Supplier Types

A supplier type is a label you attach to a supplier to group them, for example Manufacturer, Distributor, Importer, or Local Supplier. It is a simple, independent master file: each type has a name and, optionally, a parent type. The bookkeeper or accountant sets these up once, and everyone picks from the list when creating a supplier.

A supplier type is a reference label only. It does not post to the ledger and does not carry payment, credit, or account settings, so classifying a supplier does not change how their transactions are recorded. Its job is to let you slice your supplier base: you can group and filter supplier reports by type, and scan the supplier list by segment.

Before you start

ZyncLedger seeds eight common types for every new business: Manufacturer, Distributor, Importer, Local Supplier, Service Provider, Equipment Supplier, Raw Material Supplier, and Packaging Supplier. For many businesses these are enough, and you only need this screen to add your own or to retire ones you do not use.

You need the create supplier types permission to add one, the edit supplier types permission to change one, and the approve supplier types permission to approve it. These are set per user under Permissions.

Create a supplier type

1. Open the Supplier Types list

   Go to Lists → Supplier Types. The list shows every type with its Parent, its Status (Active or Inactive, and Approved or Pending), and who created it.

2. Start a new type

   Select Add Supplier Type. The Create New Supplier Type panel opens from the right.

3. Enter the type name

   Type the Type Name (required), for example Raw Material Supplier. Each name must be unique.

4. Choose a parent type (optional)

   Use Parent Supplier Type to nest this type under a broader one, for example placing Fabric Supplier under Raw Material Supplier. Leave it blank for a top-level type. A type cannot be its own parent, and the hierarchy can be at most five levels deep.

5. Set the status flags

   Two checkboxes control whether the type can be used:

   Field	What it does
   Active	On by default. An inactive type stays for history but is not offered when classifying a supplier.
   Approved	Off by default. A type is only offered for selection once it is both Active and Approved. Ticking this needs the approve permission.

6. Save

   Select Create Supplier Type. The type appears in the list and, once approved, in the Supplier Type dropdown on the supplier form.

Edit, deactivate, or delete

Select the edit icon on any row to rename a type, change its parent, or change its flags. To stop a type being used without losing its history, clear its Active flag rather than deleting it.

Related

• Suppliers — where you assign a supplier type to each supplier.
• Customer Types — the equivalent classifier for customers.