> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.fulfillmenttools.com/documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.fulfillmenttools.com/documentation/backoffice/network-view/facilities/suppliers.md). # Suppliers {% hint style="info" %} This article focuses on using Backoffice. For information on APIs and customizations, see the [Supplier section of the Facility article](/documentation/getting-started/facilities.md#supplier-facilities). {% endhint %} Suppliers are external entities within the supply chain that provide products to the network. These might include manufacturers, publishers, wholesalers, and distributors, among others. Upon opening **Suppliers** in the sidebar, you'll see a table of all the suppliers that have been created in your network. To create a new supplier, click the **Add supplier** button at the bottom of the table, input the required information, and click **Save**. {% hint style="info" %} You'll only see this view if you have the role and permission to select this view. See the [Backoffice permissions article](/documentation/backoffice/network-view/users-roles-and-permissions/backoffice-permissions.md) for more information. {% endhint %} The search bar can be used to find existing suppliers. You can search by supplier name only and filter the list by status, facility country, city, and postal code. The supplier table consists of the following fields: * **Status:** The status of the supplier. Can be **Online**, **Offline**, or **Suspended**. See the [facility status section](/documentation/backoffice/network-view/facilities.md#facility-status) for more information. * **Name:** The internal name of the supplier. * **ZIP code:** The postal code of the supplier. * **City:** The city address of the supplier. * **Country:** The country of the supplier. Hovering over a supplier reveals the more icon, which you can use to add custom attributes to the supplier. See the custom attributes section for more information. To view details for an existing supplier, click anywhere in the supplier's table row to open the details screen. ## Supplier details view Supplier data contains the main information about a facility. This includes the name, address, contact information, and certain characteristics. All of this can be edited using Backoffice. Once you've made any changes, ensure you click the **Save** button for them to take effect. ### Facility name A facility has both an external name and an internal name. The external name is used, for example, as the sender address on a shipping label and should feature the company's name itself. The internal name can be used within your team to differentiate between different facilities. Both internal and external names can be edited freely at any time. The mapping between orders, facilities, and so on occurs in the background using unique IDs, so names are used solely for display. ### Facility address The facility address is the country, street, ZIP code, and city. This also includes the geo-coordinates of the facility's location. ### Facility contact information You can add a specific person to contact for a facility. This is usually the facility manager. You can also add phone numbers and email addresses. ### Facility location characteristics Suppliers only have the facility status characteristic. A supplier facility can have one of three statuses with different implications for views and routing: * Online * The facility and its stock are considered for order routing * The facility is accessible in Backoffice * Suspended * The facility and its stock are not considered for order routing * The facility is accessible in Backoffice * Offline * The facility and its stock are not considered for order routing * The facility is not accessible in Backoffice If a facility is no longer used for order fulfillment, it's recommended to set its status to **Suspended**. As a consequence, no new orders are assigned to this facility. After all operational processes have been completed (and no more returns are expected for this facility), the facility can be set to **Offline**. This should be done only if there is no longer any need to access the facility from an operational perspective. ## Custom attributes [Custom attributes](/documentation/getting-started/custom-attributes.md) can be added to a supplier. These attributes can be accessed using the more icon in a supplier's row. To add or edit custom attributes, click the more icon in the relevant row, add the custom attributes, and click **Confirm**. Custom attributes must be added as JSON. For example: ```json { "accessibility": "Stairs only", "storageSize": "Medium", "staff": 12 } ``` --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.fulfillmenttools.com/documentation/backoffice/network-view/facilities/suppliers.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.