How to - Diversity Data Enrichment

Here’s the fastest and easiest way to get your suppliers into the system using our simple CSVupload templates.

If this is your first time enriching data in SupplierGateway, please read all of this article first!

Why Do You Need to Enrich Data?

Uploading suppliers into the system to enrich data is typically one of the first tasks after activating your system. The supplier data you load makes it easier to complete tasks and activities related to your suppliers. Enriching your suppliers while loading them into the system may also provide additional details you did not already have.

What Does the System Do with the Data?

The supplier data you upload for data enrichment is obviously used to help you Identify the diversity of your supplier base for Impact reporting.  But did you know the data can also be used elsewhere in the system to kickstart other important processes, such as:

• Engaging suppliers to update their profile information
• Viewing compliance and risk profiles for each company
• Issuing purchase orders
• Paying suppliers using virtual payment tools
• Collecting diversity reports from your suppliers
• And much more...

How Do You Do This?

There is a detailed step-by-step explanation later on, but the basic steps are:

1. Download a CSV template
   • Here is the short simplified csv template - use it if you do not have any additional demographic data from your existing system that you want to load in.
   • Here is the expanded csv template - use it if you have demographic data from your existing system that you want to load in.
2. Fill it out - View sample input data in the data dictionary to learn how to best input your data.
3. Upload it
4. Enrich the data
5. Reviewing & Understanding the results - click here to view the results data dictionary

How Long Does It Take to Process?

The processing time depends on the number of suppliers in your list. We recommend planning for about 4-8 hours after submitting your upload, although it may be completed in a much shorter time. The system will send you an email alert when the upload is complete.

Can Supplier Uploads/Data Enrichment Be Automated?

Yes, you can automate the upload process using APIs that allow you to transfer supplier data from your internal system to SupplierGateway. You can read more about the APIs on the Developers page.

CLICK HERE to view in Zendesk.

How To: Data Enrichment

Step 1 - Downloading

Download and populate a CSV template provided.  There are two choices depending on how much data you have already.

• Here is the short simplified csv template - use it if you don't have any additional demographic data from your existing system that you want to load in.
• Here is the expanded csv template - use it if you have demographic data from your existing system that you want to load in.

Step 2 - Fill Out the Template

Open the template and complete all required, recommended, and optional fields you have data for.

Here is a data dictionary - please review for field level detail and sample files

1. Required Fields:
    
   • Company Name*
   • Supplier/Vendor Internal Number*
   • Address
   • City
   • Country
   • State (when applicable)
   • Zip (when applicable)
2. Recommended Fields:
   • TIN/EIN
   • Email
3. Optional Fields:
   • Everything else
      

Step 3 - Upload Supplier Data

1. Click on the Create New Job link.
2. Click Upload to upload a new data template.
3. Find the file on your desktop by clicking the Browse button, then click on the Load File button

          *You may select Data already in the system if you choose to scrub your existing data

4. The system will check the template to ensure all data is in the right place. If using your own template, you may need to map the fields in your Excel document to the upload fields the system recognizes.
5. Click on the Process File button to start the upload.

Step 4 - Enrich the Data

You may enrich your data by requesting a data file once you receive notification that the upload processing is complete.

Step 5 - Review Results

You will be notified once the file has been generated - typically within a few minutes. Customize the output file by selecting the Download Requested Data File action icon to define a file type of your choice.  Here is a link to a data dictionary of all of the possible data returned in the generated file.

How Long Will My Upload Take?

Processing typically takes 4–8 hours, depending on file size and queue volume. Delays may occur during busy times. You will get an email and system alert once it is complete.

What if There Were Issues with My Data?

After receiving notification that your upload processing is complete, log in to the Data Enrichment console to review records. You will be notified of any unsuccessful uploads at this portal. Processing metrics will be provided for all uploads. Common reasons for unsuccessful processing include missing data fields and incorrect data field mapping when using your own Excel template. For more information, please review the diversity data enrichment walkthrough.

Data Enrichment Tips & Tricks

Unfortunately, there are no magic bullets for data enrichment.

You can think about data enrichment from a “good, better, best” standpoint. The more complete the data you include in your upload file, the better the results. We understand that you may rely on the system to help improve and complete your supplier data, so blank spots should not alarm you unduly. Providing unique identifiers such as TaxID will improve your results when enriching your data.

Good

Required Fields: Each supplier upload must include the company name and supplier/vendor number. Records without these fields will be left out of the upload process.

• Company name - to identify the supplier
• Your internal vendor reference/number – to use the data we return to you more easily

Better

Recommended Fields: For best results, the following fields are highly recommended:

• Tax ID/EIN – to avoid creating duplicates in the system
• Address, City, Country – to make it easier to match your suppliers

Best

Supplier Engagement: Our tool can automatically connect with your suppliers and have them update their profile data and fill in any blanks, such as certifications, insurance, W-9s, etc. Ensure you include email addresses so the system can automatically reach out and guide them on what to do.

• Primary contact email – to automatically engage your suppliers to update their profiles
• Company Demographics – to use for reporting and analysis
• Primary NAICS – to help with economic impact reporting

Data Enrichment: Outreach to Suppliers

When a data enrichment is executed on your portal, you may find some suppliers marked as diverse with an Identified or Classified status. These suppliers are great targets for an outreach campaign to get them into your new system and registered to potentially provide self-certification. To learn how to issue a mass outreach campaign, please refer to and utilize the Campaign Console. If you have additional questions, please contact your client success manager for assistance.