Our answers to frequently asked questions
About Achilles.
Achilles works to identify, assess, and monitor suppliers on behalf of major organisations worldwide. We build and support buyer-supplier communities in many industry sectors, creating unique and powerful global networks. Our services for sustainable procurement help create opportunities for business and reduce risk in the supply chain.
The company was created in 1990 in Norway and today, has offices all over the world. Our headquarters are in Abingdon, in the United Kingdom.
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Who are customers of the Achilles Group?
Achilles Group works with more than 500 of the world’s largest companies across a range of industry sectors. Shell, Norsk Hydro, BP, Dublin Airport Authority, Repsol, Network Rail, EDP, Codelco, National Grid, Edf, EnBW, Matsui, Bovis Lend Lease and ExxonMobil are just some of the organisations which have come to trust Achilles collaborative, neutral and insightful approach to sustainable procurement.
More than 30,000 suppliers, too, are currently registered on Achilles’ databases of pre-qualified suppliers.
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What does “pre-qualification” mean?
On behalf of the utilities in Germany, Eastern and Central Europe we verify every single supplier – regardless of a tender. The verification / pre-qualification is based on certain criteria (also known as pre-qualification criteria) that the utilities set up and that are included in the online questionnaire.
The result: Each supplier that completes the online questionnaire and complies with the pre-qualification criteria gets the status “pre-qualified” in Connexio.
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How does the pre-qualification process look like?
For more detailed information about the pre-qualification please click HERE
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What are the minimum criteria that every supplier has to comply with?
For more detailed information about the criteria please click HERE
Please note: The final qualification is done by each utility even if you comply with the minimum criteria (pre-qualification criteria). Hence the utilities might send you additional questionnaires covering more product / service specific questions.
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What is the content of the supplier questionnaire?
For an overview of the standard online questionnaire please click HERE
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What is Connexio?
Connexio is an online supplier information system. Utilities use it to find suppliers that can supply them with certain products and/or services (creation of supplier lists). In addition to that the utilities use Connexio to maintain further data and information about their suppliers. To sum it up: Connexio is THE online supplier information system in which only suppliers of the utilities are registered.
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Who can use Connexio?
Connexio is designed for utilities in Germany, Eastern and Central Europe and their suppliers. For a list of utilities that already use Connexio Utility please click HERE.
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What about the EU procurement legislation?
Especially the utilities in EU member states are subject to strict EU procurement principles. Therefore we designed Connexio in accordance with EU procurement legislation. This means that the utilities can use Connexio as a qualification system. The pre-qualification criteria as well as the selection of suppliers are always in line with the EU procurement regulations – fair, open, transparent and not discriminative.
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Is Connexio free of charge for suppliers?
For more detailed information please click HERE.
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When do I get the log in details?
Once we received your order form we provide you with your login details by e-mail. With your log in details you get access to your supplier questionnaire www.olq.connexio-utility.com
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How much time do I have to complete the questionnaire?
Once we sent you the log in details you have four weeks to return the completed questionnaire and the additional documents. We remind you automatically of your deadline.
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What happens if I cannot meet the deadline?
You are automatically reminded of your deadline. Once we received your material (completed questionnaire AND additional documents) and the payment of the fee* we start with the verification – as long as we have not received your material and payment in order to start with the verification your status is “registered” in Connexio.
*only for suppliers registered with a Standard Registration or a Simple Registration
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Can I update my supplier profile?
Yes, you can update your supplier profile at any time. Please feel free to contact us.
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When do I have to update my profile?
Every supplier that wants to remain “pre-qualified” has to update his profile once a year. About nine weeks before your status “pre-qualified” expires we will provide you with the appropriate information.
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Whom can I contact regarding Connexio?
Connexio Team (Germany)
Languages: German and English
T: +49(0)211 / 53 883-244
F: +49(0)211 / 53 883-112
E: connexio@achilles.com
Connexio Team (Slovakia)
Languages: Slovak and English
T: +421 (0)2 / 59 39 6135
F: +421 (0)2 / 59 39 6215
E: connexio@achilles.com
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