A scoped process
Start with a use case. Agree the data and the terms.
A useful engagement gives the supplier clear boundaries and gives the buyer a clear specification. No public form asks for records, system access, or credentials.
For suppliers
A source description comes first. The process then establishes rights, defines an approved sample, prepares and reviews it, and only then considers a written license and delivery plan.
- Describe the workflow categories, approximate volume, history, and available outcomes.
- Establish permissions for preparation, evaluation, training, or onward licensing.
- Define fields, exclusions, processing, recipients, review steps, and retention terms.
- Agree permitted use, recipient, commercial terms, delivery criteria, and payment trigger before delivery.
For buyers
A buyer brief describes the task, how success will be judged, intended use, and the current failure mode. A proposal should make source categories, rights, quality, price, and timing explicit before a pilot begins.
Scope determines the schedule.
Source permissions, access, privacy review, expert availability, and the specificity of the task all affect timing. A data assessment is not a promise of a purchase or payment date.