Who do you spend with? 

In order to fully understand who you spend with it is necessary to be able to first categorise and classify your suppliers. We append, to each record, a number of trade classifications (including SIC & Thomson) that we know to be useful in analysing public sector spend data. Classification of suppliers to the eClass and UNSPSC taxonomies is accomplished by mapping the appended trade classifications using ‘cross-walks', managed and maintained by us for exactly this purpose. Our mapping engine, known as 'Babel', is currently configured to map to NHS eClass version 2.0 and UNSPSC version 11.0501. Additionally, our collaboration with the OGC has resulted in us developing mapping to the OGC's PSPES taxonomy, enabling customers to automatically generate the annual OGC spend survey return.

Our database supports all of the following taxonomies:

• Thomson
• UNSPSC Segment, Family, Class & Commodity
• eClass levels 1-3
• Pro-Class levels 1-3
• Proc-HE levels 1 and 2
• SIC - 1 digit and 4 digit
• VfM ( Wales) levels 1 and 2
• PSPES levels 1 and 2
• NAICS
• NIGP

To ensure that supplier classifications are as accurate as is feasible, our data analysts manually validate all core trade supplier records that represent 97% of spend by value. Manual validation by our UK based data analysts is essential if the result is to be as accurate, comprehensive and fit-for-purpose as is feasible.