Dun and Bradstreet teams up with Microsoft to reimagine the power of data(news.microsoft.com)
news.microsoft.com
Dun and Bradstreet teams up with Microsoft to reimagine the power of data
https://news.microsoft.com/2017/07/19/dun-bradstreet-teams-up-with-microsoft-to-reimagine-the-power-of-data-in-the-cloud/#7247r5Xopvz7ZodT.97
16 comments
From my perspective, D&B is in the business of scaring SMBs into paying for a 'cleaner credit report' for thousands per year. Its always seemed like a big sham to me, and thats after 6 years of receiving taunting letters that 'my credit report has been requested, and for only $5,000, I can close more deals by looking stronger from a credit perspective!"
D&B made a terrible mistake in 2010. They let a startup in Malibu use the D&B name and take over some D&B services for small businesses. The startup called itself "Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp". Their business model involved cold-calling companies and giving the impression that unless they paid D&BCC, their credit rating would get worse. This caused terrible publicity for D&B, lawsuits, extortion charges[1] and eventually settlements. D&B finally bought D&BCC for $360 million in 2015.[2]
This destroyed the reputation of a once-respected company.
[1] https://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2014/01/21/dun-... [1] http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2015/apr/29/dun-bradstreet...
This destroyed the reputation of a once-respected company.
[1] https://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2014/01/21/dun-... [1] http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2015/apr/29/dun-bradstreet...
Agreed. D&B is a complete racket.
D&B is one of those companies that I wonder: Why are they still around? There should be a better way. They feel extremely
legacy. Interfacing with their software and customer service infrastructure is always a painful experience for me.
Companies have no incentive to share information about themselves to anyone other than the government and credit agencies. So given that constraint what D&B does is the most efficient way. And they're already so dominant it's hard for competitors to break into their business. So they have monopoly power and can afford to have bad software.
Seems like their business model only works because of the fragmented, state by state nature of getting 3rd party business info in the US.
I imagine they aren't used much in places like the UK, where the government offers centralized business info lookup.
I imagine they aren't used much in places like the UK, where the government offers centralized business info lookup.
Their reporting and "past performance" info gets used by USG if you are interested in federal contracting.
Historically D&B was the business credit company that actually sent people to look at a business. They'd report back "2 story brick building on busy street in good condition with good customer traffic". Somebody has to collect data on the ground.
I've worked at a company that used D&B data and services a fair bit and while I agree that the process is painful I'm not aware of anyone else that can offer a comparable service - particularly not internationally.
If you do iOS development as an organisation, you need a D-U-N-S number, because Apple relies on them identifying organisations. And now Microsoft. Horror of horrors!
I already do not use linkedin because their tools will trick you into doing things that have serious real world consequences. Now that Microsoft is connected with these people anything they make that sends back telemetry can potentially affect your credit report.
If there was ever a practical argument for the average person not using their products this it.
If there was ever a practical argument for the average person not using their products this it.
So MSFT dynamics/ CRM products will now have a Data.com alternative (terrible) with prospecting functionality.
The heating of MSFT v SFDC continues.
The heating of MSFT v SFDC continues.
D&B and whole DUNS number racket are the living antithesis of innovation.
flagged as PR release, no actual startup / tech content
Meh.