations
• Feature/Setting: Automates supplier notification (email, Slack, Teams) based on purchasing status or new RFQ items.
3.16. Google Sheets API
• Feature/Setting: Automates RFQ initiation from spreadsheet changes, triggers downstream actions via Apps Script or webhook.
3.17. Trello Automation (Butler)
• Feature/Setting: Automates card creation/moves for each supplier RFQ and sends email/SMS notification.
3.18. Webex Teams API
• Feature/Setting: Automates in-app supplier chat RFQ notifications using 'messages' endpoint.
3.19. Mailjet
• Feature/Setting: Automates sending batch RFQ emails using 'Send API', with dynamic supplier merge fields.
3.20. Integromat/Make
• Feature/Setting: Automates complex RFQ workflows across multiple tools; configure module for Gmail, Slack, SMS, Databases, etc.

Benefits

4.1. Automates end-to-end supplier communication, reducing manual hours and eliminating copy-paste mistakes.
4.2. Ensures consistent, timely RFQ submissions to all suppliers, boosting procurement speed and response rates.
4.3. Automatedly generates RFQ audit trails, enabling transparency, traceability, and improved supplier compliance.
4.4. Automator enables scaling of supplier interactions to hundreds of vendors without extra staff.
4.5. Automating removes bottlenecks, shortens lead times, and enables real-time procurement agility in the competitive plastic bags wholesale market.