Process batches of vendors with Cowork
Onboard several vendors in one session — with Cowork, Claude can read a folder of vendor files, adds each to your tracker, generates their contracts, and fills multiple intake forms in your browser.
- AuthorAnthropic
- CategoryProfessional
- ModelSonnet 4.5
- Features
- ShareCopy link
1
Describe the task
Some workflows live in your files, others in your browser. Vendor onboarding touches both — the tracker spreadsheet and contract templates on your machine, the intake form in your procurement portal. Cowork handles local files and can connect to Claude for Chrome for browser work, letting you complete multi-environment tasks in one session.
When parts of the workflow are independent — updating the tracker and generating the contract, for instance — you can ask Claude to spin up subagents and run them at the same time.
I need to onboard several vendors. Their documents spread across my desktop.
For each new vendor:
- Create an NDAs and MSAs from the templates
- Fill out an onboarding form
- Afterwards, add all information to the vendor tracker spreadsheet
Organize all the new documents on my desktop.
2
Give Claude context
Cowork is a workspace in Claude for desktop where Claude works directly with your local files. It can read your vendor tracker, contract templates, and vendor details — no copying and pasting into the conversation. For browser work like filling portal forms, connect Claude in Chrome.
Required context
To get started:
- Download Claude for desktop and start a Cowork session
- Grant folder access to your vendor tracker, contract templates, and vendor details
- Install Claude in Chrome and log into your procurement portal
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Optional context
- Portal tab already open to the intake form
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3
What Claude creates
Claude works through each step, moving between your local files and your browser to complete the full onboarding.
From Claude
I'll work through the onboarding in three parts — updating your spreadsheet, completing the portal form, and generating the MSA.
1. Vendor Tracker Updated
I've added Meridian Solutions to your vendor tracker:
- Vendor Name: Meridian Solutions
- Primary Contact: David Chen
- Service Category: IT Consulting
- Annual Value: $150,000
- Status: Pending MSA
2. Procurement Portal Form
I've completed the vendor intake form in your Chrome tab. The form is ready for you to review and submit.
3. Master Service Agreement Generated
I've created the MSA from your template and saved it to your Documents folder.
I'll now continue with the remaining vendors…
4
Follow up prompts
Continue the conversation with Claude to refine, expand, or explore further.
Generate additional documents
Create more contracts from your templates. NDAs, SOWs, or other vendor documents using the same vendor details.
"Also generate an NDA from our template at ~/Documents/Templates/NDA-Template.docx and save it in the same folder as the MSA."
Organize vendor files
Create a vendor folder with everything in one place. Move or copy all onboarding documents to a dedicated folder.
"Create a folder called Meridian-Solutions in ~/Documents/Vendors and move the MSA there. Also save a copy of their contact details as a text file."
5
Tricks, tips, and troubleshooting
Subagents can handle independent tasks at the same time
Updating the vendor tracker and generating the contract don't depend on each other — so you can ask Claude to spin up subagents and run them in parallel.
Add Claude for Chrome as a connector before starting
Install Claude in Chrome and add it as a connector in your Cowork session. Log into your procurement portal before you start — Claude works within your authenticated session.
The progress panel shows what Claude is working on
Cowork displays which files Claude is reading and what it's doing at each step. If something looks off, you can steer the work in progress.
Ready to try for yourself?
Use Cowork to handle vendor onboarding in one session — updating your tracker, generating contracts, and filling portal forms.
