Many overseas buyers find suppliers on B2B portals, receive a polished catalogue and a good price, and send an advance. Weeks later they learn the “factory” was a trading office with no machines of its own. Traders are not bad by default, but you should know who you are dealing with before money moves. These are the checks we run on every supplier.
1. Match the GSTIN to the factory address
Every registered Indian business has a GST number. Look it up on the official GST portal and check the legal name, the principal place of business and the business type. If the registered address is a small office in a commercial complex while the supplier claims a large plant, ask why.
2. Check the Import Export Code (IEC)
A business that exports directly needs an IEC from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. A missing IEC is not always a deal-breaker, but it tells you the supplier will rely on someone else to export.
3. Ask for a live video walk-through — not photos
Photos can be borrowed. A live call where the camera moves from the gate to the production floor, shows machines running and the raw material store, is much harder to fake. Ask them to show today’s newspaper or a handwritten note with your company name.
4. Count the machines against the capacity claimed
If a supplier claims 50,000 units a month, the machines, shifts and workers you see should support that number. Big gaps usually mean subcontracting.
5. Speak to the owner or director
Sales staff will promise anything. The person who signs the cheques knows real lead times, real MOQs and what the factory will not do.
6. Verify certificates at the issuer
ISO, BIS, OEKO-TEX or organic certificates should be checked on the certifying body’s own database, not just as a PDF.
7. Start with a sample and a small first order
Even a verified factory should earn your trust in stages: approved sample, small order, inspection, then scale.
Why we do this on the ground
At Global Bridge Bharat we visit 4–5 manufacturers for each product and run these checks in person — with live video for the buyer, as far as each supplier permits. We take no commission from suppliers, so our only job is to tell you the truth about them.