How to Work with Suppliers in India | Lessons from the Ground with Ranjeeta Boscolo

In the video "How to Work with Suppliers in India | Lessons from the Ground with Ranjeeta Boscolo," supply chain expert Rishi Sher Singh connects with Ranjeeta Boscolo, the Executive Vice President of Symrise Germany, to share practical insights on how global businesses can build successful partnerships with Indian suppliers. The foundational theme of their discussion is that global buyers must lead with respect, prioritizing deep personal relationships over rigid, process-driven metrics. This is especially crucial given that many Indian agricultural and commodity suppliers are family-run enterprises with decades of generational legacy and unique, localized know-how that they are highly passionate about preserving. To build authentic trust, buyers from fast-paced business cultures benefit from taking the time to engage in informal conversation, immerse themselves in local realities, and understand the deep history of these businesses.

When managing compliance, the speakers warn against relying solely on traditional audits, which can often be overly prescriptive, driven by foreign norms, and perceived as intimidating. An audit should never serve as the very first point of contact with a supplier, as this immediately creates an atmosphere of corrective policing and defensiveness. Instead, global companies should start by explaining the "why" behind evolving regulatory requirements and actively listen to the suppliers, who are close to the ground and frequently offer highly practical, localized solutions that standard corporate guidebooks miss.

To navigate these operational differences, the speakers recommend that foreign enterprises employ a cultural intermediary or "translator" who can align the perspectives of both parties and ensure critical messages are not lost in translation. Finally, Ranjeeta emphasizes that sustainable practices should not be treated as reactive projects launched in response to value chain crises or scandals. Instead, true sustainability must be commercially sound, financially viable, and deeply integrated into the long-term value chain to truly uplift and empower the local communities involved.

📊 I can turn these practical steps into an editable PowerPoint presentation to help brief your procurement team before they meet with suppliers in India.

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