Platform Release 20.10 - Customer Release Notes

Release Date: 15/01/26

Release Highlights

This release introduces in-platform messaging to streamline supplier communication, enhanced specification management with allergen tracking and origin labelling compliance, and comprehensive security improvements. Over 40 improvements across communication, compliance, and platform stability.

Key Takeaways:

  • ✨ New chat feature eliminates back-and-forth emails
  • Simplified EUDR and regional compliance tracking
  • Enhanced security and performance upgrades
  • Better incident collaboration with inline comments

What's New

Major Features

In-Platform Chat & Messaging

Why this matters: Reduce email overhead and keep all supplier conversations in one auditable location.

What you can do:

  • Send direct messages to suppliers/customers without leaving the platform
  • Create company-wide chats (all users can see) or private user-to-user conversations
  • Attach files (PDF, images, CSV) directly to messages
  • Track message read status with visual indicators
  • Receive hourly email digests of unread messages (configurable in preferences)
  • Add new contacts on-the-fly when starting conversations

Getting started: Look for the new "Chat" link in your header navigation. 

Enhanced Incident Management

Why this matters: Collaborate on incident resolution without constant back-and-forth submissions.

What you can do:

  • Add comments to incidents at any stage without formal submission
  • View complete comment history with timestamps and authors
  • Comments automatically grouped by incident status for clarity
  • Both parties can see all comments throughout the incident lifecycle

Use case: Ask clarifying questions, provide interim updates, or request additional information without changing incident status.

Specification Allergen & Origin Tracking

Why this matters: Additional Data Discovery, Including regional labelling regulations and allergen tags.

What you can do:

  • Allergen Management: Select from 32 standardized allergens for each recipe component (including Almonds, Celery, Sesame, Sulphites >10ppm, and more)
  • Origin Labelling: Declare regions (EU, Australia & New Zealand, Canada & United States) with auto-filtering of relevant compliance questions
  • Smart Forms: Only see compliance questions relevant to your declared origin regions
     

Additional Features

Specification Attributes - Pack Format & Certification Claims

  • New "Weight for nutritional calculation (w/o cutting waste)" field for accurate nutritional declarations
  • Pre-built certification checkboxes: Organic, Fair Trade, Gluten Free, GMO Free, Non-GMO Project Verified, Rainforest Alliance
  • CIMSCEE calculation tracking field for food safety control evaluation
  • Validation: Automatic gross weight validation against net weight + packaging weights (warns if mismatch detected)

Improved Navigation & Linking

  • Deep linking now supports company-level codes (previously site-only)
  • Useful when redirecting from external systems like Safe Food

Improvements

High Impact

FeatureImprovementBenefit
Overdue SpecificationsVisual alerts with days-overdue countClear prioritization of urgent tasks
Due Date UpdatesAuto-updates when sent back to supplierSuppliers always see current deadlines
Task CompletionReal-time processing (no queue delay)Tasks disappear immediately after completion
Document VersionsNewest-first orderingQuick access to current documents

 

Medium Impact

  • Supplier Reports: License codes now populate correctly (company + site level)
  • Quality Records: Faster load times when adding new batch quality records
  • Product Link Accept: Full-width site selection for easier viewing
  • Email Authentication: Case-insensitive matching for SSO (prevents login issues from capitalization)

Bug Fixes

Critical Fixes:

  • ✅ Incident review and closure errors resolved
  • ✅ Assessment multi-answer pages restored to full functionality
  • ✅ Task page loading issues corrected

Minor Fixes:

  • Resolved page refresh when adding incident comments (preserves in-progress work)
  • Fixed navigation errors in bulk assessment responses

Technical Updates

Security & Compliance

Enhanced Security Protocols:

  • Removed 8 weak cipher suites (TLS_DHE_RSA, TLS_ECDHE_RSA variants) per penetration testing recommendations
  • Implemented HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) improvements across all environments
  • Integrated Veracode security scanning into CI/CD pipeline

API Rate Limiting: Implemented across all 11 modules to prevent abuse and ensure platform stability

  • 100 requests/hour per user for non-cached endpoints
  • System endpoints excluded from rate limiting
  • Modules: Supply Chain, Assessments, Certification, Documents, Reporting, Site Actions, Specifications, Workflows, Communications, Account, Admin

⚡ Performance

  • Upgraded jQuery to v2.0+ (improved compatibility, reduced vulnerabilities)
  • Optimized database queries for chat and task systems
  • Reduced page load times across specification and quality record modules

API Enhancements (for integration partners)

New API endpoints available:

  • GET /specifications/{id}/allergens - Retrieve allergen data by ingredient component
  • GET /specifications/{id}/origin-labelling - Access origin labelling and regional compliance fields
  • GET /packformats/{id}/extended - Includes nutritional weight and certification claims

Breaking Changes: Final Product % field now returns string (was numeric). Update integrations accordingly.