Supplier trust methodology
Verification is not a guarantee. It is an evidence map for what buyers can rely on.
Proficina makes every badge explicit: what was checked, which evidence was reviewed, and which assumptions still need confirmation during RFQ.
Five levels
Verification tiers and buyer meaning
Higher tiers mean broader reviewed evidence; no tier guarantees quality, delivery, compliance, or customs outcomes.
Supplier exists in the database, but is not promoted as verified.
Basic public or submitted company information.
Treat as a starting point for research only.
The company identity and contactability have been checked.
Company registration, domain/contact ownership, address, or trade presence evidence.
Useful when you need to know whether the profile represents a real reachable business.
Core supplier claims have supporting evidence.
Product categories, export markets, capacity claims, languages, and profile data reviewed.
Compare category fit and request missing capability proof before RFQ outreach.
Trade-relevant evidence has been reviewed for sourcing decisions.
Certifications, export references, shipment evidence, buyer references, or public trade signals.
Prioritize for shortlists where certification scope and export readiness matter.
Enhanced manual review with category-specific evidence and operator risk notes.
Manual verification dossier, references where available, risk notes, refresh date, and category evidence.
Best suited for serious sourcing events, samples, factory visits, or structured RFQs.
Operator review
Verification asks for evidence by category.
A textile supplier may need certification scope and factory evidence; a CNC supplier may need tolerance capability, inspection plans, and machine capacity proof.
Collect company and profile claims
Request category-specific evidence
Review documents, sources, and references
Publish scope, risk context, and refresh date
Category evidence
Sample evidence checked in initial categories
Textiles & Apparel
- Company identity and factory presence
- OEKO-TEX, GOTS, or buyer-required certificate evidence
- Export references or shipment evidence where available
Furniture & Home Goods
- Company identity, showroom/factory evidence, and category claims
- FSC or material-chain documentation when required
- Reference projects, catalogs, or trade evidence
Packaging & Print
- Facility and production-line evidence
- ISO, BRCGS Packaging, or food-contact documentation
- Sample quality, print tolerances, and export evidence
Industrial & Machinery
- Company identity, facility evidence, and machinery/capacity proof
- ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or process-specific certificates
- Sample, inspection, and export-reference evidence where available
What verification does not mean
- It is not a guarantee of product quality, delivery, payment, customs, or legal compliance.
- It does not guarantee future supplier performance or financial condition.
- It does not replace buyer sampling, testing, contracts, QC, or logistics checks.
Ranking and sponsorship transparency
Recommended ranking considers category fit, verification scope, response signals, profile completeness, and clearly labeled sponsored visibility. Sponsored placement never upgrades a verification badge.