First issue - drawing programs. Many small manufacturers won't have a 3D parametric software. Like solidworks. If your package can bundle that, it'll be really helpful.

Second issue - Small operators that work like an individual proprietorship don't have the heft and thus don't have a regular shipper on call. So if you want something that's ordered in morning at 7am in your shop/warehouse/site by night 10pm (don't include distance, at this point air freight is also an option) small manufacturers fail so often, it's a risk to go to them. Get an integrated multi-mode transporting and logistics system in your tool.

Third issue - The drawing packages. Often times, inventors or designers who're trying to contact small manufacturers will forget the drawings for internal part(s). The manufacturer doesn't see this, and then everything else is built and waiting for that part's drawings from the owner and then it gets built and then the assembly is done. Get someone to verify the drawing packages as a part of the service, so there's less friction.

Fourth - Increased lead times due to scale. Small manufacturers don't get to be in the front of the line, for purchase items. If you're looking at lead times of 2 weeks or more for our hase items in your assemblies from OEM manufacturers like SEW, Balluff, Keyence, Mettler Toledo etc. you're screwed. Get a solution to this. Because many parts are made in China or they have those parts reserved for large manufacturers, smaller ones are fucked.

Fifth - Compatible billing and invoicing solutions for individuals who are trying to get something manufactured. Individuals don't have access to these solutions which the manufacturers are using. So, they have things like word files, printed as PDFs and then these act as purchase orders. For smaller manufacturers who have some popular solutions like Zoho, NetSuite, SAP etc. an integrated solution so that individual can input the stuff and it sends an invoice to the manufacturer, that's helpful.

Sixth - Cross availability of inventory for rare parts. Sometimes small manufacturers have some very rare and expensive parts or raw materials. For eg. A shop in Mumbai can have titanium working equipment and a shop in Rajasthan might not. So if the Rajasthani shop gets an order, make it so that they can find the inventory or the finished intermediate stuff and not have to miss out on the order.

Seventh - some exports outside of India require certifications and being current on different regulations. Have a verified section where in you have verified the ISO, FDA, EMA certs and verifications and can guarantee that stuff made by these manufacturers won't be rejected at ports or airports of entry of the goods.

I've faced issues 4, 5 and 7.