What is a DUNS number, and why do I need one for SUPPLIERASSURANCE?

A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses, provided by Dun & Bradstreet. It's used globally to identify companies. SUPPLIERASSURANCE requires it as the primary identifier during registration and for completing the SAQ 5.0 to ensure your customers can correctly identify your business.

Background

Using the DUNS number helps standardise supplier identification on the platform. There is no charge for an organisation to obtain a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet. If you need to complete an SAQ 5.0 urgently and don't have your DUNS number yet, we can provide you with a temporary number.

Steps

To find or request a DUNS number:

1. Visit the Dun & Bradstreet website. A general starting point is the D&B D-U-N-S Number Lookup/Request page (search online for "Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number request").
2. Specific regional links may also be helpful:
3. Germany: dnb.com/de-de/upik/
4. USA: dnb.com/duns-number/lookup.html
5. China: dnbchina.com/
6. Latin America: cialdnb.com/d-u-n-s-number/
7. UK: dnb.co.uk/duns-number/lookup.html
8. Other countries: dnb.co.uk/choose-your-country.html

How do I raise a support ticket?

Use the 'Ticket' function on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform to raise a ticket for our Support Team to action.

Background

The SUPPLIERASSURANCE Support Team aims to respond to all tickets within two working days. Typically however, you can expect a response within 24 hours.

Steps

1. Sign in to your SUPPLIERASSURANCE account.
2. Select your initials in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Select 'Tickets'.
4. Choose 'Raise a new ticket' option from the right side of the page.
5. Select the most appropriate topic from the drop down menu.
6. If none of the topics fit, select 'Other topic' and choose 'None of these questions help - Raise a new ticket'.
7. Enter as much information about your query to allow our Support Team to assist you with your support query.
8. Click 'Send'.
9. The Support Team will review your ticket and respond to you within two working days although typically within 24 hours.

How can I improve my SAQ 5.0 rating?

Improve your SAQ 5.0 Rating by addressing validation feedback (like evidence or declaration gaps) and by addressing any minimum requirements that one or more of your customers may have set. Ensure that you answer all mandatory questions positively with the correct supporting evidence. Be careful to ensure you fully review and select only those policy areas that are explicitly covered within your policy documents.

Background

You can iteratively improve your SAQ 5.0 Rating. The validation process provides specific feedback. Addressing an evidence gap (where evidence was insufficient) or a declaration gap (where you missed selecting an answer that your evidence covered) can positively impact your SAQ 5.0 Rating.
Focusing on the mandatory questions is important as these directly contribute to your SAQ 5.0 Rating. Optional questions provide additional insights for your customers but do not directly influence the SAQ 5.0 Rating.

Steps

To view your questionnaire results and any gaps that may have been identified during the validation process:

1. Sign in to your SUPPLIERASSURANCE account.
2. On your 'Dashboard' find the completed questionnaire that you want to view the results for (use filters and search if needed).
3. Select the questionnaire tile to go to the questionnaire overview page.
4. Select the 'Answers' tab.
5. If any gaps have been identified during the validation process, they will be listed at the top of the 'Answers' tab. You can click on an individual gap to find out more about the gap.
6. A gap can either mean that the evidence you uploaded was not acceptable (an evidence gap) or it can mean that you could have missed an opportunity to declare a policy topic area that was found in your evidence but you did not select the answer option (a declaration gap). In either scenario, you should update your questionnaire response to address the gaps found.
7. To update your questionnaire response, choose the 'Update' icon on the top right of the page on the questionnaire tile.
8. Navigate to the questions identified in the feedback. Upload improved evidence for evidence gaps or select the correct policy options for declaration gaps.

How do I ensure that SAQ 5.0 answers and evidence remains consistent across all SAQ 5.0 questionnaires on my organisation account?

You can complete an SAQ 5.0 questionnaire on your headquarter location on your organisation account and once it has been completed and validated, you can use the response as a template for all other questionnaires on your account. You do this by locking specific answers which are then automatically applied to all other SAQs on your organisation account.

Background

This SAQ 5.0 HQ template feature helps ensure that standard company policies or evidence are used consistently across different sites or divisions completing their own SAQs on the same platform organisation account. You can either 'lock' an answer in the HQ template which makes it read-only in other SAQs, or you can create a template answer to a question and allow it to be edited. Both options promote consistency and uniformity in your sustainability performance reporting. Only the completed SAQ 5.0 questionnaire, which is on your Headquarters location, can be used as a template questionnaire response.

Steps

To make use of the HQ template functionality and lock in answers to be used across other SAQ 5.0 questionnaires on your organisation account, you must have the Assessor user permission:

1. Sign in to your SUPPLIERASSURANCE account.
2. Find the completed SAQ 5.0 questionnaire for your headquarters location on your dashboard (the location address will be abbreviated with HQ - use filters and search if needed).
3. Click on the HQ questionnaire tile to go to the questionnaire details.
4. Select the 'Answers' tab.
5. Select the relevant section of the questionnaire answers to view individual questions and answers.
6. For each answer you want to set as a template response, select 'Lock HQ template answer'.
7. Confirm your choice to lock when prompted. (You also have options to set answers as suggestions but editable by other users on your organisation account).
8. Repeat the step for all answers that you want to set as your template response.

How do I access or start the SAQ 5.0 questionnaire?

If you have completed an SAQ 5.0 questionnaire, you can view and update it, at any time. If you have been asked to complete a SAQ 5.0 questionnaire by a customer, you should use the invitation code that was included in the email about the customer request. Alternatively, you can complete an SAQ 5.0 questionnaire and obtain an SAQ Rating, without waiting to be invited, at any time.

Background

When SAQ 5.0 was launched, existing completed SAQs (like SAQ 4.0) were transitioned. Their scores were kept but marked with a 'U' for 'Unclassified'. To get an official SAQ 5.0 rating, you must 'Update' the questionnaire, review previous answers, and respond to the new/changed questions.

Steps

To view an questionnaire that you have already completed:

1. Sign in to your SUPPLIERASSURANCE account.
2. Find the completed questionnaire on your dashboard (use filters and search if needed).
3. If you want to update a previously completed questionnaire, select the 'Update' icon on the right side of the questionnaire tile.
4. Progress through the questionnaire and edit the answers that you want to change.
5. Once you have made all the updates needed, make sure you submit your SAQ 5.0 questionnaire response for validation in order to receive an updated SAQ Rating.

1. Sign in to your SUPPLIERASSURANCE account.
2. Select 'Enter invitation code' on the top right side of your Dashboard.
3. Choose the option to 'Enter invitation code'.
4. Enter the invitation code that is in the email request from your customer.
5. Select 'Share' to complete the action.
6. Complete the questionnaire and submit for validation.