> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.pleo.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Vendor Creation vs Vendor Sync

> Compare Pleo's two Vendor flows, Vendor Creation and Vendor Sync, and find the right docs for each.

Pleo has two separate Vendor flows. Together, they keep Vendor records the same in Pleo and in your Accounting System.

* **Vendor Creation** sends new vendors from Pleo into the Accounting System.
* **Vendor Sync** brings vendors from the Accounting System into Pleo.

See [Supplier vs Vendor](/docs/current/platform/exports/vendors/supplier-vs-vendor-overview) for what a Vendor is, and how it differs from a Supplier.

## How the Two Flows Differ

| | Vendor Creation | Vendor Sync |
| - | - | - |
| Direction | Pleo → Accounting System | Accounting System → Pleo |
| Trigger | A `v1.vendor.created` webhook, or a 5-minute poll | Scheduled sync (hourly), plus an ad hoc option |
| Purpose | Let a bookkeeper add a vendor that doesn't exist yet | Keep Pleo's vendor list up to date |
| Result | The vendor starts `DRAFT`, then becomes `ACTIVE` once activated | The vendor stays `ACTIVE`, or moves to `ARCHIVED` |

A vendor can go through both flows, at different times. Vendor Creation adds it and activates it. Vendor Sync then keeps it up to date.

## Vendor Creation

Use these docs to implement the Pleo → Accounting System direction.

> **[Platform Capabilities](/docs/current/platform/exports/vendors/vendor-creation-overview)**
>
> What Vendor Creation does, and why it exists.

> **[Integration Design](/docs/current/integration-design/exports/vendors/integration-design-vendor-creation-overview)**
>
> Implementation detail: draft detection, creation, and activation.

> **[Workflow Guide](/docs/current/guides/vendor-creation-workflow-guide)**
>
> The end-to-end steps, in order.

> **[How to Create Vendors in Pleo](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/vendors/how-to-create-vendors-in-pleo)**
>
> The bookkeeper action that produces a `DRAFT` vendor.

> **[How to Detect Draft Vendors](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/vendors/how-to-detect-draft-vendors)**
>
> Find new `DRAFT` vendors, via webhook or polling.

> **[How to Create a Vendor in the AS](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/vendors/how-to-create-vendor-in-as)**
>
> Create the corresponding vendor record in the Accounting System.

> **[How to Activate a Vendor in Pleo](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/vendors/how-to-activate-vendor-in-pleo)**
>
> Report the AS-assigned identifiers back to Pleo.

## Vendor Sync

Use these docs to implement the Accounting System → Pleo direction.

> **[Platform Capabilities](/docs/current/platform/accounting-integrations/imports/vendors/vendor-sync-overview)**
>
> What Vendor Sync does, and why it exists.

> **[Integration Design](/docs/current/integration-design/accounting-integrations/imports/vendors/integration-design-vendor-sync-overview)**
>
> Implementation detail: data mapping, periodicity, and matching.

> **[Workflow Guide](/docs/current/guides/accounting-integrations/imports/vendor-sync-workflow-guide)**
>
> The end-to-end steps, in order.

> **[How to Fetch and Match Vendors](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/imports/vendors/how-to-fetch-and-match-vendors)**
>
> Retrieve vendors from both systems, and decide what each one needs.

> **[How to Create Vendors](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/imports/vendors/how-to-create-vendors)**
>
> Create a new Pleo Vendor for an unmatched active AS vendor.

> **[How to Unarchive Vendors](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/imports/vendors/how-to-unarchive-vendors)**
>
> Unarchive a Pleo Vendor whose AS vendor is active again.

> **[How to Update Vendors](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/imports/vendors/how-to-update-vendors)**
>
> Update a Pleo Vendor's details to match the AS.

> **[How to Archive Vendors](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/imports/vendors/how-to-archive-vendors)**
>
> Archive a Pleo Vendor with no matching active AS vendor.

***

## Related Reading

* [Supplier vs Vendor](/docs/current/platform/exports/vendors/supplier-vs-vendor-overview)
* [Platform Capabilities: Vendor Creation Overview](/docs/current/platform/exports/vendors/vendor-creation-overview)
* [Platform Capabilities: Vendor Sync Overview](/docs/current/platform/accounting-integrations/imports/vendors/vendor-sync-overview)
* [How to Activate Vendor Tagging](/docs/current/how-tos/accounting-integrations/how-to-enable-vendor-based-bookkeeping#1-activate-vendor-tagging) (or [chat with support](https://help.pleo.io/en/support/solutions/articles/103000360463-how-to-activate-vendor-tagging-in-pleo) )

***