Examples of Line Attributes

Line attributes make your negotiation line more descriptive and can also be used to ensure that all responses submitted for the line include specific additional details.

The response values suppliers provide can also be used together with price offered when ranking responses in multi-attribute ranked negotiations. When you create your negotiation lines, you can add line attributes and require suppliers to respond by selecting a value from a group of values you can specify. Then when you evaluate the supplier responses, you can weighted and score the attribute responses and use this additional information used to make your award decision.

Scenario

For example, a category manager can create an auction to buy vehicles for a delivery service. When she adds the line (for example, called vehicle) to the auction, she can then set up ranges of mileage from which the supplier could select a value. Furthermore, if the category manager marks this attribute as required, then suppliers must specify the mileage of any response.

Scenario

Line attributes can call attention to common or industry-specific characteristics. For example, retail industry negotiation items can include such attributes as "color," "style," and "SKUnumber." Metal industry negotiation items can include "grade of metal" as an attribute. Adding these as required item attributes that are displayed to suppliers can enable you to modify negotiation items to your specific industry.