Tilaajan

Tilaaja is a Finnish term that refers to the party that places an order for goods, services, or construction works. The word is commonly used in business, project management, and public procurement to denote the client or ordering party. The genitive form Tilaajan is used to indicate possession, as in tilaajan vaatimukset (the client’s requirements).

In procurement and project contexts, the tilaaja is typically responsible for defining needs, setting specifications, establishing budget and schedule, and clarifying acceptance criteria. The tilaaja invites bids or proposals, evaluates responses, and selects a supplier or contractor. After a contract is awarded, the tilaaja signs the agreement, pays for the work, and accepts deliverables. In public sector projects, the tilaaja must follow established procurement procedures to ensure transparency, equal treatment, and competition.

The term is often contrasted with its partners in a project: the contractor or service provider who performs the work (toimeksiantaja or toteuttaja), and the owner or sponsor who funds the project. In practice, the tilaaja may be a private company, a government agency, a municipality, or another organization acting as the ordering authority.

Etymology and usage: tilaaja derives from tila- meaning “order” or “command,” with the agent suffix -aja. The form Tilaajan indicates possession or association with the client or ordering party. The concept is central to Finnish procurement law and contract management, where the tilaaja’s role shapes requirements, procurement choices, and project outcomes.