In Alibaba‘s business ecosystem, certified suppliers refer to enterprises or merchants that have passed the strict review of Alibaba or authoritative third-party institutions. The review is carried out according to specific standards and processes.
Suppliers who pass the review will obtain an exclusive logo on the platform, which serves as an official endorsement of their credibility and qualifications. There are various types of certifications, and each type has its own unique evaluation standards and processes. Now, let me introduce their types to you:
(1) TrustPass Certification:
As the most fundamental part of Alibaba’s certification system, TrustPass Certification is actually the most basic and core in ensuring the credibility of merchants. As long as merchants meet a series of established conditions, they can be successfully certified.
Submitting key materials such as business licenses and legal representative identity certificates is a necessary process. The business license, as a certificate of a company’s legal operation, details core information such as the company name, business scope, and registered address, ensuring that the merchant’s business activities are within the framework permitted by law.
The legal representative identity certificate is used to verify the authenticity of the company’s legal representative’s identity, preventing fraud such as identity theft. Alibaba will conduct strict and detailed reviews of these submitted materials. Only when all review links are successfully passed can the merchant obtain this certification and start selling products.
(2) Verified Supplier Certification:
This certification is several levels higher in requirements than TrustPass Certification. It does not only look at the basic qualifications of the enterprise but also conducts a comprehensive evaluation of aspects such as the enterprise’s size and its position in the industry.
Suppliers that can pass the Verified Supplier Certification are usually more reassuring in terms of product quality, service level, etc.
(1) SGS Certification (Société Générale de Surveillance):
As an internationally recognized authoritative certification institution, SGS Certification has wide acceptance globally.
Suppliers that obtain SGS Certification indicate that they have reached international standards in many aspects such as product quality, safety, and environmental protection. SGS’s certification process is rigorous, including comprehensive on-site inspections and detailed product testing.
Therefore, suppliers with the SGS certification logo usually have strong comprehensive strength and high credibility and competitiveness in the industry. You can choose them!
(2) TÜV Certification:
As an internationally renowned certification institution, TÜV’s business widely covers multiple fields such as machinery, electronics, and automobiles.
If a supplier holds a TÜV certification, it indicates that its production process and management level in the relevant field have reached a high standard, fully demonstrating the supplier’s excellent capabilities and reliability in professional technology and quality control.
（1）Enhanced Information Transparency:
Certified suppliers are required to fully disclose their enterprise information on the platform, including registered address, business scope, contact information, etc., ensuring that the information is transparent to buyers.
This method is similar to fruit retailers clarifying the origin of fruits to consumers in a standardized supply chain, thereby enhancing buyers’ confidence. In the procurement scenario, this regulation can help you fully understand the supplier and effectively reduce the risk of information asymmetry.
（2）On-site Verification Process Involved in Some Certifications:
Taking Verified Supplier Certification, SGS Certification, and TÜV Certification as examples, the certification process is not only based on the written materials submitted by the supplier but also arranges professional audit teams to conduct on-site inspections of key aspects such as the production process and quality management system in the enterprise’s production site.
The audit process strictly follows relevant standards and specifications to comprehensively evaluate the actual operation status of the enterprise, ensuring that the certification result truly reflects the supplier’s comprehensive strength. Suppliers that have passed such certifications usually have a high standard in production capacity, quality control, etc., and their reliability will be further verified.
（1）Verify the Validity Period of the Certification:
Certification is not a permanent qualification. Some certifications have a clear validity period. If a supplier’s certification is about to expire or has already expired, it needs to be treated with caution.
An expired certification means that its qualification status has not been updated in a timely manner. Similar to the doubt about the validity of identity information when an ID card expires, the reliability of this supplier also needs to be further evaluated at this time, and necessary caution should be maintained.
（2）Evaluate the Content of the Certification:
Different certifications cover different scopes. Enterprises should focus on the certification items that are closely related to their own needs.
For example, if an enterprise has strict requirements for product quality, it needs to focus on the certification standards related to quality control.
This process is similar to an enterprise purchasing a car. Not only does it need to ensure that the vehicle has legal license plate qualifications, but it also needs to deeply review its safety performance indicators, quality inspection reports, and other core information to ensure the scientificity and reliability of the purchasing decision.
（1）Request Samples and Review Production Documents:
It is recommended to request samples from the supplier to conduct a physical inspection of the product quality.
At the same time, ask the supplier to provide production process documents and quality inspection reports to review whether their production process complies with industry standards and specifications. This approach is similar to purchasing clothing.
Not only do you need to consider the style and color, but you also need to test the fabric texture and workmanship details to ensure that you can purchase a product that meets your expectations.
（2）Analyze Buyer Feedback:
When analyzing, you can look at buyer reviews and pay attention to detailed negative feedback to clarify whether the problem is due to product quality defects or service process loopholes. This process is similar to conducting due diligence on a restaurant.
In addition to considering the restaurant’s environment and brand image, the feedback of customers on the quality of dishes and service standards is also crucial.
（1）Clarify Transaction Details:
Before placing an order, it is necessary to fully communicate and reach an agreement with the supplier on various transaction details, including but not limited to delivery time, price, after-sales service, and other key elements.
Clear and detailed confirmation of details is an important basis for preventing subsequent disputes. Similar to the formulation of contract terms, it is necessary to ensure that all agreements are clear and accurate, avoiding any ambiguity or potential risks.
（2）Build a Solid Cooperative Relationship:
Establishing and maintaining a solid cooperative relationship with the supplier is very important. A regular communication mechanism should be maintained, and problems should be fed back and needs should be clarified in a timely manner.
For suppliers that perform outstandingly in the cooperation, they can be considered for inclusion in the long-term cooperation system. This move is expected to obtain better business terms and service guarantees.
A solid cooperative relationship is like a solid business cornerstone, which can effectively promote the stability and efficient operation of the supply chain and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results for both parties.
