Review Policy

TradeCompliance.Software is committed to maintaining an authoritative, neutral, and factual directory of software and services for the global trade compliance community. This Review Policy governs our directory and outlines the standards for our research team, verified practitioners, and listed vendors.

This document includes three main sections:

  • Understanding Our Directory: An overview of our inclusion criteria, research methodology, and verification process.
  • Writing Reviews & Practitioner Feedback: Guidelines for verified practitioners submitting reviews, feedback, or corrections.
  • Vendor Guidelines: Rules and expectations for software vendors and service providers listed on our platform.

1. Understanding Our Directory

Directory Overview

Our directory is designed to serve practitioners in export controls, sanctions screening, customs management, and related fields. We focus on creating a site that is precise, efficient, and free of marketing noise. The profiles on our site are generated through independent research, supplemented by reviews from verified practitioners.

Vendor Inclusion Criteria

To be included in the TradeCompliance.Software directory, a vendor must offer a software product or managed service that directly addresses trade compliance requirements, such as:

  • Global Trade Management (GTM)
  • Export Controls & Licensing
  • Sanctions Screening / Restricted Party Screening (RPS)
  • Customs & Import Management
  • Tariff Classification (HTS/ECCN)

Quality Assurance (QA) and Verification Process

We are committed to being a platform for high-quality, practitioner-grade reviews. All reviews and feedback are manually examined by our team to ensure they are from verified sources and provide helpful content.

Our verification process includes three key checks:

  • Identity Check: Each reviewer is researched by our team to find key identifiers (such as name, job title, or corporate email address) to ensure the review was left by a real practitioner. If we cannot verify the reviewer's identity, the review will not be published.
  • Conflict of Interest Check: We check the reviewer's affiliation against the product being reviewed. If the reviewer is affiliated with the vendor or a direct competitor, the review will not be published.
  • Content Check: We evaluate the review to ensure it is original, authentic, and meets our quality standards (e.g., no abusive language, spam, or marketing copy).

2. Writing Reviews & Practitioner Feedback

We welcome reviews and feedback from verified practitioners to ensure our directory remains the most accurate resource available.

Review Guidelines

Reviews that do not meet the following guidelines may be removed or not published:

  • Verified Identity: Reviews must be submitted with an identity we can verify. We encourage logging in via LinkedIn or using a corporate email address to facilitate this verification.
  • Anonymous Posting: Reviewers may opt for their review to remain anonymous to vendors and site users. In these cases, the reviewer's name and company details will be made available to our back office for verification purposes only, and will be hidden from the public. The review will appear as posted by a "Verified Practitioner."
  • No Conflicts of Interest: Vendors, their employees, or anyone with a financial interest in a product are not allowed to review their own product or a competitor's product.
  • Original Content: Reviews must contain original content and must not be copied from another source.
  • Objective and Factual: Feedback should focus on factual capabilities regarding regulatory coverage, integration, deployment models, or corporate status.

Reviewer Expectations

We strive to provide a safe and neutral platform for practitioners. Reviewers can expect:

  • Freedom from Harassment: Reviewers should never be subjected to harassment from a vendor or another reviewer.
  • Equal Treatment: All reviews undergo the same verification process, regardless of the rating or the product being reviewed.
  • Privacy Protection: We do not disclose personal contact information to third parties (except as required by law). Anonymous reviewers' identities are strictly protected.

Flagging a Review for Investigation

If you believe a review is fraudulent or violates our guidelines, you may flag it for investigation by contacting us. Our team will evaluate the flagged review. Because we are a neutral platform, we will not remove a review simply because a vendor disagrees with the opinions stated, provided the review meets our verification and content standards.

3. Vendor Guidelines

In an effort to protect our users and remain a neutral, trusted platform, we require vendors to adhere to the following guidelines regarding their profiles and reviews on TradeCompliance.Software.

Vendor Expectations

  • Profile Updates: Vendors may request updates to their profiles to reflect new product launches, acquisitions, or changes in deployment models. All requested updates are subject to our independent verification process.
  • No Paid Placements for Factual Alteration: We do not accept payment to alter factual data, remove accurate historical information, or inject marketing copy into our standardized profiles.
  • Respecting Neutrality: As a neutral reference tool, we will not change a profile simply because a vendor prefers different phrasing, provided our current phrasing is factually accurate.

Prohibited Conduct

  • Misrepresentation: Vendors must not attempt to misrepresent their regulatory coverage or integration capabilities.
  • Review Manipulation: Vendors may not post reviews on a user's behalf, submit reviews for their own product, or post reviews about a competitor's product. Vendors must not attempt to influence review ratings through the enforcement of non-disparagement contract clauses.
  • Harassment: Vendors must not contact reviewers directly about the content of a review in a harassing manner, nor may they harass our research team.
  • Abuse of Flagging System: Vendors must not abuse our review investigation service by flagging reviews under false pretenses to artificially inflate their ratings.

Disclaimer

TradeCompliance.Software is a reference tool, not an endorsement platform. The inclusion of a vendor in our directory does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Practitioners must conduct their own due diligence when selecting software or services to meet their specific regulatory obligations.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

Governing Law: All matters relating to this Review Policy, and any dispute or claim arising therefrom or related thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule.

Mandatory Binding Arbitration: Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Review Policy or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation, or validity thereof, shall be determined by mandatory binding arbitration in Texas, administered by JAMS pursuant to its Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures.