Factory audits generate a lot of paperwork, and most of it sits unread once the report lands in an inbox. The Factory Audit Tracker on The Chain changes that by pulling structured, searchable data out of every audit PDF a brand uploads, using AI to do the heavy lifting.

The Chain has been designed to bring every aspect of supply chain management into one connected platform. From mapping suppliers and analysing wages to managing products, certifications, and Digital Product Passports, each module builds on the information entered in the previous one.

This case study explains how The Chain is organised, what each module does, and what information you should prepare before getting started.

The Wage Tracker Module within The Chain simplifies this process. Using AI-powered payroll extraction, it transforms payroll files into structured wage data that can be reviewed, validated, and analysed in just a few steps.

Most fashion brands we speak to right now are stuck on the same question: where do we actually start with DPPs?

The EU Digital Product Passport is no longer a distant concern. The Registry went live on 20 July. Textile enforcement lands around early 2029. Three years feels far until you start counting the twelve months it takes to clean up Tier 2 supplier data, or the six needed to sort GTIN coverage across your range.

So we put together something practical.

Today's fashion brands need more than visibility into who made a product. They also need to understand how it was made, what resources were consumed, what chemicals were used, which certifications apply, and how the product changes over time.

The Product Lifecycle Module within The Chain brings all of this information together in one place. Rather than storing product, supplier, environmental, and compliance data across multiple systems, the module creates a single digital record for every product throughout its lifecycle.

Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are quickly becoming one of the most important tools for transparency, traceability, and regulatory compliance in the fashion and textile industry.

However, creating a DPP is only part of the journey. The real challenge lies in ensuring that every passport contains the information required for regulatory compliance.

The Certification Tracker on The Chain solves this by giving every certificate a home and a clear place in the supply chain.

The tracker works around two distinct types of certification, and understanding the difference matters. Scope Certifications cover a factory, supplier, or material as a whole. Think GRS, GOTS, or OEKO-TEX certificates that apply broadly across a supplier relationship.

Fashion and textile brands often struggle to keep track of their growing network of factories — from current suppliers to future prospects. With compliance documents, audit results, and wage data scattered across systems, oversight becomes messy and inefficient. To solve this, The Chain developed the Factory Management Module — a centralised tool that brings all factory information into one searchable, structured place. With smart search, factory reviews, and clear overviews of wages and compliance, brands can finally gain the clarity they need to make better, more responsible sourcing decisions.