🤝 Customers & Suppliers Reports – Relationship Management #
1. Navigate to “Customers & Suppliers Reports” #
- Log in to your restaurant management system.
- In the sidebar, click Reports.
- Under Reports, select Supplier & Customer Report.
- The Customers & Suppliers Reports page will open showing:
- A “Customers & Suppliers Reports” header at the top.
- A ▼ Filters section with comprehensive filtering options.
- Summary total row showing aggregate values across all metrics.
- Export buttons for CSV, Excel, Print, Column Visibility, and PDF.
- A comprehensive data table with columns:
- Contact – Customer or supplier name
- Total Purchase – Total purchases from supplier
- Total Purchase Return – Returns to supplier
- Total Sale – Total sales to customer
- Total Sell Return – Returns from customer
- Opening Balance Due – Starting balance
- Due – Current outstanding balance
2. Understanding Customers & Suppliers Reports #
This comprehensive report provides a unified view of all business relationships with customers and suppliers:
- Unified Relationship View – See both customer and supplier data in one report.
- Financial Position Tracking – Monitor amounts owed to suppliers and by customers.
- Transaction History – Track purchases, sales, and returns for each contact.
- Credit Management – Monitor outstanding balances and payment status.
- Relationship Value – Understand the financial importance of each relationship.
- Cash Flow Planning – Use due amounts for cash flow forecasting.
- Performance Analysis – Evaluate customer and supplier relationships.
3. Understanding Summary Totals #
The total row at the bottom provides aggregate financial metrics:
| Metric | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Total Purchase | Sum of all purchases from suppliers | AED 0.00 – Total procurement spending in period |
| Total Purchase Return | Sum of all returns to suppliers | AED 0.00 – Quality issues or order corrections |
| Total Sale | Sum of all sales to customers | AED 0.00 – Total revenue generated in period |
| Total Sell Return | Sum of all returns from customers | AED 0.00 – Customer satisfaction issues |
| Opening Balance Due | Starting balance at period beginning | AED 0.00 – Carried forward from previous period |
| Due | Current outstanding balance | AED 0.00 – Net amount owed or owing |
4. Configure Report Filters #
- Click the ▼ Filters dropdown to expand filtering options.
- Configure the following filter parameters:
- Customer Group Name – Filter by customer segment:
- Select “All” to view all customer groups.
- Choose specific group to analyze that segment.
- Useful for targeted customer analysis.
- Type – Filter by contact type:
- Select “All” to view both customers and suppliers.
- Choose “Customer” to see only customer data.
- Choose “Supplier” to see only supplier data.
- Critical for focused analysis of specific relationships.
- Location – Filter by business location:
- Select “All locations” for consolidated view.
- Choose specific location for location-based analysis.
- Track relationships by branch or facility.
- Contact – Search for specific contact:
- Select “All” to view all contacts.
- Type name to find specific customer or supplier.
- Useful for individual relationship analysis.
- Date Range – Set analysis period:
- Format: DD/MM/YYYY – DD/MM/YYYY (e.g., 02/07/2026 – 02/07/2026).
- Select start and end dates for reporting period.
- Analyze transactions within specific timeframes.
5. Understanding Report Columns #
The comprehensive data table displays detailed information for each contact:
| Column Name | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Contact | Customer or supplier name | Identifies the business relationship |
| Total Purchase | Total amount purchased from supplier | Track procurement spending per supplier |
| Total Purchase Return | Total returns to supplier | Monitor quality issues and order corrections |
| Total Sale | Total sales to customer | Track revenue per customer |
| Total Sell Return | Total returns from customer | Monitor customer satisfaction and product issues |
| Opening Balance Due | Balance at start of period | Track carried-forward balances |
| Due | Current outstanding balance | Monitor accounts payable/receivable |
6. Customer vs. Supplier Analysis #
Use the Type filter to analyze customers and suppliers separately:
- Customer Analysis (Type: Customer):
- Total Sale – Shows revenue from each customer.
- Total Sell Return – Indicates customer satisfaction issues.
- Due (Positive) – Amount customer owes you (accounts receivable).
- Key Metrics:
- Identify top revenue-generating customers.
- Monitor return rates by customer.
- Track outstanding customer payments.
- Calculate average transaction value per customer.
- Supplier Analysis (Type: Supplier):
- Total Purchase – Shows spending with each supplier.
- Total Purchase Return – Indicates supplier quality issues.
- Due (Negative) – Amount you owe supplier (accounts payable).
- Key Metrics:
- Identify major suppliers and spending patterns.
- Monitor supplier quality through return rates.
- Track outstanding supplier payments.
- Evaluate supplier reliability and performance.
7. Managing Accounts Receivable (Customer Due) #
Use the report to effectively manage money owed by customers:
- Identifying Outstanding Balances:
- Filter by Type: Customer to see only customer balances.
- Sort by “Due” column to identify largest outstanding amounts.
- Review “Opening Balance Due” to see long-standing balances.
- Calculate total accounts receivable from summary row.
- Collection Strategies:
- Prioritize collection from customers with highest balances.
- Contact customers with overdue payments.
- Offer payment plans for large outstanding balances.
- Implement credit limits based on payment history.
- Credit Management:
- Review customer payment patterns over time.
- Adjust credit terms based on payment reliability.
- Suspend credit for consistently late payers.
- Reward prompt payers with better terms.
- Cash Flow Impact:
- High accounts receivable ties up working capital.
- Faster collection improves cash flow.
- Use aging analysis to prioritize collections.
- Consider early payment discounts to accelerate cash flow.
8. Managing Accounts Payable (Supplier Due) #
Use the report to effectively manage money owed to suppliers:
- Identifying Payment Obligations:
- Filter by Type: Supplier to see only supplier balances.
- Sort by “Due” column to identify largest payment obligations.
- Review payment terms and due dates.
- Calculate total accounts payable from summary row.
- Payment Prioritization:
- Pay critical suppliers first to maintain relationships.
- Take advantage of early payment discounts when available.
- Negotiate extended terms with flexible suppliers.
- Maintain good credit standing with all suppliers.
- Supplier Relationship Management:
- Maintain timely payments to build trust.
- Communicate proactively about payment delays.
- Negotiate better terms with reliable payment history.
- Consolidate suppliers to increase negotiating power.
- Cash Flow Optimization:
- Balance payment timing with cash availability.
- Use payment terms to optimize working capital.
- Avoid late payment penalties and interest charges.
- Plan payments around cash inflow cycles.
9. Analyzing Returns and Quality Issues #
Monitor return rates to identify quality and satisfaction issues:
- Purchase Return Analysis:
- Calculate return rate: (Total Purchase Return ÷ Total Purchase) × 100.
- High return rates indicate supplier quality issues.
- Compare return rates across different suppliers.
- Address quality concerns with problematic suppliers.
- Consider switching suppliers with consistently high returns.
- Sell Return Analysis:
- Calculate return rate: (Total Sell Return ÷ Total Sale) × 100.
- High return rates indicate customer satisfaction issues.
- Investigate reasons for customer returns.
- Improve product quality or service to reduce returns.
- Track return trends over time to measure improvement.
- Financial Impact:
- Returns reduce net revenue and increase costs.
- Calculate net sales: Total Sale – Total Sell Return.
- Calculate net purchases: Total Purchase – Total Purchase Return.
- Use net figures for accurate profitability analysis.
10. Customer and Supplier Ranking #
Identify your most important business relationships:
- Top Customers by Revenue:
- Filter by Type: Customer.
- Sort by “Total Sale” column (highest to lowest).
- Identify top 10 or 20% of customers (often generate 80% of revenue).
- Develop VIP programs for top customers.
- Allocate resources to maintain these relationships.
- Top Suppliers by Spending:
- Filter by Type: Supplier.
- Sort by “Total Purchase” column (highest to lowest).
- Identify major suppliers critical to operations.
- Negotiate volume discounts with top suppliers.
- Develop strategic partnerships with key suppliers.
- Relationship Value Assessment:
- Consider both transaction volume and profitability.
- Evaluate reliability and quality, not just volume.
- Balance concentration risk (too dependent on few relationships).
- Develop backup relationships for critical suppliers.
11. Multi-Location Relationship Management #
For restaurant chains, location-based analysis provides valuable insights:
- All Locations View:
- Select “All locations” for company-wide relationship overview.
- Identify customers and suppliers serving multiple locations.
- Negotiate company-wide contracts for better terms.
- Standardize supplier relationships across locations.
- Location-Specific Analysis:
- Select specific location to see location-based relationships.
- Identify location-specific customers and suppliers.
- Optimize local supplier relationships.
- Track location-specific payment performance.
- Comparative Analysis:
- Compare customer and supplier relationships across locations.
- Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers.
- Share successful relationships across locations.
- Standardize payment terms and processes.
12. Export and Documentation Options #
The report provides comprehensive export options for analysis and record-keeping:
| Export Option | Button Color | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Export to CSV | Purple | Import into accounting software or spreadsheets |
| Export to Excel | Green | Advanced analysis with formulas and pivot tables |
| Blue | Physical copies for meetings and filing | |
| Column Visibility | Orange | Customize view to show relevant columns only |
| Export to PDF | Purple | Shareable format for stakeholders and auditors |
- Documentation Best Practices:
- Export monthly reports for accounting records.
- Maintain audit trail for financial compliance.
- Share with management for strategic decisions.
- Archive reports for year-end audits.
13. Best Practices for Relationship Management #
- Regular Review Schedule – Review report weekly or monthly to stay on top of relationships.
- Proactive Communication – Contact customers and suppliers before issues arise.
- Payment Discipline – Maintain consistent payment schedules to build trust.
- Credit Policy – Establish clear credit terms and enforce them consistently.
- Relationship Diversification – Avoid over-dependence on single customers or suppliers.
- Performance Monitoring – Track quality, reliability, and payment patterns.
- Strategic Partnerships – Develop deeper relationships with key contacts.
- Dispute Resolution – Address issues quickly and fairly to maintain relationships.
- Contract Management – Document terms and conditions clearly.
- Data Accuracy – Ensure all transactions are recorded promptly and correctly.
- Cash Flow Planning – Use due amounts for accurate cash flow forecasting.
- Continuous Improvement – Regularly evaluate and optimize relationships.
14. Troubleshooting Common Issues #
| Issue | Possible Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| No data available in table | No transactions in selected period | Expand date range, verify transactions are recorded |
| Incorrect due amounts | Missing payments or transaction errors | Verify all payments recorded, check transaction accuracy |
| Negative balances unexpected | Overpayments or data entry errors | Review payment history, correct erroneous entries |
| Missing contacts | Filters too restrictive or contacts not set up | Clear filters, verify contact configuration |
| Totals don’t match expectations | Date range or filter settings | Review filter settings, expand date range |
| High return rates | Quality issues or order errors | Investigate causes, address with suppliers/customers |
| Export fails | Large dataset or browser issues | Apply filters to reduce data, try different browser |
| Duplicate contacts | Same contact created multiple times | Merge duplicate contacts, clean up data |
15. Done! 🎉 #
Congratulations! You now have a comprehensive understanding of the Customers & Suppliers Reports feature. This powerful relationship management tool enables you to:
- Monitor all customer and supplier relationships in one unified view
- Track accounts receivable and payable for effective cash flow management
- Identify top customers and suppliers for strategic focus
- Analyze return rates to address quality and satisfaction issues
- Manage credit and payment terms effectively
- Make data-driven decisions about business relationships
- Optimize working capital through better receivables and payables management
Use this report regularly to maintain healthy business relationships and optimize your financial position! 🤝💰