01 · Submit brief 02 · Criteria extraction 03 · Scoring 04 · Analyst review 05 · Delivery
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Intelligence that works
the way you think.

DistributorIQ is not a directory. It's a structured research and scoring process — calibrated to your specific requirements — that delivers a ranked, analyst-verified shortlist in 48 hours.

48hrs
Typical turnaround
5+
Steps in the process
50+
Data fields scored per distributor
100%
Analyst reviewed before delivery
The old way vs. the DistributorIQ way

The traditional process
is broken by design.

The old way
Weeks of fragmented research and uncomfortable uncertainty
  • ✕
    Cold outreach to trade associations and chambers of commerce with unpredictable response rates
  • ✕
    Desktop research producing inconsistent, unverified data across 10+ spreadsheet tabs
  • ✕
    Reference calls with contacts who may have conflicting interests
  • ✕
    No standardised framework — comparing distributors across different data points becomes impossible
  • ✕
    Regulatory and financial gaps only discovered during due diligence — after weeks of engagement
  • ✕
    Final decision made on incomplete information, under time pressure
6–12
Weeks to a
confident shortlist
VS
The DistributorIQ way
A structured, AI-assisted process built around your specific brief
  • ✓
    Submit a brief in plain language — we extract the criteria, you review and adjust the weights
  • ✓
    AI scores every distributor in the database against your bespoke criteria framework
  • ✓
    A specialist analyst reviews, challenges, and refines the AI output before anything reaches you
  • ✓
    50+ standardised data fields per distributor — every comparison is like-for-like
  • ✓
    Regulatory status, financial profile, and conflict-of-interest checks built into the process
  • ✓
    Ranked shortlist with rationale — you arrive at the first conversation already informed
48
Hours to a
verified shortlist
01
Submit your brief

Describe what you need
in plain language.
We handle the rest.

Most distributor searches start with a product spec, a regional brief, or a conversation between a commercial director and a regional VP. DistributorIQ starts exactly there — you write what you know, we extract the signal.

AI interpretation, not keyword matching. Our AI reads your brief the way an experienced analyst would — inferring that "MoH tender access required" means you need a large, government-connected distributor, not simply ticking a checkbox.
  • Describe your product, target geography, coverage requirements, and exclusivity preference
  • Include any deal-breakers — cold chain, capital goods capability, specific channel focus
  • No required format — plain English, bullet points, or a copy-pasted RFQ all work
  • Alternatively, set criteria manually using the structured input mode
DISTRIBUTORIQ · BRIEF INPUT
AI interpret
Manual input
Your brief
We are launching an oncology drug nationally across Saudi Arabia. SFDA registration and cold chain infrastructure are non-negotiable. We require MoH tender access and a proven government relationships track record. Exclusivity within our therapeutic category is expected. We are open to large, established operators only.
Quick examples
Portable diagnostic device · Riyadh & Jeddah · field engineers needed
Surgical robot · capital goods capability · mid-size partner preferred
02
Criteria extraction & weighting

Your brief becomes a
bespoke scoring
framework.

This is the step that separates DistributorIQ from a database search. The AI extracts explicit and implied criteria from your brief, proposes weights based on what matters most for your situation, and presents them for your review. You stay in control.

Weights are not fixed. A pharma brief where cold chain is non-negotiable scores it at 22%. A diagnostics brief where capital goods matter most scores that at 28%. The framework is built around your brief every time.
  • AI extracts 6–10 criteria directly from your language and industry context
  • Suggested weights are explained — you can see the rationale for each before accepting
  • Adjust any weight, add custom criteria, or override the AI's interpretation
  • Weights must sum to 100% — the system enforces rigour before scoring begins
  • Manual mode available for users who prefer direct structured input
DISTRIBUTORIQ · CRITERIA & WEIGHTS
✦ AI interpretation
National pharma launch requiring regulatory-grade cold chain, MoH tender access, and category exclusivity. Scale and government connectivity are the primary discriminators.
Scoring weights
Subsector match
28%
Pharma subsector match critical for regulatory alignment
Cold chain capability
22%
Non-negotiable — oncology requires certified cold chain
MoH tender pre-qualification
20%
Govt. access essential for national launch volume
Exclusivity compatibility
18%
Category exclusivity expected as standard commercial term
Coverage & size
12%
Total weight 100%
03
Database scoring

Every distributor.
Scored against
your framework.

Once your criteria and weights are confirmed, the scoring engine runs against the full database. Every distributor in the relevant country and sector is evaluated, ranked, and flagged for any data gaps or conflict risks — automatically.

Not keyword matching — weighted scoring. A distributor that ticks your top three criteria at high fidelity ranks above one that partially matches all six. Partial credit and penalty logic are built into the model, not bolted on.
  • Every distributor receives a composite match score from 0–100%
  • Partial matches are scored proportionally — a flexible exclusivity preference scores 70% against an exclusive requirement
  • Data quality is flagged per distributor — you can see where a score relies on inferred vs. verified data
  • Conflict-of-interest check runs automatically — overlapping brand portfolios are flagged before you engage
  • Results are sortable, filterable, and comparable within the platform
DISTRIBUTORIQ · RANKED RESULTS
12 distributors scored · Pharma · National · Exclusive 3 shortlisted
1
Najd Pharma Partners
Riyadh · National · Large · Est. SAR 310M
36-year operator, dedicated MoH tender division, 6,000 m² certified cold chain — strongest pharma network by reach.
Pharma Cold chain ✓ MoH ✓ Exclusive
94%
match
2
Horizon Healthcare Logistics
Jeddah · National · Large · Est. SAR 480M
Largest cold chain in dataset (8,000 m²), MoH pre-qualified, non-exclusive preference may require negotiation.
Pharma Cold chain ✓ MoH ✓ Non-excl.
81%
match
3
Al Shifa Medical Supplies
Riyadh · National · Large · Est. SAR 420M
Strong national reach, blue-chip brand roster. Pharma handled separately from devices — confirm allocation model.
⚠ Carries AstraZeneca — confirm oncology category overlap
68%
match
+ 9 more results · sorted by match score
04
Analyst review

AI does the work.
An analyst guarantees
the output.

Every shortlist is reviewed by a specialist analyst before it leaves the platform. This is not a rubber stamp — analysts actively challenge rankings, surface edge cases the model missed, and add qualitative context that no algorithm can produce.

The human layer is non-negotiable. Markets like Saudi Arabia have nuances — family group ownership structures, the significance of a particular ministry contact, the real-world reputation of a distributor versus their public profile — that require local expertise, not just data.
  • Analyst verifies that criteria interpretation matches the intent of your brief
  • Qualitative intelligence added — relationships, reputation, known operational issues
  • Any data gaps explicitly flagged with recommended diligence questions
  • Rankings challenged where model output doesn't reflect market reality
  • Conflict-of-interest and exclusivity risks surfaced and annotated
DISTRIBUTORIQ · ANALYST REVIEW
Review in progress
Sarah Al-Hamdan · KSA Specialist
NP
Najd Pharma Partners
AI score: 94% · Analyst confirms: ✓ Maintain rank 1
Analyst notes
Abdullah Al Najd (Chairman) has direct relationships with Ministry of Health procurement committee. MoH pre-qualification confirmed current — verified against NUPCO portal Q1 2025. Cold chain certification renewed Feb 2025.
Diligence flag
Confirm AZ oncology portfolio scope before exclusivity discussion — potential category overlap in breast cancer indication.
HH
Horizon Healthcare Logistics
AI score: 81% · Analyst: ↑ Consider for rank 2
Analyst notes
Non-exclusive model is standard for 3PL operators but Sara Al Hamdan (CEO) has indicated openness to category exclusivity for the right brand. Largest cold chain in KSA dataset — infrastructure is not a constraint.
05
Delivery & action

A shortlist you can
act on immediately.

Within 48 hours of submitting your brief, you receive a ranked shortlist — not a deck to wade through, not a spreadsheet to clean up. Scored profiles, rationale, diligence flags, and contact information, structured for immediate engagement.

You arrive at the first conversation already informed. The shortlist is designed to compress months of pre-engagement research into a single, decision-ready document.
  • Ranked PDF report per distributor — full 50+ field profile, match score, analyst notes
  • Side-by-side comparison table for shortlisted distributors
  • Diligence questions pre-populated for each distributor based on data gaps
  • Direct contact information included — no gatekeeping
  • Introduction facilitated by DistributorIQ team on request
  • Ongoing monitoring available — track status changes across your shortlist
DISTRIBUTORIQ · SHORTLIST REPORT
DistributorIQ · Confidential
Oncology Drug Launch · KSA
3 distributors · generated 3 May 2026
3
Shortlisted
94%
Top score
2
Flags
48h
Turnaround
1
Najd Pharma Partners
National · Pharma specialist · Exclusive
94%
2
Horizon Healthcare
National · Multi-sector · Excl. flexible
81%
3
Al Shifa Medical Supplies
National · Mixed · ⚠ Conflict flag
68%
Download PDF
View comparison
The data behind it

50+ fields. Multiple
sources. Explicit quality tiers.

Every data point in a DistributorIQ profile has a provenance. We don't mix verified filings with inferred estimates without telling you — data quality tiers are explicit, so you know exactly what to trust and what to validate independently.

🏛️
Regulatory databases
SFDA registration, import licences, cold chain certifications, and sector-specific regulatory status drawn directly from official registries where accessible.
📋
Company disclosures
Annual reports, tender submissions, product registration filings, and commercial licence records cross-referenced for financial and operational data.
🤝
Primary research
In-market analysts conduct structured interviews and verification calls to confirm key data points — particularly ownership structure, relationship networks, and exclusivity terms.
🔍
Brand intelligence
Brand portfolio data sourced from distributor websites, press announcements, and trade press — cross-referenced to identify undisclosed brand relationships and potential conflicts.
📰
Trade & market press
Sector-specific trade publications, tender award announcements, and government health procurement notices provide ongoing intelligence on distributor activity.
🔄
Continuous refresh
Tier 1 distributors are reviewed quarterly. Regulatory status and import licences are monitored continuously. Profiles flag the last-verified date per data field.
Tier 1 — Verified
Confirmed
Data confirmed directly from official source, regulatory filing, or primary research call. No inference. Shown with a verified badge on profiles.
Tier 2 — Researched
High confidence
Data sourced from company disclosures, trade press, or brand intelligence. Strong basis but not directly confirmed. Scoring reflects quality tier.
Tier 3 — Identified
Inferred
Data estimated from market context, size proxies, or analogous companies. Explicitly flagged in profiles. Not used for hard-filter criteria scoring.
The scoring engine

How the match score
is calculated.

✦ AI-assisted

The composite match score is a weighted sum of individual criterion scores, each evaluated differently depending on the nature of the data. Hard criteria (cold chain: yes/no) score binary. Soft criteria (exclusivity preference) score on a graduated scale.

Scoring logic by criterion type
Binary
Cold chain, import licence, SFDA — full credit or zero. No partial score for a non-negotiable requirement.
Gradient
Exclusivity, size, coverage — exact match: 100%, adjacent match: 70%, opposite preference: 30%.
Weighted
Subsector, channel, government access — scored proportionally by data quality tier. Tier 3 data applies a confidence discount.

The final composite score is: Σ (criterion weight × criterion score) / total applied weight. If a criterion has no applicable data, the weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining criteria so scores remain comparable.

Example: Oncology pharma brief · KSA
Subsector match
28%
Cold chain capability
22%
MoH tender pre-qual.
20%
Exclusivity compatibility
18%
Coverage match
8%
Size appropriateness
4%
Total weight
100%
Najd Pharma — score breakdown
Subsector (28% × 100%) 28.0
Cold chain (22% × 100%) 22.0
MoH tender (20% × 100%) 20.0
Exclusivity (18% × 100%) 18.0
Coverage (8% × 100%) 8.0
Size (4% × 50%) 2.0
Composite score 94 / 100
What you receive

Three formats.
One decision-ready shortlist.

📄
Individual profiles
PDF · Per distributor
  • Full 50+ field profile with match score and criterion breakdown
  • Analyst notes and qualitative intelligence
  • Diligence questions pre-populated for data gaps
  • Regulatory status snapshot with last-verified date
  • Financial profile and ownership structure
  • Contact information for key decision-maker
⚖️
Comparison table
PDF + In-platform · Shortlist
  • Side-by-side view of all shortlisted distributors
  • Every criterion scored and compared in a single view
  • Conflict-of-interest flags highlighted across the set
  • Match scores and ranking with rationale column
  • Exportable for internal stakeholder presentation
  • Live in-platform — update status and add notes as you engage
🗂️
Engagement tracker
In-platform · Ongoing
  • Track outreach status across your shortlist — Contacted, Interested, Not interested
  • Add private notes per distributor without leaving the platform
  • Flag distributors for further research or introduction request
  • Conflict alerts if a shortlisted distributor picks up a competing brand
  • Request analyst introduction directly from the platform
  • Shortlist exports to PDF at any point in the process
Common questions

What people ask
before they start.

How is this different from a trade directory or chamber of commerce listing?
Directories are static lists. DistributorIQ is a scored, structured database with 50+ fields per distributor, built against your specific criteria. A directory tells you a distributor exists. DistributorIQ tells you whether they're the right partner for your product, your geography, and your commercial terms — and ranks them accordingly.
How is the 48-hour turnaround possible?
The AI scores the full database against your criteria in seconds. The 48 hours is the analyst review window — the human layer that verifies, challenges, and adds qualitative intelligence. For straightforward briefs, turnaround is often faster. Complex briefs with custom criteria may take slightly longer; we'll tell you upfront.
Can I adjust the criteria after seeing the initial results?
Yes. Criteria and weights can be adjusted and scoring re-run as many times as needed within a single engagement. This is common — clients often refine their brief after seeing who surfaces. The platform is designed for iteration, not a one-shot output.
What if the data is incomplete for a particular distributor?
Data gaps are explicitly flagged. The scoring model redistributes weight from missing criteria proportionally, so scores remain comparable. Profiles show a data quality tier per field — Verified, Researched, or Identified — so you always know what the score is based on. We never hide uncertainty behind a clean number.
Do you share my brief or identity with distributors?
Never, without your explicit consent. Your brief, criteria, and identity are entirely confidential during the research and scoring phase. Introductions are only made if you request them, and only after you've reviewed the shortlist and decided who to engage.
What happens after I receive the shortlist?
You proceed at your own pace. The platform lets you track engagement status, add private notes, and manage conversations. If you want DistributorIQ to facilitate introductions, negotiate on your behalf, or support commercial negotiations, our consulting team can step in — at a separate retainer rather than built into the shortlist fee.
✦ Start your search

Ready to find the
right distributor?

Submit your brief and receive a ranked, analyst-verified shortlist within 48 hours. First shortlist is complimentary.

Request your shortlist → View pricing
48-hr turnaround
Confidential by default
First shortlist free
No commitment