Question 1

Is PartsBid free for buyers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Buyers can register, post RFQs, and manage bids entirely for free on the free buyer plan. There are no hidden fees for core procurement features — posting RFQs, receiving bids, comparing quotes, and awarding contracts are all included at no cost.

Question 2

How do I post an RFQ on PartsBid?

Accepted Answer

After registering and being verified, go to your Dashboard → RFQs → New RFQ. Fill in the part name, part number (if known), quantity, unit of measure, required delivery date, and technical specifications. You can attach photos or CAD files. Your RFQ is instantly broadcast to all matching verified suppliers who are notified by email.

Question 3

How quickly do suppliers respond to RFQs?

Accepted Answer

Most RFQs receive their first bids within 2–4 hours during business hours. Verified suppliers are notified immediately when a matching RFQ is posted, and competitive suppliers respond quickly. You can set a custom deadline — typically 24–72 hours — after which the RFQ closes to new bids.

Question 4

How are suppliers matched to my RFQ?

Accepted Answer

PartsBid matches suppliers based on the product category you select when creating your RFQ. All verified suppliers registered under that category receive an instant notification and can submit competitive bids. Our AI assistant ARIA also suggests the best-fit suppliers based on historical performance.

Question 5

Can I award a bid to multiple suppliers?

Accepted Answer

Currently, each RFQ can be awarded to one supplier. If you need parts from multiple sources or across multiple categories, you can create separate RFQs for different items. Each RFQ independently goes through the bidding and award process.

Question 6

How do I compare bids on PartsBid?

Accepted Answer

Use the bid comparison view on your RFQ detail page to compare all received bids side by side. The comparison table shows unit price, total price, delivery timeline, warranty terms, and supplier rating. Our AI assistant ARIA can highlight the best-value bid and flag any anomalies or unusually low offers.

Question 7

What is a Purchase Order (PO) on PartsBid?

Accepted Answer

When you award a bid, you can upload a PDF Purchase Order that is shared directly with the winning supplier. The PO formalises the commercial agreement and serves as the binding procurement document. PartsBid also supports generating a standardized PO template from the platform directly.

Question 8

Can I block specific suppliers from seeing my RFQs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Buyers can maintain a blocked suppliers list from their account settings. Blocked suppliers will not receive notifications for your RFQs and cannot submit bids. This is useful when you have existing exclusivity agreements or past disputes with a specific vendor.

Question 9

How do I register as a supplier on PartsBid?

Accepted Answer

Click "Get Started Free" and select "Supplier" as your role. Fill in your company details including your Commercial Registration (CR) number, trade license, product categories, and primary contact information. Our verification team will manually review and approve your registration within 1–2 business days.

Question 10

What does supplier verification involve?

Accepted Answer

We manually verify your Commercial Registration (CR) number, business legitimacy, contact details, and claimed product categories. This vetting process ensures that only genuine, active businesses appear on the platform — protecting buyers from fraudulent vendors and increasing your credibility as a verified supplier.

Question 11

How do I receive RFQs from buyers?

Accepted Answer

Once verified, you automatically receive RFQs that match your registered product categories. You will get real-time email notifications for every new matching RFQ. All active RFQs are also visible in your supplier dashboard under the "Available RFQs" tab.

Question 12

Is there a fee for submitting bids?

Accepted Answer

No. Suppliers can submit bids on the free supplier plan, up to its monthly bid limit. Paid plans raise those limits and add features such as advanced analytics — the pricing page at partsbid.io/pricing compares exactly what each plan includes.

Question 13

Can I edit a bid after submitting it?

Accepted Answer

Yes, bid editing is supported before the RFQ deadline closes. You can update your price, delivery timeline, or attached documents. The buyer sees the latest version of your bid. Once an RFQ is closed or awarded, bids can no longer be modified.

Question 14

How do I manage my product catalog on PartsBid?

Accepted Answer

Go to Dashboard → Catalog to add, edit, or bulk-import your products. Each listing can include part number, brand, description, pricing, stock status, images, and technical datasheets. A well-maintained catalog significantly increases your visibility and match rate on incoming RFQs.

Question 15

What is ARIA on PartsBid?

Accepted Answer

ARIA (Autonomous RFQ Intelligence Agent) is PartsBid's built-in AI procurement assistant. ARIA helps buyers draft RFQs faster, recommends the best-matched suppliers, analyzes bid competitiveness, forecasts procurement lead times, and provides real-time guidance throughout the sourcing process. It is powered by multiple AI models including Google Gemini, Claude, and GPT.

Question 16

Is ARIA available to all users?

Accepted Answer

ARIA is available to all verified buyers and suppliers on the platform. Core AI assistance is included on the free plans, and paid plans unlock more ARIA capabilities and higher usage limits. The pricing page at partsbid.io/pricing shows which plan includes each feature.

Question 17

Can ARIA help me write an RFQ?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ARIA can help you describe a part requirement in plain language and automatically convert it into a structured, technically accurate RFQ. It suggests relevant part specifications, standard units of measure, and typical lead time ranges based on the part category and your region.

Question 18

What languages does ARIA support?

Accepted Answer

ARIA fully supports both English and Arabic. You can interact with ARIA in either language, and it will respond accordingly. Arabic support is optimized for Gulf Arabic terminology used in industrial procurement contexts across KSA, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

Question 19

Which countries does PartsBid serve?

Accepted Answer

PartsBid currently serves the six GCC nations: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. We are headquartered in Dubai, UAE and have the deepest supplier network in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Expansion to wider MENA markets — including Egypt and Jordan — is on our roadmap.

Question 20

How does PartsBid protect my data?

Accepted Answer

PartsBid uses TLS 1.3 encryption for all data in transit, bcrypt password hashing at rest, two-factor authentication via email OTP, and role-based access controls. We comply with the Saudi Arabia Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and UAE data protection regulations. Your RFQ content is never shared with unverified parties.

Question 21

Are transactions handled through PartsBid?

Accepted Answer

PartsBid is an inquiry and matching platform — commercial transactions (payment for parts) are conducted directly between buyers and suppliers outside the platform. PartsBid processes subscription payments for supplier plans securely via Stripe. An escrow and in-platform payment feature is on our development roadmap.

Question 22

Is there a mobile app for PartsBid?

Accepted Answer

PartsBid is a responsive web application that works well on all iOS and Android mobile browsers with no installation required. A dedicated native mobile app for iOS and Android is on our product roadmap. You can add PartsBid to your home screen as a Progressive Web App (PWA) for an app-like experience.

Question 23

What plans does PartsBid offer?

Accepted Answer

PartsBid has separate plans for buyers and suppliers, each with a free plan and paid upgrades. Buyers can post RFQs and receive bids for free; suppliers can build a catalog and bid on RFQs for free. Current plans, prices and the full feature comparison are on the pricing page at partsbid.io/pricing.

Question 24

Can I switch plans at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can upgrade at any time from your Billing page — the new features activate immediately. Downgrading takes effect at the end of your current billing period, and you keep your current features until that date. Your data is always preserved.

Question 25

Do you offer enterprise pricing for large teams?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For large procurement teams or organisations with custom requirements — including multi-seat access, custom integrations, dedicated account management, and SLA-backed support — please contact our enterprise sales team at sales@partsbid.io for a tailored proposal.

Question 26

Can I try PartsBid before paying?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Both buyers and suppliers can start on a free plan with no credit card required and upgrade only when they need more. Any current trial offers are shown on the pricing page at partsbid.io/pricing, or contact support@partsbid.io to discuss your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

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For Suppliers

ARIA AI Assistant

Platform & Security

Pricing & Plans

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