Yardi VendorShield (vendor enrollment through Yardi VendorCafe): What Contractors Need to Get Approved

What it is

VendorShield is Yardi's vendor credentialing and compliance service. Yardi says it automates "vendor credential screenings and checks" and checks that vendors "meet requirements for insurance, universal checks and more." Vendors enroll and manage their information through Yardi VendorCafe, Yardi's vendor portal. VendorCafe also lets vendors upload insurance certificates, get expiration alerts, and view invoice and payment status.

Who asks for it

Property owners and managers that use Yardi software and have bought VendorShield. Yardi says its compliance team "will handle verification, monitoring, collection and auditing of insurance data" for those clients.

Have this ready

Yardi's VendorShield brochure lists what is collected:

• W-9
• Insurance (certificate of insurance)
• Licensing
• Universal background screening information

Each property company can "create custom rules to ensure suppliers meet your requirements," so ask for their specific list and limits.

Steps

1. Ask the property manager if they use Yardi VendorShield. If they do, get their VendorCafe enrollment instructions or link. Yardi doesn't post a public vendor sign-up link.
2. Enroll online through VendorCafe. Yardi describes this as "online enrollment through VendorCafe."
3. Submit your W-9, insurance, licensing and background screening information.
4. Yardi's compliance team verifies the information against the property company's rules.
5. Yardi says that "once approved, vendors are regularly audited to ensure credentialing and insurance compliance." Keep your documents current in VendorCafe.
6. Use VendorCafe to check invoice status and payment details, and to watch for expiration alerts.

Costs and renewals

• Price: Yardi's public pages don't say whether vendors pay a fee. Ask the property manager or Yardi before enrolling.
• Renewals: Approved vendors are audited on an ongoing basis. VendorCafe sends expiration alerts for documents like insurance certificates. Plan to upload renewed certificates each time a policy renews.

Watch out for

• Payments can be held. Yardi says VendorShield can freeze "POs and payments for noncompliant vendors." An expired certificate or missing document can delay your payment, not just your approval.
• Custom rules per client. Each property company sets its own rules. Being approved for one doesn't mean you're approved for another.
• Additional insured wording. If the property company wants to be named on your certificate, get the exact names and wording from them and give it to your agent word for word.
• Keep your COI current. Ongoing audits mean lapses get noticed.
• Limited public detail. Yardi publishes little vendor-side information. Get fees, timelines and requirements in writing from the property manager.

Keep these documents current with VendorReady →

Sources

• www.yardi.com/product/vendorshield/
• www.yardi.com/product/vendorcafe/
• www.yardi.com/resources/vendorshield-brochure/pdf/

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