Antonella De Lazzari · CEO and co-founder
Updated October 20, 2026
The short answer
Keep each source list with its supplier and date. Map supplier codes to your catalogue, confirm the product and pack size, and express costs in the same unit. Review uncertain matches before applying changes, then separate the quotes that need a new commercial decision.
Try these two sample lists
The suppliers, products and prices are fictional. These are comma-separated UTF-8 CSV files. In Excel, use Data > From Text/CSV and select the comma delimiter. You can also download the reviewed comparison and combined table. All example prices are in Argentine pesos (ARS).
A roll price and a price per metre
In the example, supplier A offers a 100-metre roll of C1 cable for ARS 40,000. Supplier B offers the same model for ARS 430 per metre. The comparable unit cost from supplier A is ARS 400 per metre.
The screws work the other way around: a box of 100 costs ARS 15,000 and a bag of 50 costs ARS 7,000. Their unit costs are ARS 150 and ARS 140. Comparing pack totals would have hidden that difference.
The gloves have a difference that division cannot fix: one list offers size 9 and the other size 8. Even with the same model and quantity per box, they are different items.
Every match needs a review
- Keep each supplier's code
- Assign an internal product code and map the supplier codes to it. Retain the originals so your team can check or order the right item.
- Confirm the product
- Check the brand, model, dimensions and variant. Similar names can suggest a match; someone who knows the product confirms it.
- Separate pack size from comparison unit
- Record whether the cost is for a box, roll or single item and how many units it contains. Compare costs only when the unit, currency and tax basis agree.
- Keep unresolved items visible
- Flag unconfirmed matches, missing quantities and undated prices. Leave them pending until the source is checked, separate from approved data.
One row per product and supplier
A combined table keeps the supplier attached to the data. The same item can have several rows, each retaining its source code, pack size, cost and list date. In the sample file, the gloves have different internal codes because their sizes differ.
Before using it, check duplicate codes, empty rows and decimal separators. Excel can remove leading zeros when it reads a code as a number. Import those codes as text and check the preview.
Unit cost makes comparison possible. A buying decision may also need availability, delivery, freight and supplier terms. The lowest number in a row does not contain those agreements.
A new list needs a quote review
- The quote is still a draft
- Check current costs, margin and customer terms before sending it for approval or sharing it with the customer.
- The customer already has the quote
- Keep the sent proposal and check its validity and recorded agreements. If a change needs to be proposed, identify the version under review and who will discuss it with the customer.
- The customer has already accepted
- Keep accepted terms available to purchasing, warehouse and administration. A new supplier list may require a decision about that order; updating the catalogue does not replace that decision.
Price lists as part of the work
In Patio, you can import supplier data from CSV files into your company tables. We define the fields, product relationships and reviews that the process needs.
The assistant uses those records and your configured rules and permissions to prepare and update quotes. Your team reviews product matches and approves the exceptions that require it.
The same information can continue into orders and work across other teams. Start with supplier lists and add the workflows your company needs, through the app or the web.