What is DUNS Number? DUNS Number Review, Features

DUNS® Number is a real-time dynamic corporate identity. It is derived from a unique 9-digit global coding system DUNS, which is equivalent to the corporate identification code (like a personal ID card) and is widely used in corporate identification, business information organization and collation. It can help identify and quickly locate information of more than 200 million companies worldwide.

About DUNS

It is used to establish D&B® business credit profiles, which are often referenced by lenders and potential business partners to help predict the reliability and/or financial stability of the company in question. This number is a real-time, dynamic corporate identity issued by the Dun & Bradstreet Group. Each number corresponds to a unique corporate entity and will not be reused. In other words, one number represents one corporate entity. Through the Dun & Bradstreet code, users can quickly obtain original, rich and high-quality information products and services.

"DUNS" stands for Data Universal Numbering System, which is used to maintain up-to-date and timely information on more than 285 million businesses worldwide.

Purpose (value)

1. Internationally recognized standard corporate identity

As an internationally recognized and commonly used company identification symbol in e-commerce, the DUNS number has been recognized, recommended or required by the world's most influential standard setting organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), more than 50 global industry and trade organizations, the US government, the European Union, the United Nations, ISO organizations, etc. as a tool for their internal management. In other words, this number is the prerequisite for establishing a cooperative relationship with them or smoothly doing import and export. Therefore, the DUNS number has long become a stepping stone for domestic companies to open overseas trade.

2. Management standards of large global companies

Some Fortune 500 companies have also embedded the DUNS number into their internal operating systems and processes in various ways to manage the information of their business partners. Many large buyers such as Delphi, GM, Volkswagen, Apple, VeriSign, Fujitsu, Philips, Samsung, Wal-Mart, Dell, ZF, Whirlpool, UPIK, HSBC, etc. require the other party to obtain the DUNS number before cooperating with them to become their final supplier.

These institutions and enterprises can retrieve the credit files of enterprises from the Dun & Bradstreet Global Database through the Dun & Bradstreet Code. The records of the Dun & Bradstreet Global Database are constantly updated and improved, and it can be said to be the largest corporate database in the world. Therefore, having a Dun & Bradstreet Code is the primary criterion for enterprises to meet the requirements of multinational buyers.

3. Keys to identifying family-related businesses

Dun & Bradstreet numbers are the key to successfully building a corporate family tree. Since the same company's entities in different places have their own Dun & Bradstreet numbers, a large corporate family tree may contain many corporate entities associated with different Dun & Bradstreet numbers. Dun & Bradstreet uses Dun & Bradstreet numbers to link the parent companies and subsidiaries, headquarters and branches of 285 million companies around the world to form a family tree. If the parent and subsidiary companies of a corporate family all have Dun & Bradstreet numbers, it can help customers understand the overall scale and strength behind your company and favor cooperation with you, bringing more transaction opportunities to the company.

4. A powerful tool to speed up customs clearance

The new security declaration scheme ISF (10+2) - Importer Security Filing, which was officially implemented by the US Customs on January 26, 2010, requires importers to declare 10 items of information within 24 hours before the goods are loaded on board. Among them, if the company has a DUNS number, it is not necessary to fill in the company name, address and other cumbersome information according to the regulations, which greatly simplifies the declaration process. Therefore, US importers have gradually required global suppliers, including Chinese suppliers, to provide their DUNS numbers.

Solutions and Applications

The DUNS number is an important part of the DUNS Registration™ solution provided by China Dun & Bradstreet.

Since 2009, in order to make the enterprise information behind the DUNS number better reflect the enterprise's credit status, the DUNS number has been upgraded to the DUNS registration service. The DUNS registration includes a series of services such as the assignment of DUNS number, DUNS registration TM logo, enterprise electronic business card, credit report and tracking and maintenance of enterprise credit files.

Dun & Bradstreet RegistrationTM service is based on Dun & Bradstreet code, which helps enterprises establish their own credibility, win marketing and promote long-term sustainable development as an "upgrade accelerator". For Chinese enterprises doing international business, in the fiercely competitive international market, with the dual blessing of Dun & Bradstreet code and Dun & Bradstreet RegistrationTM service, they will be able to effectively respond to the needs and challenges of the international market with standardized identity identification and win unlimited business opportunities.

Dun & Bradstreet Rating

The famous American financial rating agency gave Dun & Bradstreet the highest rating of 5A1 in financial strength (completely debt-free). 5A refers to companies with a net asset value of more than 50 million US dollars, and 1 refers to the highest credit rating with no debt.

Dun & Bradstreet Financial Ratings Explained

X represents the capital amount: (level from 1-5, 5 is the best);

A represents profitability: (ranking from AE, A is the best);

There are two types of Y, 1 or 2, 1 is no loan, 2 is loan.

Application Path

There are two companies involved: Dun & Bradstreet and Huaxia Dun & Bradstreet, Dun & Bradstreet's subsidiary in China. There are two ways to apply for a Dun & Bradstreet code:

One is to apply through Apple’s page. The application will be submitted to D&B and then transferred to China Dun & Bradstreet for processing.

The other way is to apply through China Dun & Bradstreet. Currently, China Dun & Bradstreet has integrated the DUNS code application into a China Dun & Bradstreet registration service. Through this service, you can not only apply for the DUNS code, but also other services such as registration logo, corporate credit report, electronic business card, etc.