SME
A 12-Month DPP Roadmap
From pilot to full catalogue — a quarter-by-quarter plan for reaching DPP compliance in twelve months, with milestones and resourcing.
Once a pilot works end to end, the question changes: "how do we do this for 500 products?" This is a realistic twelve-month plan for moving from pilot to catalogue.
Quarter by quarter
Q1 — Foundations and priorities
- Turn pilot results into a scaling plan.
- Prioritise products on a volume × risk matrix.
- Segment suppliers: critical / medium / low.
- Freeze the data dictionary and field mapping. See ERP integration for DPP.
Output: a priority list of 50 products, supplier segmentation, a field dictionary.
Q2 — Supplier round and integration
- Send data requests to critical suppliers using a standard template.
- Start adding data clauses to contracts. See DPP clauses for supplier contracts.
- First stage of ERP/PLM integration.
- Label design and testing with your print supplier. See DPP QR codes.
Output: 60%+ supplier response rate, a working import pipeline.
Q3 — Scaling
- Publish passports for the priority 50.
- Automate registry submission. See registering a DPP step by step.
- Turn on quality control rules. See DPP data quality management.
- Run the second supplier round for non-responders.
Output: 50 published passports and an automated registration flow.
Q4 — Rollout and maintenance
- Add the rest of the catalogue in stages.
- Tie update triggers to processes. See passport lifecycle management.
- Set an annual review calendar.
- Start carbon data work for Phase 2 fields. See the carbon guide.
Output: the bulk of the catalogue passported, with a defined maintenance process.
Resourcing
| Role | Load |
|---|---|
| Project owner | 50% of time |
| Product/quality | 30% |
| Procurement link | 20% |
| IT/integration | Project-based |
See DPP project roles and responsibilities.
Risks and mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Suppliers do not respond | Contract clause plus procurement escalation |
| Poor data quality | Automated checks plus an approval flow |
| Scope creep | Stick to the priority list |
| Team disperses | Assign maintenance to a role |
Frequently asked questions
Is twelve months enough?
For one product group and a mid-size catalogue, yes. Multi-group companies should plan 18–24 months.
Does it make sense to start before the delegated act?
Yes. Data collection takes three to nine months and buyer demand arrives earlier. See the timeline guide.
How should I budget?
From pilot data, in Q1. See DPP cost breakdown.
