Customer – Supplier

Assent launches distributor tool to cut compliance risk. August 12, 2026 Brinda Harper, SVP of Product at Assent, says new software can help distributors manage compliance data and customer requests more efficiently Distributors are held accountable for the collection, management and sharing of compliance data from suppliers. However, aspects of the process can fall by the wayside as distributors struggle to keep up with the volume of supplier information and workflows Supply chain management software Assent has launched the 'Assent Distributor Experience,' designed to help distributors keep up with the constant changes that occur with evolving product catalogs. The software will also assist distributors with leveraging existing supplier declarations and an active supplier base so relevant data can be utilised at the start of a workflow. Supplier data creates compliance challenges. Positioned at the crucial intersection of regulatory requirements and data flow between manufacturers and end consumers, distributors bear the responsibility when compliance declarations are missing. They face significant challenges, such as handling a massive volume of SKU-level requests that manual workflows simply cannot accommodate, dealing with inconsistent part data and documentation and managing information from thousands of external suppliers. Distributors are increasingly tasked with compliance for complex regulations such as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act), and PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). Because this responsibility often extends beyond their standard operations, the demand for the Assent Distributor Experience software has become more prominent. Brinda Harper, SVP of Product at Assent, explains further: "Distributors are being held accountable for compliance information they do not create, across product catalogues too large and dynamic for manual processes," "Distributors are being held accountable for compliance information they do not create, across product catalogs too large and dynamic for manual processes. " Brinda HarperSVP of Product at Assent "The Assent Distributor Experience changes that model by connecting distributor catalogs, supplier data and customer requests on the Assent Network. It gives distributors a scalable way to protect revenue, strengthen customer trust, and turn compliance responsiveness into a competitive advantage." How the distribution software works. To automate product matching, reuse trusted compliance declarations and respond to customer compliance requests, the Assent Distributor Experience software features agentic tools. Distributors can streamline supplier workflows by leveraging specialised features. These include AI-driven product matching and validation, scalable catalogs, automated management of customer requests, program health monitoring and the efficient collection and reuse of data. The software will also allow distributors to: * Gain real-time visibility into declaration coverage across the entire catalog to lower risks related to undocumented SKUs. * Protect revenue and renewals by effectively responding to customer inquiries, regardless of whether they are currently part of Assent. * Minimise supplier chasing and internal back-and-forth through automated outreach, reminders and role-based routing. * Manage larger volumes of inquiries with greater efficiency by centralising and reusing request data. * Support daily workflows and executive-level reporting by tracking both customer and supplier requests within a single platform. Regulations such as REACH, TSCA and PFAS reporting requirements continue to expand, and distributors are increasingly expected to answer for compliance data they never generated themselves. Tools like the Assent Distributor Experience point to a wider shift in procurement technology: rather than distributors chasing documentation supplier by supplier, platforms are starting to treat compliance data as something to be captured once and reused across the network. Company Portals

Assent Inc. has launched the Assent Distributor Experience, a platform designed to help distributors manage compliance data across large product catalogues. The solution addresses a key challenge: distributors are often held accountable for compliance declarations they don't create, across thousands of products from suppliers they don't control. The platform features AI-powered product matching, automated customer request management, and streamlined data collection. It connects to Assent's existing network, allowing distributors to leverage pre-existing compliance declarations rather than building supplier programmes from scratch. The tool aims to help distributors respond to compliance requests more quickly, reduce manual supplier chasing, and handle higher request volumes efficiently. It's available now for organisations operating exclusively as distributors. Over 1,250 manufacturers and distributors currently use Assent's services.