Each stage in the Trade Shield workflow has two names:

Stages are also colour-coded by who is responsible at that point in the workflow.

⚠ Note: Bureau confirming company details only appears when you select "Can't find your company — add it now". This is used for cross-border applications or CIPC non-registered entities. SLA is 30 minutes.

ⓘ Tip: These are the two stages where the applicant is responsible for taking action. If a workflow is sitting idle, check whether the applicant still needs to submit or resubmit their information.

These stages only appear when the negotiation feature is enabled on your workflow and the customer disputes the proposed terms and conditions.

⚠ Note: If the workflow is stuck at the dispute stage, the customer may still be reviewing or negotiating terms. Follow up with the customer or escalate to your legal team if required.

ⓘ Tip: Bureau report request and bureau report pending are two separate stages. The SLA for bureau processing is 30 minutes.

ⓘ Tip: Processing limit recommendation and limit recommendation are two separate stages — the first waits for the model to run, the second processes the result. The credit insurance step only appears if your workflow has credit insurance configured.

ⓘ Tip: Not all 5 approval levels will be active on every workflow — your organisation may only use 1, 2 or 3. Data capture is used to create the customer in your internal ERP system and enter the account number into the platform.

Q: Why is my application workflow not moving to the next stage?

This usually happens when required documents or information have not been submitted by the customer, or when an internal validation (such as a bureau check or risk review) is still pending.

What to do:

✓ Check whether the customer still needs to submit any documents.

✓ Verify if a review step (risk, bureau, verification) is waiting for internal approval. Once the missing action is completed, the workflow should move forward automatically.

Q: Why is the application stuck on "Risk knockout / Initial risk check"?

The system flagged a possible risk indicator (e.g., company age, judgement listing), which sends the application to the risk team for review.

What to do:

✓ Check whether the risk team has received the application.

✓ Follow up with them if the review seems delayed. Ensure the customer has supplied any information required for the risk assessment.

Q: Why aren't the terms & conditions progressing past the dispute stage?

The customer may still be reviewing the terms or negotiating certain points, and no agreement has been finalised yet.

What to do:

✓ Follow up with the customer for feedback or clarification.

✓ Escalate to the legal team if required.

✓ Once an agreement is reached, the workflow can proceed to the review stage.

The diagram below shows the full application workflow from initiation to completion. Optional stages are shown with a dashed border. Responsibility is colour-coded: cyan = your company, blue = Trade Shield, green = customer, orange = optional.

ⓘ Tip: Optional stages (dashed orange border) only appear when specific features are enabled on your workflow configuration. Your workflow may not include all of them.