Methodology
How Vicinage conducts inspections, structures reports, and ensures every output is defensible and verifiable.
Inspector qualification
Vicinage inspectors are vetted by sector. A factory verification requires demonstrable familiarity with manufacturing operations; a property inspection requires knowledge of Lagos title documentation and land use law. Inspectors complete a documented onboarding process including methodology training, evidence standards, and report submission requirements. Each inspector carries Vicinage identification to all visits.
Geotagged evidence
Every photo captured during a site visit carries GPS coordinates and a timestamp embedded in the file metadata. Arrival and departure are each recorded with a geotagged photo. This creates an independent record that the inspector was physically present at the correct location at the stated time — not dependent on the inspector's own attestation.
Structured checklists
Each service type operates from a fixed checklist tailored to that scope. Supplier verification covers: address confirmation, signage, employee presence, equipment, active production, document review (CAC, tax clearance, licenses). Property due diligence covers: boundary observation, title document review, encroachment, neighbor interviews, utility access. Checklists are not substitutes for observation — inspectors record what they see, including anything outside the checklist scope.
Team review before delivery
No report reaches a client without Vicinage review. Our team verifies that all required evidence is present, that observations are consistent with the photos, and that structured fields are complete. We may return a report to the inspector for additional information before certifying. Certification is timestamped and logged.
Cryptographic verification
Each delivered report carries a SHA-256 hash of its content. The hash is stored in the Vicinage system at delivery time. If a client or counterparty wishes to verify that a report has not been modified since delivery, they can compute the hash of the document they hold and compare it to the hash on record. This is not encryption — the report is a readable PDF — it is tamper-evidence.
Defensibility
A Vicinage report is designed to function as useful evidence in a commercial dispute. It identifies who conducted the inspection, when and where they were present, what they observed against each scope item, what documents they reviewed, and what was certified by our team. Whether a specific report meets evidentiary standards in a given jurisdiction is a legal question; Vicinage's role is to produce a factual record that is as difficult as possible to dispute on grounds of authenticity or chain of custody.