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Global database covers 150 million companies
The D&B global database now contains information on more than 150 million companies, a 50% increase since 2005. Both the numbers and the quality of information continue to grow due to continuous investment and local acquisitions. The coverage offered by our worldwide database means you will always be able to find creditworthy prospects and keep an even closer eye on financial risks.
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A customer satisfaction survey at D&B has confirmed that our global direction is meeting the market’s needs. D&B is recognised more and more as the leader with its unprecedented worldwide provision of services and 100% coverage of most local markets.
Quality of information
Most of the recent growth in the global D&B company database comes from the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) accompanied by even wider market coverage in Europe (notably Belgium, Germany, Spain and the UK) and the US.
Special attention is being given to the quality of the company information in the database. SMEs in particular are being identified faster and included in the database. In addition, 161.7 million extra lines of enriched information have been added to key company data since 2005, mainly telephone numbers, names of CEOs, employment figures and corporate activities.
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Agfa Graphics NV accelerates risk assessment and credit management with D&B tools
Agfa Graphics is a world leader in prepress solutions for the printing and publishing industries. One in every two commercial printers throughout the world is an Agfa customer.
Using several D&B solutions, worldwide risk assessment, credit management and collection strategies are designed & followed-up at the company's HQ in Mortsel, Belgium, by the Head of Global Credit Management Andreas Wenzel, who manages these together with seven Regional Credit Managers. Operations are executed by local collection managers who are spread across the globe.
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World leading excellence (Company profile)
In prepress, Agfa Graphics offers workflow automation, project management, computer-to-film, computer-to-plate and proofing solutions. These solutions include consumables, hardware, software and services. As the world's largest plate supplier, Agfa Graphics produces plates aimed at providing advanced solutions for various printing applications.
Agfa Graphics is also rapidly expanding its offerings in the growing digital inkjet market based on its experience and expertise in both imaging and emulsion technology. Joint development and manufacturing partnerships with industry leaders broaden its technological reach and allow the company to develop comprehensive digital solutions for printing posters, banners, signage, displays, labels and packaging materials.
Agfa Graphics is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium, and employs some 5,300 people around the world. It has sales organizations in over 40 countries and representatives in more than 100. In 2008 Agfa Graphics accounted for 50% in turnover of its parent Agfa-Gevaert Group. Excluding currency effects, sales reached 1,522 million euro.
Improved credit risk assessment is business facilitator
"With respect to credit risk assessment, we are committed to providing our worldwide customer base and our partners with optimum service by understanding their business and their expectations," says Andreas Wenzel.
“Credit risk assessment must facilitate business. The D&B Enterprise Risk Assessment Manager eRAM allows us to perform centrally 10,000+ risk analyses per year for Europe & NAFTA with a low level on manpower.”
For the Europe and NAFTA (US, Canada) regions – which generate more than half of all revenue – Agfa Graphics has put in place a centralized credit model using a set of effective web-based D&B tools: D&B Enterprise Risk Assessment Manager eRAM and D&B Portfolio Manager, complemented by company reports from the D&B database.
"By using D&B eRAM, we combine transaction risk management and decision support with portfolio analytics. Commercial credit applications are processed quickly, and additionally we have the option in case of high credit limit requests to download necessary financial data out of eRam into a credit decision application form for a qualitative credit review. Credit requests for lease contracts with new customers are still handled and assessed individually by also using D&B company reports and data. We are customizing the ongoing eRAM to conform to our credit scorecards strategy, compare performance by location and view risk exposure company-wide."
“D&B delivers the tool set for screening customers, processing our credit scorecards and automate decisions as well as reporting.”
"With D&B's online Portfolio Manager, we merge our own enriched customer & credit data from Europe, Canada and the US with D&B's database to provide a breakdown of the overall risk structure according to internally defined credit risk categories and credit ratings. D&B has been particularly responsive in assisting us with creating credit profiles. Predictive scores help us review the likelihood of bad debt across our portfolio and identify good as well as risky customers."
Collections dedicated to improve cash generation
"We run a premier, full-service collections and accounts receivables operation dedicated to accelerating cash flow, lowering operating costs, monitoring performance and improving corporate reporting. By target-setting the accounts receivables, we can launch initiatives to improve cash generation such as DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) enhancement and stabilization,” he adds.
"We are able to deliver this due to reliable data gathering, the implementation of state-of-the art collection tools, open and frequent communication, and excellent staff.
“The quality of company reports determine their value. We compare reports from D&B and local players. The D&B reports show major improvements in quality.”
Andreas Wenzel concludes: "A company is defined by the quality of its products and its people. The D&B staff are up to par and we have witnessed quick and major improvements in data quality, especially in company reports from Germany, and Southern and Eastern Europe, the traditional weak spots in business information."
"On a global level, no other provider compares with D&B. We have re-conducted our contract with D&B and it is our intention to roll out the D&B Portfolio Manager as a global credit portfolio management tool with customer risk classification for our worldwide operations."
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Free Data Check – Analysis of your customers and prospects database
Your customers and prospects files can make and save you a lot of money! On the other hand, outdated information can cost you dearly. Following a free screening by D&B, your file will be checked, updated and tidied. In addition, D&B will analyse this data and advise you on potential issues and measures you can take in order to reduce your risks and further improve your business relationships.
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The infinite cost of obsolete data
Modern systems for Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Master Data Management, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Information Warehousing are the basis of information management, analysis and communication.
Without an accurate, rationalized and consistent database, your company cannot fully benefit from the investments made in these systems. With rationalized information, your company processes can be streamlined and your clients served more efficiently.
The D&B action Free Data Check means you can remove useless or harmful information and improve efficiency.
Unique D&B tools for cleaning up and enlarging data
Are customer and supplier details being consolidated in your systems to create consistent, integrated and enlarged source files?
Are all of your divisions and departments working on a joint qualitative company information basis that allows you to quantify the extent of your relationship with an individual company or group of companies?
Are you familiar with the new possibilities of enhancing your sales or purchasing strength with customers or suppliers from the same family structure?
The added value of the D&B Customer Information Management for your system is derived from D&B’s refined information-integration techniques and matching tools. We can identify every company by its name, business name, address, telephone number or through our unique D&B D-U-N-S Number. In Belgium, we guarantee 100% market coverage.
What do you need to do?
D&B’s promotional campaign Free Data Check applies to all companies, authorities, institutions and unregulated professions operating in Belgium. It runs from 1 September until 15 October 2009 – without any obligation to buy.
Contact D&B and let us have your customers and prospects database in the digital format of your choice.
Following a confidential analysis by D&B, you will receive a report giving you a clear insight into your customer relationships for, among other items, double entries, dissolved companies, missing and obsolete data. The D&B account manager will pass this report to you during a short visit, and provide you with useful recommendations. All of this is, of course, without any obligation.
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Better coverage on Italian businesses
D&B recently announced an agreement to sell its domestic operations in Italy to CRIF. CRIF, based in Bologna, Italy, is a leading banking credit information provider in continental Europe…
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The sale is part of a strategic relationship whereby CRIF will own the domestic business and distribute D&B branded products and solutions in Italy. CRIF will operate the business under a new name, CRIBIS D&B. D&B will receive access to CRIF’s Italian business information database for international use and will continue to provide technical support and services to CRIF. This relationship significantly enhances the value customers receive through improved data quality and coverage.
“With this transaction, we will provide our customers with access to enhanced global data, thus improving our customer value proposition and reinforcing the strength of the D&B brand,” said Emanuele Conti, President of D&B Europe, Latin America and International Partnerships.
D&B’s worldwide Database is growing, every day…
- Emerging Markets Countries (EMC)
- Estonia – added 40K new records, an increase of 57% to 111.000 records
- Kazakhstan – added 49K records, an increase of 1600+% to 52.000 records
- Latvia – added 36K new records, an increase of 43% to 121.000 records
- Lithuania – added 38K new records, an increase of 44% to 124.000 records
- Malta – added 10K new records, an increase of 63% to 28.000 records
- Serbia & Montenegro – added 76K new records, an increase of 900+% to 84.000 records
- Turkey – added 118K new records, an increase of 31% to 496.000 records
- Ukraine – added 1M records, an increase of 400+% to 1.200.000 records
- China: New global employee models implemented for China and India:
- 969K new employee figures in China for a 49% increase in employee coverage
- 786K new employee figures in India for a 369% increase in employee coverage
- Vietnam file building improves Active record coverage from 11K records to 64.000 records
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Benelux Customer Service entirely in-sourced
Your feedback as a customer is important to us and your requests will be met fast. Your wish for professional, advice-oriented and friendly customer service has emerged from the latest customer satisfaction survey. From now on, D&B’s Customer Service for the Benelux countries is entirely in-sourced.
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After four years of excellent cooperation with our partner IBM, Customer Service for the Benelux countries reverted to our Dutch D&B offices in Rotterdam on 8 June 2009.
A team of 14 specialists is at your service – in Dutch, French and English – to answer your questions and offer advice. You can ask them anything on D-U-N-SRight® – rating and credit limits, family structures, payment experiences at home and abroad, etc.
More than 70% of customers’ questions relate to international business relationships. D&B therefore continues to invest in Customer Service quality. Our specialists stay up to date with all aspects of our international data, scoring and rating tables as well as the various financial filing obligations in different countries…
After each contact with Customer Service, we assess how you have experienced this contact, whether your problem has been solved to your satisfaction and how quickly your solution has been delivered.
D&B – At your service.
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Credit management training
Credit management remains an issue that still does not receive the attention it deserves from companies. “This can have serious consequences. There are many reasons to be adopt a professional attitude toward credit management,” says Ludo Theunissen, Chairman of the Belgian Institute for Credit Management. Postgraduate courses help fill this gap and D&B recommends this course:
- Expert Class in Credit Management
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Expert training in Credit Management
D&B and the Credit Management Institute are joining forces to present the following programme:
In the 3rd edition of the Advanced Class Credit Management at Antwerp University Management School (UAMS) the various aspects of credit management – preventive, curative, organizational – are treated through a balanced mix of theory and practical testimonies.
Among the 18 lecturers is Mrs Soumia Lofti, Director of Statistical Analysis at D&B. She will cover the theme of credit scoring and rating: traditional financial analysis techniques, bankruptcy models, credit limit determination, external rating systems and integration of credit management and marketing.
The programme consists of 10 daytime sessions, in Dutch, and will start on 30 September 2009.
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Payment practises evolution:
Belgian debtors average 14 days’ arrears on payments
In the first six months of 2009, Belgian debtors were on average 14 days in arrears with their payments. The global economic crisis has hardly had any effect on payment practices. D&B constantly monitors company payment behaviour in Belgium and the rest of the world. The D&B Paydex Score is a worldwide reference used for credit assessments and ratings.
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Payment behaviour not entirely in line with legal framework
The Late Payment Act of 2002 applies in Belgium in compliance with the European directive. If business partners do not have an agreement on payment terms, the standard applicable term of payment is 30 days from the date of invoice or date of receipt of goods or services.
In the first two quarters of 2009 more than 65% of all Belgian companies paid their invoices correctly. The Belgian Government pays its debts even faster as a measure of its support for companies.
In Europe, only half of invoices are paid within 30 days.
Paydex Score – The key to corporate financing
Paydex is the term for the numerical scores given by D&B Dun to businesses for promptness of payments to creditors. The Paydex Score ranges from 0 to 100 (best). A Paydex of 75 or higher is considered healthy for a company. The score indicates if a company is paying its suppliers and vendors on time, before they are due, or past due.
Business credit reviewers use the Paydex Scores for credit facilities. Continuous correct payment behaviour is literally of capital importance. A decreasing Paydex Score on the other hand, will result in a negative assessment.
Improve your cash position
Not collecting invoice payments costs Belgian companies approximately EUR 8 billion per year. Moreover, a bankruptcy rate of 8% indicates that good credit management is no luxury.
A company’s credit management ensures regular checks of customers’ and suppliers’ creditworthiness. Credit limits can mitigate part of the risk.
Accurate company data and credit reports, risk analysis and online tools are prerequisites for efficient credit and risk management. World leader D&B can offer you these crucial tools, with 100% market coverage in Belgium!
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DNBi: a preview
Risk management revolutionized by dynamic new D&B SaaS platform
DNBi will change your view
DNBi is a dynamic online application already in use by credit management professionals for supporting global credit decisions, judging customers on risks and determining total business risk.
In short, DNBi replaces traditional credit reports and combines the most innovative use platform with unlimited access – all at a fixed price.
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Software-as-a-service (SaaS) service platform
The D&B application for risk management will soon run on a completely renewed SaaS service platform. SaaS means:
- Faster implementation:
The software application you use is hosted at D&B, which means no implementation time or cost.
- Simple contracts and scalability:
You do not pay a user licence. In addition, you can continuously adjust the terms and conditions of your subscription.
- Low TCO and high ROI:
D&B offers you permanent functionality at an agreed price. Thanks to the new D&B SaaS platform, your TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) will decrease and your ROI (Return on Investment) will increase drastically.
- Excellent uptime and reliability:
D&B fully manages both hardware and software, and guarantees availability, reliability and performance.
Launch scheduled: early 2010.
