The Supplier Explorer tool helps departments to source potential suppliers, including those already onboarded with Stanford, that meet a variety of criteria such as local, small, and sustainable. New suppliers are added to the Stanford supplier database using the Supplier Query & Request tool.
About
Supplier Explorer includes more than seven million suppliers from more than 450 sources which include government agencies, certification agencies, supplier self-registrations, and artificial intelligence (AI). The Supplier Explorer database is constantly monitored and updated for quality assurance.
Key Features & Benefits
- Robust Search & Filters
- Search across 7M+ suppliers from 450+ trusted sources.
- Narrow results with filters (e.g., location, certification, size, environmental attributes).
- Export results for further analysis.
- New Supplier Discovery
- Identify new suppliers that align with business needs and responsible purchasing priorities prior to adding them to Stanford’s supplier database using the Supplier Query & Request tool.
- Stanford Supplier Identification
- Quickly find existing Stanford suppliers that support responsible purchasing.
- Review and verify their certifications.
- Note that Stanford suppliers are refreshed in the Supplier Explorer database on a quarterly basis in January, April, July, and October. If you do not see a Stanford supplier in the database, it may be due to the refresh cycle. Use the Supplier Query & Request tool to check for new suppliers that have been onboarded with Stanford since the last Supplier Explorer database refresh.
- TrustIQ Confidence Indicator
- View a 1–5 stability/reliability score based on company size, years in business, and corporate experience to assess supplier risk before engagement.
- Saved Searches & Lists
- Save search criteria for future reuse.
- Create lists by type/project and share with colleagues.
- Detailed Supplier Profiles
- Access rich profiles: company information, revenues, employees, contacts, ownership certifications and expiration dates, environmental and emissions data, NAICS/SIC codes, and more.
- Alerts
- “Follow” suppliers to get alerts on profile updates or certification changes.
- Supplier Engagement
- Invite suppliers to register with Supplier.io to expand the database and keep information current.
- Market Analyzer
- Measure the availability of businesses with ownership certifications in any industry.
- Use insights to guide sourcing and goal setting.
Important Sourcing Considerations
Departments should first explore the university’s centralized programs, for applicable purchases:
- The Stanford Travel Program for university-sponsored travel.
- Cardinal Print for printing devices.
- UIT’s Stanford University Hardware Program for work computers and accessories.
- Cardinal Temps centralized program for temporary workers
It is not recommended to use Supplier Explorer when purchasing goods and services through Amazon Business or SmartMart Catalog Suppliers. Learn about more responsible purchasing considerations.
Access
Supplier Explorer is available to all faculty, staff and students with an active Stanford email address. Authority privileges are not required.
- Enter https://explorer.supplier.io/Login/sign_in in your browser.
- Enter your Stanford email address and select Next. This will automatically log you in via the Stanford single sign-on process.
After logging in, new features may be highlighted as pop-up announcements. Select “X” or Dismiss to close the window and not be prompted until the next release, or scroll down to Learn More.
How to get started
- Understand criteria used to differentiate suppliers.
- Select the scope of suppliers for your search.
- My Suppliers includes Stanford’s existing suppliers with specific size or ownership attributes, as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration and Federal Acquisition Regulations, or leading certification bodies. If the supplier information is current, no new supplier setup is needed to initiate a non-catalog request in iProcurement.
- Categorized Suppliers Only includes all suppliers in the Supplier Explorer database with specific size or ownership attributes, as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration and Federal Acquisition Regulations, or leading certification bodies.
- All Suppliers includes all suppliers in the Supplier Explorer database (7+ million). Supplier setup within Stanford’s supplier database may be needed, unless a PCard payment method is used.
- Search by keywords describing the products or services you need (e.g., software development, catering, lab equipment, marketing services). If you have a specific supplier in mind, you can also search by supplier name.
- Use filters to narrow your search and review supplier profiles. For help understanding filters, see Resource: Understanding Supplier Explorer Tool Filters and Classifications.
- Contact the supplier:
- For current Stanford suppliers, search for contact information using the Supplier Query & Request tool.
- When sourcing from a new supplier, use the contact information found in the supplier profile section of the Supplier Explorer Tool.
Learning
From the Supplier Explorer main menu, select Company Training to access the:
- Explorer User Guide
- Explorer Training Video
How tos
- Make a Supplier or Payee Request (using the Supplier Query & Requests system)
- Create a Standard Non-Catalog Request in iProcurement (e.g., Blanket Order, Capital Equipment, Capital Project, Consultant, Goods, Radioactive, Services and Subaward)