Broad search
15manufacturers first profiled
Cast a wide net
We profiled manufacturers worldwide, including products not originally meant for agriculture.
Case Study · Supplier Vetting
Finding a second source for a key additive.
A fertilizer company wanted alternative vendors for a powdered additive and proof that products sold under the same name truly compare. We profiled 34 vendors, interviewed 12 and recommended 6 with property and price comparisons.
The Client
The client is a key agricultural company that mines, produces and distributes fertilizers. It sourced its additive from one supplier using 3 feedstocks and wanted to know if alternatives matched on quality.
The Challenge
Same name.
Same quality?
Prescouter was asked to evaluate alternative vendors for a powdered additive, compare properties such as particle size and pH, and find similar additives matching required volumes and regions.
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Quality
Property variation
Particle size and pH across sources.
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Supply
Alternative vendors
Options beyond the current supplier.
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Fit
Volume and region
Matching needs to preferred regions.
Our Approach
Widening the search, then narrowing to the best fits.
Regional focus
19vendors added in South America
Search in local languages
Searches in Spanish and Portuguese added 10 manufacturers and 9 distributors to the list.
Vendor outreach
12vendor interviews
Talk to suppliers
Of 18 vendors selected for outreach, we interviewed 12 and 6 shared initial price estimates.
The Outcome
A testing plan across all 3 feedstocks.
Prescouter found no products with identical names but identified and compared additives with similar features. It recommended 6 vendors with pros, cons, properties and prices, and advised testing samples made from each of the 3 feedstocks used by the current supplier.
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Vendors
34 vendors profiled
Manufacturers and distributors combined.
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Shortlist
6 recommended vendors
With pros, cons, properties and prices.
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Next step
3 feedstocks to test
One sample for each feedstock type.
Products sold under the same name can still differ. Testing across feedstocks turns a supplier switch into a controlled decision.
Let’s Talk
Is your supply base as resilient as it looks?
Profile the alternatives, compare the specs and test before you switch. Wherever you’re starting from, we’ll help you get there.
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