Supplier Onboarding Packet

Thank you for embarking on this journey of interoperable traceability and product transparency with your supply chain partners! We’ve created a presentation and have compiled a list of helpful links to key documents (see table at the bottom of the page) that comprise the GDST Supplier Onboarding Packet (SOP). This packet will help you introduce the GDST standards and initiate the GDST onboarding process for companies that you work with.  

We recommend sending a cover letter with this packet that clearly states your company’s requirements and a timeline for compliance including a firm date to have all tasks accomplished. While this packet was initially developed as a way to onboard your direct suppliers, you are welcome to share these materials with any of your supply chain partners, including downstream partners (customers), regardless of their role or function within your supply chain.

Before diving into the materials below, please take a moment to click here to view a brief video message from our team.

Supplier Onboarding Packet, Presentation:

The main component of the Supplier Onboarding Packet packet is a presentation that provides an overview of the GDST initiative, standards, and links to further resources on our website, most of which are in the table directly below. The presentation is meant to be shared with your suppliers to help guide the journey to implementation of the GDST KDEs over time.

To receive a copy of the Supplier Onboarding Packet Presentation via email, please complete the form below:

    Name of Company*

    First Name *

    Last Name *

    Email *

    Would you like us to contact you for further support and with more information about the GDST?*

    Supplier Onboarding Packet, Key Documents: 

    The key documents to support the journey to implementation of the GDST standards include:

    GDST Standards An overview of the GDST standards and all supporting information and appendices
    Implementation Roadmap This tool helps your company evaluate the benefits and challenges of implementing the GDST standard within their supply chains.
    Implementation Metrics Rubric This tool gives your company a quantitative framework to assess progress toward implementing the GDST standards
    Rapid Initial Assessment (RIA) Completing the RIA is the first step to understanding your company’s readiness for GDST standards implementation. It helps assess your company’s current traceability technology and practices, and (in a preliminary way) those of your supply chain partners.
    Supplier Assessment Surveys (SAS): Farm; Processor; and Vessel Fishery The SAS tool helps determine the readiness of your suppliers to capture the required GDST Key Data Elements (KDEs) and to transmit the data to you in GDST-compliant digital formats. Like the RIA, the SAS is a survey instrument, but this time it is filled out by your suppliers themselves—your company distributes it to your suppliers and your company receives the responses (with or without assistance from the GDST Secretariat, per your choice). The SAS gives your company a detailed look at traceability practices within your supply chains and also helps educate your suppliers about the GDST standards.
    IT Conversion Mapping Tool The GDST Secretariat has also developed an online tool to assist company IT experts (or third-party IT service providers) in concert with other pertinent staff (e.g., supply chain or procurement managers) to understand the technical dimensions of adherence to the GDST 1.0 standard to enable interoperability between supply chain partners. The tool, which is best used in conjunction with the RIA and the SAS, gives a clear picture of how the GDST 1.0 data standards apply to your company’s supply chain contingencies and gives technical outputs which can guide mapping attributes from internal data systems. The IT Conversion Mapping tool produces a process flow diagram that gives additional insights into current data collection practices within your company and/or your supply chains. Additionally, the tool produces a sample XML file for your IT team or solution provider to use as a basis for its part of the roadmap to IT implementation. To access the IT Conversion Mapping Tool, please contact the GDST Secretariat at info@traceability-dialogue.org. 
    KDE checklists:  Wild Capture; and Aquaculture You complete these fillable PDFs,  save and send them to your supply chain partners to indicate which KDEs you request they implement by what dates. 
     

     

    If there are any questions regarding these materials, please contact info@traceability-dialogue.org for more information.