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To develop mutually beneficial relationships in the value network leading to the final success of the network, businesses need to carry out supplier evaluation. This evaluation can be performed by both entities, i.e. by the supplier who evaluates its own performance in relation to a particular customer, and by the customer, who evaluates the quality of performance of its own supplier. The latter of the mentioned methods is referred to in the literature as supplier evaluation and is traditionally performed using a set of suitably chosen criteria, usually aimed at evaluating the technical quality of products, supplier logistics performance and costs associated with purchases. However, the customer should not carry evaluation thus narrowly focused; it should assess the total value it obtains as a result of establishing and maintaining a relationship with the supplier. This relationship must be evaluated not only by using the value of benefits it receives as a result of the supplier service, but also by using the overall satisfaction with the relationship, the level of trust prevailing in the relationship as well as plans for the future of the relationship. Only this concept of supplier evaluation contributes not only to improving the quality of supply, but to the actual development of the relationship, which is a prerequisite for successful business not only for both partners, but also for the entire value network.

Keywords: Customer value, value network, supplier evaluation

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