World Café 2026 - Beyond the Contract: Rethinking and Strengthening Supplier Relationships

Starts:  Mar 24, 2026 08:00 AM (PT)
Ends:  Mar 25, 2026 01:00 PM (PT)
Associated with  Customer-Supplier Division

Date: 

March 24, 2026 (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) and March 25, 2026 (8:00 AM to 12:00 PM)

Hotel: 

(Discounted Room Rates @ $139.00 [King] - https://www.coasthotels.com/hotel-116-a-coast-hotel-bellevue) - mention the event!

Registration: Member Planet

The World Café discussion focuses on how organizations evolve supplier relationships beyond transactional agreements to drive long-term value, resilience, and shared growth. Participants engage across six core themes:

Strengthening Supplier Relationships for Long-Term Success

Participants build trust, transparency, and mutual benefit to create partnerships that support innovation and sustained performance.

Measuring What Matters: Supplier Performance & KPIs

Participants shift beyond cost to focus on quality, delivery, collaboration, and value-add metrics that align with organizational goals.

Leveraging Technology in Supplier Management

Organizations use digital tools, data analytics, and platforms to increase visibility, improve collaboration, and enhance decision-making across the supply chain.

Embedding Sustainability and Ethics in the Supply Chain

Organizations integrate environmental, social, and ethical standards as core requirements, ensuring suppliers support broader corporate responsibility objectives.

Internal Collaboration: Procurement, Supply Chain & Business Stakeholders

Teams break down silos to align priorities, strengthen communication, and ensure supplier strategies meet cross-functional needs.

Supplier Risk and Resilience

Organizations learn from disruptions to strengthen contingency planning, diversify supplier bases, and embed resilience in sourcing strategies.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Supplier Base

Participants expand opportunities for diverse suppliers, foster innovation, and contribute to equitable economic development.

Key Takeaways (Present/Future Focus):

Supplier relationships are managed as strategic partnerships rather than purely contractual obligations.

Organizations that integrate technology, sustainability, and inclusive practices into supplier management will strengthen both business resilience and social impact.

Effective collaboration—both internally and with suppliers—creates a foundation for innovation, agility, and long-term mutual success.

Location

Hotel 116
625 116th Avenue
Bellevue, WA 98004
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