Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) stands as one of the world’s oldest and most influential business intelligence companies, with roots dating back to 1841. The company pioneered the concept of commercial credit reporting and has evolved into a global provider of business data and analytics.
Today, D&B maintains information on more than 400 million businesses worldwide, providing crucial insights about companies’ financial health, creditworthiness, and business relationships through its signature D-U-N-S Number system – a unique nine-digit identifier assigned to each business in its database.
For organizations seeking to make informed decisions about potential partners, customers, or suppliers, D&B’s vast repository of commercial data has become an indispensable resource.
What does Dun and Bradstreet do?
If you work in the business world or deal with the financials of a business, it’s safe to say you’ve heard of Dun and Bradstreet, D&B, or even a Dnb report.
Dun & Bradstreet operates as a comprehensive business intelligence provider, offering an array of data-driven solutions that help companies manage risk and identify opportunities. At its core, D&B collects, analyzes, and delivers detailed information about businesses worldwide – including their credit history, payment patterns, ownership structures, and operational stability.
Through its Data Cloud platform, the company provides services such as credit risk assessment, marketing intelligence, and compliance verification. Organizations use D&B’s insights to make critical decisions about extending credit, selecting vendors, identifying potential customers, and navigating regulatory requirements.
The company’s analytics can also help businesses understand their own market position, track competitors, and identify growth opportunities across global markets, making it an essential tool for both strategic planning and day-to-day operations.
In short, having access to your Dnb report as well as other business reports can help you recognize the strengths of your business, as well as areas of opportunity.
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What is Dun and Bradstreet used for?
Some companies, such as government agencies, must work with Dun and Bradstreet, while others can choose to use their services. You might be wondering why you would need to use their services.
When you decide to begin services, you will receive a DUNS (data universal numbering system) number, which is a significant benefit on its own. This number is associated with all the essential information about your business. In addition to establishing a DUNS number, D&B also collects necessary data and analytics about your business and others and consumer data.
The data analytics Dun and Bradstreet acquires can provide insightful information to make informed decisions about your business, next steps, and even other companies.
For example, imagine you are considering partnering with a business; the benefits of D&B allow you to review their business analytics to help determine if the partnership benefits both of you. Keep in mind that having Duns and Bradstreet access means that other businesses can also review your information.
What is a D&B Number?
As mentioned before, when you receive D&B services, you are assigned a D&B number, also known as a DUNS number. This number system has been around since 1963, but it was only a seven-digit number back then.
The DUNS number is now a nine-digit number unique to your business; this is different from an EIN. This number is specific to Dun and Bradstreet and identifies your business credit file, your business demographic information, and the financial health indicators of your business.
Financial health indicators include information such as risks, ratings, and scores. One great feature is that while you can access your information, you can also access the information of other businesses using their DUNS number.
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History of Dun and Bradstreet
Dun and Bradstreet has been around for quite some time, as far back as 1841, with the Mercantile Agency. In 1859, Benjamin Douglass incorporated the company under a new name. R.G Dun and Company was incorporated when Robert Graham Dun purchased the company. In 1849, while this was happening in New York City with Dun, John M Bradstreet formed the Bradstreet Company in Ohio. They later moved to New York in 1855.
In 1933, Dun and Co, R.G Dun and Company changed their name, and in 1931Bradstreet merged. The merger brought along another name change to R.G Dun-Bradstreet. In 1963, the DUNS number system was introduced. Fast forward to 2001, R.G Dun-Bradstreet officially changed its name to D&B. Dun and Bradstreet, or D&B, is now a well-known player in the business world having clients in multiple industries worldwide. In July 2020 Dun and Bradstreet launched their IPO (initial public offering) to become a publicly traded company.
It’s all in the details
Dun and Bradstreet have been around for a long time, making a name for themselves as the go-to for small business information. They are connected with the necessary details to help businesses make better-informed business decisions, risk assessments, and marketing choices.
These details help allow businesses to be successful. Dun and Bradstreet can confidently say that their strategies work because about 90% of Fortune 500 businesses are their clients. So if you are a small business or looking to acquire a small business, it might be worth considering Dun and Bradstreet to help your success.
FAQs
What is Dun & Bradstreet known for providing?
Dun and Bradstreet are known for providing businesses with insights to help them succeed.
What is a Bradstreet number?
A Bradstreet number is also known as a DUNS number. This unique nine-digit number helps identify your business’s risks, success, and business data and analytics performed by D&B.
What is the meaning behind Dun & Bradstreet?
Dun and Bradstreet are two of the originators of the business. They have maintained their mark on the business by using their last names in the business name.
