Build Your Three-Criteria Filter
Start with price, delivery timeline, and supplier reliability. These three criteria cover 80% of transport decisions. Assign a weight to each based on your current budget pressure. For example, if cash flow is tight, give price 50% weight, delivery 30%, and reliability 20%.
Use IndexBox Analytics to check each supplier's past award values on similar corridors. This gives you a real benchmark, not a guess. Compare their quoted price against the median award value for that route. If their quote is more than 15% above the median, flag it for review.
- Price weight: adjust based on budget constraints
- Delivery timeline: use average bid window from IndexBox (18 days)
- Reliability: check past award concentration per supplier
Execute the Comparison in IndexBox Tenders
Log into IndexBox Tenders and navigate to the Analytics feed. Filter by transport and logistics services, then set the date range to the last 30 days. Look at the average bid window (42 days) and award concentration per country. This tells you how competitive each corridor is.
For each shortlisted tender, compare the supplier's quote against the historic award values in IndexBox. Use the 'Awarded Tenders' tab to see what similar contracts paid. If your pricing envelope is within 10% of the median, you have a strong chance. If not, renegotiate or drop the bid.
- Use IndexBox Analytics feed: https://tenders.indexbox.io/analytics
- Check corridor-level award values in the Markets directory: https://tenders.indexbox.io/tenders/countries
- Compare your quote against the median award value
Avoid Common False Signals in Quote Comparisons
Don't trust a low price without checking the supplier's history. A cheap quote often hides poor service or hidden fees. Use IndexBox to verify if that supplier has won similar contracts before. If they have zero awards in the last 12 months, treat their quote as high risk.
Another mistake is ignoring the bid window. A supplier who submits a quote late or at the last minute may be desperate or disorganized. IndexBox shows the average bid window for each tender. If a supplier's response time is significantly shorter than the average, ask for clarification before accepting.
- Low price without award history = high risk
- Late submissions signal poor planning
- Always cross-check against IndexBox award data
Prioritize Tenders That Fit Your Pricing Envelope
Not every tender is worth your time. Use IndexBox to filter tenders where historic award values align with your budget. Look at the 'Awarded Tenders' tab for the last 30 days. If the median award value is above your maximum price, skip that tender. Focus on corridors where you can compete.
Also check award concentration. If one supplier wins 80% of contracts on a route, you face an uphill battle. IndexBox shows this in the analytics. Instead, target routes with more distributed awards. This increases your chance of winning at a price you can afford.
- Filter by median award value vs. your pricing envelope
- Avoid routes with high award concentration (one supplier dominates)
- Target corridors with distributed awards for better odds