The concept of a “SupplyChain” object is related to the IAB Tech Lab’s Ads.txt and App-Ads.txt standards in digital advertising. The Ads.txt standard introduced the concept of a SupplyChain object to increase transparency and combat ad fraud.
In the context of Ads.txt and App-Ads.txt, the SupplyChain object provides additional information about the relationships between entities involved in the selling of digital advertising inventory. It is an optional extension to the standard Ads.txt and App-Ads.txt files.
Here’s a basic breakdown of what a SupplyChain object might include:
- Certification Authority (cert_authority_id): Identifies the entity that certified the authenticity of the relationship. It may refer to a certification authority that vouches for the validity of the relationship.
- Date (certification_date): Specifies the date when the certification was issued.
- Node ID (node_id): Represents the ID of the entity in the supply chain. It helps identify each entity in the chain uniquely.
- Seller’s Account ID (seller_account_id): Refers to the account ID of the seller in the relationship.
- Buyer’s Account ID (buyer_account_id): Indicates the account ID of the buyer in the relationship.
- Source Account ID (source_account_id): Specifies the account ID of the entity that provided the information about the relationship.
The inclusion of SupplyChain objects in Ads.txt and App-Ads.txt is intended to increase transparency by providing a mechanism to disclose the entire supply chain involved in selling ad inventory. This helps advertisers and buyers understand the relationships between the various entities in the supply chain, reducing the risk of counterfeit inventory and unauthorized reselling.
It’s important to note that the use and adoption of SupplyChain objects may vary, and industry practices may evolve. For the most current and detailed information, you should refer to the official documentation provided by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Tech Lab and other relevant industry sources.