Zone Directory

The Zone Directory organizes suppliers by geographic zones, making it easy to find service providers in specific operational areas.

What is a Zone?

A zone is a geographic area representing an operational region. Examples:

• Miami Metro

• Downtown Los Angeles

• Phoenix Sky Harbor Area

• Austin Tech Corridor

Zones can be:

• Cities

• Neighborhoods

• Airport areas

• Industrial districts

• Custom-defined regions

Directory Structure

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Zone Directory                              │
│                                              │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐    │
│  │ 🌆 Miami Metro                       │    │
│  │    15 Suppliers • 6 Service Types   │    │
│  │    [View Zone]                       │    │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────┘    │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐    │
│  │ 🌆 Los Angeles Downtown              │    │
│  │    23 Suppliers • 8 Service Types   │    │
│  │    [View Zone]                       │    │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────┘    │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐    │
│  │ 🌆 Phoenix Sky Harbor               │    │
│  │    8 Suppliers • 4 Service Types    │    │
│  │    [View Zone]                       │    │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────┘    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Zone Detail View

Clicking a zone shows:

Zone Overview

• Map of the zone

• Key stats (suppliers, service types, avg response time)

• Zone description

Suppliers in Zone

• List of all suppliers

• Filter by service category

• Sort by rating, response time, price

Zone Intelligence

• Market rates for services

• Coverage gaps

• Demand patterns

Zone Features

Zone Comparison

Compare zones side-by-side:

• Number of suppliers

• Service availability

• Average pricing

• Response times

Useful for:

• Expansion planning

• Cost analysis

• Coverage assessment

Zone Reservation

For shepherds looking to establish presence:

1. Request zone reservation

2. System shows available supplier capacity

3. Start building supplier network in zone

Adjacent Zones

When a zone has limited coverage, the system suggests adjacent zones:

• Primary zone: Miami Downtown

• Adjacent zones: Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah

For Shepherds

Browsing Zones

1. Open Zone Directory

2. Search by city/region or browse list

3. Click zone to see details

4. Filter suppliers by service type

Setting Operational Zones

Define which zones you operate in:

1. Go to Settings → Zones

2. Add zones where you need services

3. System prioritizes suppliers in your zones

Zone-Based RFQs

Create RFQs targeting specific zones:

1. Create RFQ

2. Select target zone(s)

3. System routes to suppliers in those zones

For Suppliers

Listing in Zones

Add zones where you can provide service:

1. Go to Profile → Zones

2. Add zones with your coverage details

3. Specify primary vs. secondary zones

Zone Visibility

Your profile appears in:

• Zone Directory for each zone you cover

• Search results filtered by zone

• RFQs targeting your zones

Zone Management

Zone Creation

New zones are created when:

• Sufficient demand exists

• Supplier coverage is available

• Geographic boundaries are clear

Zone Boundaries

Zones are defined by:

• City boundaries

• Zip code clusters

• Custom polygons

Best Practices

For Shepherds

1. Define zones early: Set your operational zones before browsing

2. Consider adjacent zones: Nearby zones may have better options

3. Compare zones: Use comparison tool for expansion planning

For Suppliers

1. Be realistic about coverage: Only list zones you can actually serve

2. Differentiate by zone: Your pricing/SLA may vary by zone

3. Expand strategically: Add zones where you can maintain quality