Tilaaja

Tilaaja is a Finnish noun meaning the party that places an order for goods or services. In procurement and project management, the tilaaja is typically the buyer or client who defines the requirements and arranges delivery.

Etymology: derived from the verb tilata (“to order”) with the agent noun suffix -ja, yielding “tilaaja” – the one who orders. The term is widely used in Finnish business language, especially in procurement and contracting contexts.

Responsibilities and roles: The tilaaja identifies needs and prepares the procurement brief or request for tender, sets budget and timetable, and determines contract terms. It is common for the tilaaja to interact with suppliers (tarjoajat) and select a supplier through tenders or negotiations. After awarding a contract, the tilaaja manages performance, acceptance testing, invoicing, and payments, and may handle changes to scope. The role can be performed by an individual or by an organization such as a company, municipality, or government agency.

Context and usage: The term is especially common in public procurement and official procurement processes in Finland, where the tilaaja bears responsibility for requirements and compliance with applicable laws. In private sector usage, the term may be used alongside ostaja or asiakas to describe the purchasing party, with nuance that tilaaja emphasizes ordering activity.

See also: ostaja, asiakas, tarjoaja, tarjoaja, hankinta, sopimus.