A company planning to build collaborative relationships with trading partners should first:

Building collaborative relationships with trading partners requires a foundational commitment from

top management. This ensures that the initiative has the necessary support, resources, and

alignment with the company’s strategic goals. Commitment from leadership drives the cultural and

organizational changes needed for effective collaboration. Subsequent steps include implementing

technology for information sharing, documenting transaction rules, and organizing cross-enterprise

teams.

Reference:

"Building Collaborative Relationships with Suppliers," Supply Chain Management Review.

"The Role of Top Management in Supply Chain Collaboration," Journal of Business Logistics.