Getting Started with Vendor Pulse
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
An active Zeron account with Vendor Pulse access
Admin or Vendor Manager role assigned to your profile
A list of vendors your organization works with
Step 1: Log In to the Platform
Navigation: Browser → Zeron Login Page
Navigate to your organization's Zeron login page.
Enter your credentials or use SSO to authenticate.
Upon successful login, you will be redirected to the Vendor Pulse Dashboard.
> Tip: If your organization uses Single Sign-On (SSO), click the SSO button and authenticate through your identity provider.
Step 2: Understand the Navigation
The Vendor Pulse sidebar contains the following sections:
| Section | Purpose |
|---|
| Dashboard | Overview of vendor risk posture, assessment statistics, and key metrics |
| Vendors | Manage your vendor portfolio — add, edit, review, and track vendors |
| MasterVault | Template library for reusable assessment questionnaires and content |
| ZIN Advisor | AI-powered questionnaire assistant with knowledge base and checklists |
| Documents | Central document repository for vendor-related files |
| Reports | Generate and download vendor risk reports |
| Admin | Management and Settings — user management, organization configuration |
> Note: The sections visible to you depend on your assigned role and permissions.
Step 3: Add Your First Vendor
Navigation: Sidebar → Vendors → Add Vendor
Click Vendors in the sidebar to open the vendor list.
Click the Add Vendor button.
The Add Vendor wizard will guide you through a 3-step process:
Step 1: Enter the vendor name and domain. The system can auto-suggest vendors from an external profile database.
Step 2: Enter organization details — business owner, contact email, industry, tier, and service classification.
Step 3: Review all entered information and confirm.
Click Submit to add the vendor.
> Tip: Start typing the vendor name — Vendor Pulse will search its external database and auto-populate details if a match is found.
Step 4: Review the Dashboard
Navigation: Sidebar → Dashboard
Click Dashboard in the sidebar.
The dashboard displays:
Total Vendors — count of all vendors in your portfolio
Assessment Status — breakdown of pending, in-progress, and completed assessments
Risk Distribution — vendor risk levels across your portfolio
Recent Activity — latest vendor actions and updates
Step 5: Explore Key Workflows
After the initial setup, proceed with these workflows:
| Step | Workflow | Navigation Path |
|---|
| 1 | Add Vendors | Sidebar → Vendors → Add Vendor |
| 2 | Create Assessment Templates | Sidebar → MasterVault |
| 3 | Send Questionnaires | Vendor Details → Assessments |
| 4 | Use AI Assistant | Sidebar → ZIN Advisor |
| 5 | Review Risk Scores | Vendor Details → Risk Tab |
| 6 | Generate Reports | Sidebar → Reports |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|
| Cannot see the Add Vendor button | Verify your role includes vendor creation permissions. Contact your administrator. |
| Dashboard shows no data | Data populates once vendors are added and assessments are created. Complete the key workflows above. |
| Vendor auto-suggest not working | Auto-suggestions appear after typing at least 3 characters. Ensure you are connected to the internet. |
| Sidebar sections missing | Your role may not have the required permissions. Contact your administrator. |
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