Insights
ISNetworld vs Avetta vs ComplyWorks: Which Platform Does What?
ISNetworld, Avetta, ComplyWorks (now Veriforce), and CanQual are the four main contractor compliance platforms used in Canada. Each one runs a separate contractor profile, separate document requirements, and a separate scoring system. Understanding what each platform does -- and what your hiring clients actually require -- is the starting point for managing them efficiently.
Published 13 May 2026 · The On-Track Team
5 min readKey Takeaways
- ISNetworld, Avetta, and ComplyWorks (now Veriforce) are separate contractor pre-qualification platforms -- registering with one does not satisfy the others.
- Which platform you need depends on which hiring clients require it, not on your preference -- check each client’s requirements before registering.
- Each platform has its own RAVS-style safety questionnaire and its own scoring system; a strong score on ISN does not automatically translate to a strong grade elsewhere.
- Initial profile setup and the first review typically take several weeks -- starting after a contract is awarded is almost always too late.
- An insurance certificate or training record that expires must be updated in each platform separately; renewals are not shared across systems.
- Contractors managing four or more active hiring clients across multiple platforms often engage a contractor management service to handle ongoing submissions and renewals.
1. What these platforms actually are
ISNetworld, Avetta, ComplyWorks, and CanQual are contractor compliance management platforms. They sit between a hiring client (the company awarding contracts) and a contractor (the company doing the work). The hiring client uses the platform to verify that contractors meet their safety, insurance, training, and financial requirements before work begins.
The contractor pays a subscription to be listed on the platform. The platform stores documents -- insurance certificates, safety programs, training records, WCB clearance letters, and other requirements set by the hiring client. Platform staff or automated systems review those documents and produce a score or grade that the hiring client uses to prequalify contractors.
These platforms are not safety certifications. Holding a current ISNetworld profile does not replace a COR or SECOR certificate. They are the delivery mechanism through which hiring clients verify that contractors have the required documents and programs in place. Many hiring clients require both a valid COR or SECOR certificate and a current platform profile.
2. The four main platforms compared
No single platform dominates all Canadian industries and regions. The four main platforms each have distinct sector concentrations and hiring client networks. Most Canadian contractors operating in energy, construction, or utilities are registered on at least two of the four.
ISNetworld (ISN)
- Owner / History
- ISN (independent)
- Primary sectors
- Oil and gas, energy, construction, utilities, mining
- Key feature
- RAVS (Review and Verification Services) score accounts for 30-40% of the overall ISN grade
- Document review
- Included in subscription. ISN reviews and scores the RAVS on behalf of the hiring client.
- Notes
- Widely used by large energy operators in Western Canada. Multiple hiring clients can access a single contractor profile.
Avetta
- Owner / History
- Avetta (merged with BROWZ in 2019)
- Primary sectors
- Construction, energy, manufacturing, retail, government
- Key feature
- Global platform with a strong presence in enterprise and multinational hiring clients
- Document review
- Avetta performs document review and scoring on behalf of hiring clients using its own protocol.
- Notes
- Previously known in Canada as BROWZ. Avetta merged BROWZ into its platform in 2019. Contractor profiles are portable across the Avetta network.
ComplyWorks / Veriforce
- Owner / History
- Veriforce (acquired ComplyWorks in 2020)
- Primary sectors
- Pipeline, utilities, oil and gas, construction
- Key feature
- Strong pipeline and utility sector presence in Western Canada; Veriforce adds US-based hiring clients
- Document review
- Document review performed by Veriforce/ComplyWorks review team. Scoring varies by hiring client configuration.
- Notes
- ComplyWorks was independently owned until the 2020 Veriforce acquisition. The platform continues to operate as ComplyWorks in Canada under Veriforce ownership.
CanQual
- Owner / History
- CanQual (independent)
- Primary sectors
- Construction, oil and gas, industrial
- Key feature
- Canadian-owned platform focused on Western and Northern Canadian operators
- Document review
- CanQual performs document review and scoring independently. No ISN-equivalent named scoring product.
- Notes
- Smaller network than ISN or Avetta but actively used by specific Canadian hiring clients in construction and energy sectors.
3. What the ISN RAVS score means
RAVS stands for Review and Verification Services. It is the component of ISNetworld where the contractor submits safety documentation -- written programs, safe work practices, policies, procedures, and related records -- and ISN staff review those documents against a checklist configured by the hiring client.
The RAVS score accounts for approximately 30 to 40% of the contractor's overall ISNetworld grade. The remaining grade components are built from training records (course completions and expiry dates), insurance certificates, WCB clearance letters, and incident rate data. All components must be current for the grade to be accurate.
The RAVS fee is included in the ISNetworld contractor subscription. The contractor does not pay an additional fee for document review beyond the annual subscription cost. However, the RAVS review takes time -- typically several weeks from document submission to a scored result. Contractors who let RAVS documents expire and then resubmit close to a contract start date often find the review timeline is too long to meet the hiring client's deadline.
A RAVS document that fails the review -- because it is missing required elements, references outdated legislation, or does not cover the hazards in the job category -- will lower the overall ISN grade until it is corrected and re-reviewed. Keeping RAVS documents current and compliant is one of the most time-consuming parts of ISNetworld management for contractors working in multiple job categories.
4. What your program needs to cover
Every contractor management platform requires documents that map to elements of a functioning safety management system. The coverage matrix below shows the program elements that typically feed into platform document requirements across different industries and certifying frameworks. The more completely your safety program covers these elements, the fewer gaps appear during document review.
Cross-framework Evidence Map
One uploaded document can satisfy multiple frameworks. Coverage updates as evidence is added.
- Covered
- Partial
- Gap
| ACSA | ESC | IHSA | WSPS | SCSA | SAFE | NSCSA | WSN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management Leadership | ||||||||
| Hazard Assessment | ||||||||
| Hazard Controls | ||||||||
| Worker Training | ||||||||
| Inspections | ||||||||
| Emergency Prep | ||||||||
| Incident Investigation |
Coverage shown is a representative example, not a real customer’s data. The Evidence Map updates in real time as you upload documents to the Document Vault.
A contractor whose safety program is built around their actual operations -- rather than assembled from generic templates -- will have the specific hazard controls, safe work practices, and training records that each platform review is looking for. Generic programs frequently fail RAVS reviews because the hazard-specific content does not match the job categories the contractor is registered under.
5. How to decide which platforms you need
The answer is determined by your hiring clients, not by the platforms themselves. The process for deciding is straightforward.
- List your current and target hiring clients. For each one, confirm which platform they use for contractor prequalification.
- Cross-reference against the four platforms. If three of your five target clients use ISNetworld, ISN is clearly required. If one smaller client uses CanQual, evaluate whether the contract value justifies the CanQual subscription cost.
- Confirm the specific hiring client requirements within each platform. Different clients on the same platform configure different document requirements. ISNetworld on its own does not tell you what you need -- the hiring client's configuration does.
- Set up the profile and submit documents before you need them. Initial profile setup and the first RAVS review take several weeks. Starting the registration process after a contract is awarded is almost always too late.
Register with the platforms your hiring clients actually use
6. Managing multiple platforms
The challenge for most Canadian contractors is not setting up the initial registration -- it is keeping four separate profiles current while running the actual business. Each platform has its own renewal schedule, document format requirements, and review process. An insurance certificate that expires in October must be renewed and uploaded to each platform separately. A training record that expires must be updated in each profile independently.
Many contractors with four or more active hiring clients across multiple platforms engage a contractor management service to handle the ongoing submissions, renewals, and platform correspondence. This removes the administrative burden from the company's own team, eliminates the risk of a lapsed document dropping the grade, and frees the company's leadership to focus on the work rather than the paperwork.
The investment in managed contractor compliance service is typically far smaller than the cost of a lapsed grade that removes the company from a hiring client's approved vendor list.
Our Services
Need help managing your contractor management profiles?
We manage ISNetworld, Avetta, ComplyWorks, and CanQual profiles for contractors across Canada, handling ongoing submissions, renewals, and platform correspondence.
See contractor management7. Frequently asked
What does RAVS stand for in ISNetworld?
RAVS stands for Review and Verification Services. It is the ISNetworld component where the contractor submits safety documentation -- policies, programs, procedures -- and ISN staff review and score those documents against the hiring client's requirements. The RAVS score accounts for approximately 30-40% of the contractor's overall ISN grade, alongside training records, insurance certificates, and incident rates.
Do I need to register on all four platforms?
Not necessarily. The platforms you need to be registered on depend on which hiring clients require them. Many Western Canadian energy and construction contractors are registered on ISNetworld, Avetta, and ComplyWorks simply because their hirers use a mix of platforms. CanQual is less universal but required by specific Canadian operators. Review your active and target hiring clients to determine which platforms are in scope.
Are my documents shared between ISNetworld and Avetta?
No. Each platform maintains a separate contractor profile with its own document requirements and scoring. Documents submitted to ISNetworld are not visible to Avetta, and vice versa. A contractor must maintain separate, current document sets on each platform they are registered with. This is why many companies engage a contractor management consultant to handle the ongoing submissions across platforms.
What is a good ISNetworld score?
ISNetworld does not publish a universal grading scale. Each hiring client configures their own minimum acceptable grade for contractors. A score that qualifies a contractor with one hiring client may not meet the threshold of another. In practice, contractors who maintain current insurance, training records, and a strong RAVS score generally achieve grades that satisfy the majority of their hiring clients. When a contractor grade falls short, ISN provides a breakdown of which components are driving the shortfall.
How often do I need to update my ISNetworld profile?
ISNetworld requires annual renewal of most documents, with some items expiring more frequently. Insurance certificates typically expire annually. Training records expire based on the specific course validity period. The RAVS questionnaire and supporting programs are reviewed on ISN's cycle, typically annually. Failing to renew on time causes the contractor grade to drop, which can trigger a hiring client notification. Active management of renewal dates is essential.
What is the difference between ComplyWorks and Veriforce?
ComplyWorks is a Canadian contractor compliance platform that was independently owned until Veriforce, a US-based contractor management company, acquired it in 2020. The platform continues to operate as ComplyWorks in Canada. Veriforce's acquisition added access to US-based hiring clients in pipeline and utilities. For Canadian contractors, the practical day-to-day experience of submitting documents and managing the profile is largely unchanged from the pre-acquisition ComplyWorks.