The supplier operations blog
Practical guides on supplier management, compliance, regulation and AI, plus news from the team building Clover.
EUDR applies December 30: what your suppliers have to send you
The EU Deforestation Regulation starts applying to large and medium companies on December 30, 2026. Most of the data it needs sits with your suppliers. Here's what to ask for, and how to get it in time. Shawn Cady
Shawn Cady
The work between you and your suppliers deserves its own system
Onboarding, COIs, item setup, price changes. The work between you and your suppliers runs on email. Here's why it needs a system of its own. Josh McBride
Josh McBride
The Lazy Developer's Guide to Surviving AI
The instinct that's defined the best engineers for decades is the same one that'll keep them relevant. They just need to point it somewhere new. Shawn Cady
Beyond the Tariffs: A Practical Guide for Supply Chain Leaders
In today’s volatile supply chain landscape, resilience is no longer optional. This guide outlines practical strategies to help supply chain leaders proactively adapt by improving visibility, building flexibility, deepening supplier collaboration, and leveraging modern technology to navigate uncertainty and prepare for whatever comes next. Josh McBride
Trump’s Tariff Economy - Why Country of Origin Data Matters More Than Ever
The Trump administration's aggressive trade policy, marked by significantly expanded tariffs and intensified customs enforcement alongside USMCA implementation, has raised the financial stakes dramatically. In this landscape, precise Country of Origin data becomes paramount, transforming from a compliance detail into a crucial factor for mitigating cost and risk. Shawn Cady
Understanding FSMA 204 Compliance and Exemptions: What we know
For organizations impacted by FSMA 204, whether you’re a food manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or operator, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 204 presents both a challenge and an opportunity. With the FDA’s food traceability rule already in effect, the compliance deadline looms large, and many businesses are still unclear about their responsibilities. Shawn Cady
What a Modern Supplier Portal Should Deliver
What a supplier portal is, where most portals fall short, and the eight things a modern supplier or vendor portal should do for you and your suppliers. Shawn Cady
FSMA 204: The Real Risk of Missing Traceability Records
What Your Business Needs to Know About HACCP and FSMA 204 Before It's Too Late Shawn Cady
Death by Spreadsheet: How Excel is Holding Your Supply Chain Back
Excel has earned its place as the supply chain’s favorite tool. It’s powerful, flexible, and always within reach. But beneath the surface, relying on spreadsheets to manage supplier tasks can quietly erode productivity, leaving teams tangled in versions, errors, and endless manual fixes. Shawn Cady
Navigating the Coming Supply Chain Storm: Equipping Your Team for US Policy Shifts
The supply chain is bracing for another wave of transformation. With the incoming administration expected to introduce policies favoring domestic sourcing and tighter trade regulations, businesses must adapt quickly. For companies still recovering from COVID-19's disruptions, the ability to communicate, collaborate, and strategize across global networks is more critical than ever. Shawn Cady
The Communication Gap in Supplier Relationships
Supplier communication is usually scattered across systems and inboxes. Here's why it deserves its own layer, and how a supplier collaboration platform brings it together. Shawn Cady
Silent Signals: Unveiling the Hidden Language of Supply Chains
Traditional supply chain metrics often miss the early signs of disruption. The conversations between companies and their suppliers hold those signals, and Clover is building toward reading them. Shawn Cady
The Hidden Costs of Swivel Chair Interfaces
How organizations fall prey to one of the most costly inefficiencies out there, and how it's likely already costing you much more than you think. Shawn Cady
Traditional Supplier Management vs. Clover
What traditional supplier management looks like in practice, the same supplier onboarded both ways, and when supplier management software is worth it. Shawn Cady
Supplier Collaboration Platforms: The Evolution of Supplier Relationship Management
What supplier relationship management software got right, the work it leaves out, and how supplier collaboration platforms take SRM to the next step. Josh McBride
Nine Ways to Nurture Highly Collaborative Supplier Relationships
Highly collaborative supplier relationships generate value beyond cost-savings. Learn how you can nurture more collaboration between you and your suppliers. Josh McBride
The Definitive Guide to Supply Chain Collaboration
Uncover the advantages of supply chain collaboration, including its positive impact on sustainability, cost-reduction, and talent turnover. Shawn Cady
Ledgerset is now Clover
Our rebrand better reflects what we do, supporting teams within buying organizations to better collaborate internally and with suppliers. Shawn Cady
The Undeniable Benefits of a Supplier Diversity Program
Diversity in the workforce and supplier base has numerous benefits, but unlocking those benefits can be challenging. Josh McBride
A Quick Guide to CPSIA Compliance for Manufacturers and Retailers
Enacted in 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) is a United States federal law that upholds safety standards for consumer products, with a particular focus on children’s products. Shawn CadySee Clover configured for your workflows
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