A sourcing event is like dating. The buyer connects with a bunch of potential suppliers, narrowing the pool until the right one is identified. This is a magical moment for buyer and seller alike, consummated with the signing of a contract that binds each one to the other. But like a marriage, the buyer-supplier relationship takes works. Although there is typically a hand-off to the business unit that will be engaging with the vendor, procurement’s job shouldn’t end there. Indeed, from the moment a supplier contract is signed, effective strategic sourcing means monitoring KPIs by collecting qualitative feedback from stakeholders and quantitative feedback from systems. In doing so, you can nip any performance problems in bud, strengthening your relationship with your suppliers. Having a shared emphasis on continuous improvement and the sustainability of the supply chain serves to improve outcomes and the overall success of your interaction with the supplier: a “win-win.”