Documentation Index
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Module: FM-03 Vendor Management
Audience: Facilities Managers, Org Admins, FM Administrators
Last Updated: 2025-12-07
Overview
This guide covers administrative tasks for the Vendor Management module, including vendor setup, certification tracking, performance monitoring, and integration with work orders and accounts payable.
Initial Setup
Before adding vendors, configure module-level settings:
- Navigate to Facilities → Settings → Vendors
- Configure:
- Require Vendor Certification: Whether certifications are required for work order assignment
- Default Certification Alert Days: When to alert before expiration (default: 90, 60, 30)
- Vendor Approval Required: Whether new vendors need approval
- Preferred Vendor Limit Per Category: Maximum preferred vendors per service category
2. Create Vendors
To add a new vendor:
- Navigate to Facilities → Vendors
- Click Add Vendor
- Enter required fields:
- Company Name: Vendor’s legal business name
- Vendor Category: Primary service type
- Enter contact information:
- Primary Contact Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Business Address
- Enter optional fields:
- Hourly Rate: Standard billing rate
- Tax ID (EIN/SSN): For 1099 reporting
- Notes: Additional information
- Click Add Vendor
Note: New vendors start with “Pending Approval” status if approval workflow is enabled.
3. Assign Service Sites
Link vendors to specific sites they can service:
- Open the vendor detail page
- Go to the Sites tab
- Click Add Site
- Select the site(s) the vendor services
- Optionally mark as Preferred Vendor for that site
- Click Save
4. Add Certifications
Track vendor compliance documents:
- Open the vendor detail page
- Go to the Certifications tab
- Click Add Certification
- Enter:
- Certification Type: COI, License, Bonding, or Other
- Certification Name: Specific name (e.g., “General Liability Insurance”)
- Certificate Number (optional)
- Issuing Authority (optional)
- Effective Date
- Expiration Date
- Coverage Amount (for insurance)
- Upload the certificate document (optional)
- Click Save
Vendor Categories
The system supports these service categories:
| Category | Common Services |
|---|
| Plumbing | Pipe repair, drain cleaning, fixture installation |
| Electrical | Wiring, panel upgrades, lighting |
| HVAC | Heating, cooling, ventilation, refrigeration |
| Janitorial | Cleaning, floor care, waste management |
| Landscaping | Lawn care, tree service, irrigation |
| Security | Alarm systems, access control, guards |
| General Contractor | Construction, renovation, multi-trade |
| Other | Specialty services not listed above |
Certification Management
Certification Types
| Type | Description | Common Documents |
|---|
| COI | Certificate of Insurance | General liability, workers comp, auto |
| License | Professional/trade license | Contractor license, electrical license |
| Bonding | Surety bond | Payment bond, performance bond |
| Other | Additional requirements | W-9, service agreements |
Expiration Alerts
The system monitors certification expiration dates:
| Alert Level | Days Before Expiration | Action |
|---|
| 90-day | 90 days | Informational alert |
| 60-day | 60 days | Warning alert |
| 30-day | 30 days | Urgent alert |
| Expired | Past due | Critical alert, may block assignment |
Edge Function: Automated Checks
The check-vendor-certifications edge function runs daily to:
- Update certification alert flags
- Mark expired certifications
- Generate notifications for upcoming expirations
The system automatically tracks:
| Metric | Calculation |
|---|
| Total Work Orders | Count of assigned work orders |
| Completion Rate | Completed / Total assigned |
| Avg Completion Time | Average days from assignment to completion |
| On-Time Rate | Completed by due date / Total completed |
| Satisfaction Rating | Average of work order ratings (1-5) |
- Open the vendor detail page
- Go to the Performance tab
- View:
- Current metrics summary
- Trend charts over time
- Work order history
- Preferred Vendor Selection: Use metrics to identify top performers
- Vendor Reviews: Schedule reviews with low-performing vendors
- Rate Negotiations: Use data to justify rate discussions
Work Order Integration
Assigning Vendors
When assigning vendors to work orders:
-
The system validates:
- Vendor is active
- Vendor is approved (if required)
- Vendor has valid certifications (if required)
- Vendor serves the work order site
-
If validation fails, the assignment is blocked with a clear message
Assignment Workflow
Pending → Accepted → In Progress → Completed → Invoiced → Paid
↓
Declined
Tracking Vendor Assignments
The fm_vendor_work_orders table tracks:
- Assignment status and dates
- Quote information
- Scheduled work date
- Actual start/end times
- Invoice and payment status
Tax ID Management
For 1099 reporting, vendors can store:
- EIN (Employer Identification Number): XX-XXXXXXX
- SSN (Social Security Number): XXX-XX-XXXX
Security:
- Tax IDs are masked in the UI (showing only last 4 digits)
- Full access requires appropriate permissions
- Data is encrypted at rest
Payment Tracking
Each vendor assignment tracks:
- Quote Amount: Initial estimate
- Invoice Number: Vendor’s invoice reference
- Invoice Amount: Actual billed amount
- Invoice Date: Date invoice received
- Payment Status: Pending, Approved, Paid
- Payment Date: When payment was processed
Security & Access Control
Role-Based Permissions
| Role | View Vendors | Assign to WO | Create/Edit | Manage Settings |
|---|
| Platform Admin | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Org Admin | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| FM Admin | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Facilities Manager | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Staff | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| View Only | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Multi-Tenant Isolation
- Vendors are organization-specific
- RLS policies enforce organization boundaries
- No cross-organization vendor access
Audit Trail
All changes are tracked:
- Created by / created at
- Updated by / updated at
- Certification changes logged
- Assignment status changes logged
Integration with Other Modules
Work Orders (FM-01)
- Vendors assigned to work orders via
fm_vendor_work_orders
- Work order costs include vendor costs
- Vendor performance updated on work order completion
Inventory (FM-02) - Future
- Link vendors as preferred suppliers for inventory items
- Vendor catalogs with item pricing
- Automatic vendor selection for reorders
Accounts Payable (FA-03) - Future
- Vendor invoices flow to AP for processing
- 3-way match: Work order ↔ Invoice ↔ Payment
- Vendor payment terms and discounts
Purchase Orders (FA-04) - Future
- Create POs for vendor work
- Track vendor quotes vs actuals
- Vendor contract pricing
Module Settings Reference
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|
require_vendor_certification | Block assignment if certifications expired | true |
certification_alert_days | Days before expiration to alert | [90, 60, 30] |
vendor_approval_required | New vendors need approval | true |
max_preferred_per_category | Limit preferred vendors | 3 |
auto_update_performance | Update metrics on WO completion | true |
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Cannot assign vendor to work order
- Check vendor status is Active
- Check vendor is Approved
- Check certifications are valid
- Verify vendor serves the work order’s site
Certification alerts not sending
- Verify notification settings
- Check edge function is running
- Confirm expiration dates are set correctly
Performance metrics not updating
- Ensure work orders are marked as completed
- Check trigger function is enabled
- Manually trigger recalculation if needed
Tax ID validation errors
- EIN format: XX-XXXXXXX or XXXXXXXXX
- SSN format: XXX-XX-XXXX or XXXXXXXXX
- Remove extra spaces or special characters
Best Practices
- Regular Reviews: Review vendor certifications monthly
- Performance Monitoring: Check low performers quarterly
- Documentation: Keep digital copies of all certifications
- Site Assignment: Keep vendor-site mappings current
- Preferred Vendors: Limit to top 2-3 per category
- Tax Documentation: Collect W-9 before first payment
- Contact Updates: Verify contact info annually
Need Help?
- Technical Issues: Contact system administrator
- Process Questions: Contact Facilities Manager
- Feature Requests: Submit through feedback system