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 organization to obtain a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet.

Steps

To find or request a DUNS number

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").

Specific regional links may also be helpful:

• Germany: dnb.com/de-de/upik/
• USA: dnb.com/duns-number/lookup.html
• China: dnb.com.cn
• Latin America: cialdnb.com/d-u-n-s-number/
• UK: dnb.co.uk/duns-number/lookup.html
• Other countries: dnb.co.uk/choose-your-country.html

What should I do if I'm not receiving emails from SUPPLIERASSURANCE?

To make sure you always receive our emails, you should add our sending domain, nqc.com, to your email safe sender list.

Background

Sometimes, email providers may send important messages to your spam or junk folder. By adding our SUPPLIERASSURANCE domain to your safe sender list, you are telling your email provider that our messages are important and should always be delivered directly to your main inbox. This will prevent you from missing important notifications and requests from SUPPLIERASSURANCE.

Steps

If you don't receive our emails, please check the following:

1. Check your spam or junk folder: If you find an email from us there, mark it as 'Not Spam'.

For Outlook Users:

1. Click the Settings icon in the top-right corner.
2. In the menu, click 'Mail' and then 'Junk email'.
3. Under the 'Safe senders and domains' section, click '+Add'.
4. Type nqc.com and press 'Enter'.
5. Click the 'Save' button at the top.

For Gmail Users:

1. Click the Settings icon in the top-right corner, then click 'See all settings'.
2. Go to the 'Filters and Blocked Addresses' tab.
3. Click 'Create a new filter'.
4. In the 'From' field, type nqc.com.
5. Click 'Create filter'.
6. Check the box next to 'Never send it to Spam'.
7. Click the final 'Create filter' button to save.

For Other Email Providers:

1. Look in your settings for options like 'Safe Senders', 'Filters', or 'Rules'. The goal is to create a rule to ensure that messages from @nqc.com are always delivered to your inbox.

I registered but didn't receive my account activation email. What should I do?

Activation emails usually arrive within 10 minutes. First, check your spam or junk folder. If it's not there, try using the 'forgotten your password?' link on the sign-in page, as this will also send an activation link.

Background

To complete your registration, you must click the activation link sent to your registered email address. This verifies your email. If the email is blocked or delayed, using the password reset function is a common workaround to get a valid link.

Steps

What to do if you've not received an account activation email

1. Wait at least 10 minutes after registering.
2. Check your email inbox, including spam and junk folders, for an email from SUPPLIERASSURANCE.
3. If found, click the activation link inside the email to access your dashboard.
4. If not found, go to the SUPPLIERASSURANCE sign-in page.
5. Select the 'forgotten your password?' link.
6. Enter the email address associated with your SUPPLIERASSURANCE account.
7. Select 'Send'.
8. Check your email inbox (including spam/junk folders) for a password reset email from SUPPLIERASSURANCE.
9. Click the link in the email.
10. Follow the instructions on the page to create and confirm your new password.
11. If you don't receive the email, check the troubleshooting FAQ for steps on preventing our emails from going into spam or junk folders.

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 identified during validation:

1. Sign in to your SUPPLIERASSURANCE account.
2. On your 'Dashboard', find the completed questionnaire you want to view (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 were identified during validation, they will be listed at the top of the 'Answers' tab. Select an individual gap to learn more.
6. A gap may indicate:
   • an evidence gap - the uploaded evidence was not acceptable, or
   • a declaration gap - the validator found relevant policy information in your evidence that you did not declare in your answers.
   
   In both cases, you should update your questionnaire response to address the gaps.
   


7. Select the 'Update' icon on the top right of the questionnaire tile to make changes.


8. Navigate to the questions flagged in the validator feedback and upload improved evidence (for evidence gaps) or declare the correct policy options (for declaration gaps).

What's changed in SAQ 5.0?

SAQ 5.0 introduces a more flexible and modular assessment structure, designed to ensure the questionnaire remains relevant and proportionate for suppliers of all sizes, sectors, and operating models. Question sets are now tailored based on site headcount and primary industry sector, with a clear distinction between mandatory and optional questions.

Background

The Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ 5.0) has been enhanced to better support modern, global supply chains. The updated structure focuses more closely on the specific characteristics of each supplier, helping to reduce unnecessary complexity-particularly for non-production and service-based organisations-while maintaining robust sustainability coverage.

Under SAQ 5.0:

- Mandatory questions contribute directly to the overall SAQ 5.0 rating.
- Optional questions provide additional insight but do not impact the rating.

This approach ensures suppliers are assessed fairly and consistently, while buyers continue to receive meaningful and comparable sustainability data across their supply chains.

To support users, SUPPLIERASSURANCE provides briefing sessions and supporting materials that explain the SAQ 5.0 structure, scoring approach, and how industry sector (NACE®) and site headcount influence question routing and scoring-particularly when updating an existing SAQ.

Steps

To access SAQ 5.0 webinar recordings:

Select the relevant language below to register for and view the SAQ 5.0 briefing webinar:

• English
• Deutsch
• Français
• Italiano
• Português
• Español
• 日本語
• 中文

The webinar explains the SAQ 5.0 structure, scoring approach, and practical completion guidance.

To access SAQ 5.0 briefing slides and supporting materials:

Select the relevant language below to download the SAQ 5.0 briefing slides:

• English
• Deutsch
• Français
• Italiano
• Português
• Español
• 日本語
• 中文

The slides explain how NACE® industry codes and site headcount influence question routing within SAQ 5.0, and how updates to your responses may impact your overall SAQ 5.0 rating.