Directory & Transparency
API access for supplier verification programs
How to provide reliable verification data to partners through APIs.
Why this matters
Credible accreditation depends on consistent methods, clear decisions, and evidence that stands up to independent review. This publication translates essential expectations into practical steps so teams can prepare, communicate, and operate with confidence.
Key requirements and expectations
- Define what is publicly visible and why.
- Make status and scope understandable to non-experts.
- Keep data synchronized with authoritative records.
- Provide a clear path to verify and report issues.
- Define authentication and rate limits for external access.
- Return clear status and scope fields in responses.
- Log all API access for auditability.
Evidence and records to prepare
- Public record schema aligned with internal records.
- Change logs showing status updates and approvals.
- Verification workflow for external inquiries.
- Policies for data accuracy and correction timelines.
- API documentation with schema and examples.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Publishing claims without scope or status context.
- Out-of-date listings that erode trust.
- No clear way to report misuse or inaccuracies.
- Overly technical language that users cannot interpret.
- Exposing sensitive data without access controls.
Practical checklist
- Define status labels and their meaning.
- Synchronize public data with authoritative sources.
- Provide a verification or inquiry path.
- Review public records on a fixed cadence.
- Validate API output against public directory records.