Direct+ Research Overview
D&B offers research services to customers needing review and/or validation of D&B Data and Analytics. Examples of Research requests include the identification of data quality issues, missing commercial entities, or validation of existing information. Research API allows customers to request, track, and receive results of researches for businesses across all countries. Submitted requests are sent to Dun & Bradstreet or partner offices around the world to research and verify the information.
Each customer is limited to submit a daily limit of 25 researches per Research Type per country with the following exceptions.
| Country | Daily Limit |
|---|---|
| Italy | 5 |
| Austria | 15 |
| Czech Republic /Slovakia | 15 |
| Denmark | 20 |
| Finland | 15 |
| Hungary | 15 |
| Norway | 20 |
| Poland | 15 |
| Sweden | 5 |
| Switzerland/Lichtenstein | 15 |
| Spain | 2 (Full Research Only) |
| Portugal | 2 (Full Research Only) |
| Andorra | 2 (Full Research Only) |
Use Case
Following are use cases for submitting a research:
- Not able to find record for the business - When no match found.
- D&B record is inaccurate or incomplete information and requires review.
- D&B record has old information and requires review.
Research Workflow
Research Types
D+ offers 3 unique Research Types to support a variety of customer use cases.Mini Research
Mini Research focuses on the assignment of DUNS Numbers to Business Entities validating basic firmographic details. Mini Research allows a customer to receive a new DUNS without a researcher reviewing all possible data points for an entity, thus reducing response time of the request. Please refer Mini Research page for more information.
Use Cases:
- Assign D-U-N-S Number when customer cannot find record for the business. Mini Research will validate the basic firmographic details and new D-U-N-S Number will be assigned.
Targeted Research
Targeted Research focuses on the validation and update of selected data elements specified by the customer. Targeted Research allows customers to receive updates on one or more specified data elements without a researcher reviewing all possible data points for an entity. Thus, reducing response time of the request. Please refer Targeted Research page for more information.
Use Cases:
- A change to corporate linkage has occurred, requiring an update to D&B's record.
- The legal structure of the business is missing, requiring review and update to the D&B record.
- A more recent financial statement is available and needs to be collected and updated.
Full Research
Full Research focus on DUNS Assignment and/or the validation of all information associated with the organization. Please refer Full Research page for more information.
Use Cases:
- A customer needs to make a business decision, requiring the most current and up to date information for the business entity.
- Business record has old information. A research will validate and update all information associated with the subject business, confirming current operating status.
Using the Research API
Submit Case
Allows Customer to place research requests on subject businesses. As part of the request, the Customer would select the type of the research they wanted to perform and provide the details of the business along with comments. Customer will receive the research ID as the output. For Technical Specifications refer Research : Submit Case
Customer can choose to receive emails by providing email address to get updates on the Research Status.
Research Summary
Customer can get the status and resolution of the research by providing the research ID received from the Submit Case. Once the request is submitted the status will be marked as "Received". After the researcher picks up the request and working on the case it will be marked as "In Progress". After completing the Research it will be marked as "Closed". Optionally, Customer can view the list of research requests submitted by them using the following filters
- Submitted Date Range
- Completed Date Range
- Research Status - Open or Closed (Open retrieves Received and In progress requests)
- Customer Transaction Reference
Research Detail
Customer can call this API for viewing the details of what they submitted, status and the resolution results for a single research ID. The resolution results will provide only set of specific elements listed in the specifications. For Technical Specifications refer Research: Details
Research Challenge Case
Once a case is closed, a customer can use the Challenge API to request Dun and Bradstreet to reinvestigation or review the results delivered in a closed case. This could be because,
- Change not made but info is available that confirms change.
- Change made but it does not match inquiry request.
- Change is not viewable in product.
For Technical Specifications refer Research: Challenge Case Samples - Research API Request and Response, Notification emails
Research Attachments
Overview
When submitting either a new research case or challenging a closed case, a customer can provide an attachment containing supporting documentation to help drive a successful research outcome. Attachments can be provided on all submit case transactions, regardless of research type. In total, 3 attachments can be uploaded, with a single attachment not exceeding 5MB in size.
Only the following file extensions will be accepted: 'txt','jpg','jpeg','png','doc','docx','xls','xlsx','ppt','pptx','pdf','csv','gif','dat'
Timing
All attachments should be uploaded within 20 seconds of the submit case call. If the system upload fails, the submitter can open a support ticket with https://support.dnb.com
Research Outcomes
For each request, D&B will provide a research Resolution and Sub resolution for the associated research types. If an update was made,customer will also receive updated Research Results. Please see the following Resolution and Sub Resolution examples for standard use cases.
Resolution for New DUNS
D&B will provide a Resolution Code and Sub Resolution for each Research Type associated with the request. The Resolution codes will allow the submitter to clearly see if a DUNS was created, already exists, or could not be created. Examples include:
| Research Type | Resolution | Sub Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Research and Full Research - Full Credit Risk Review | D-U-N-S Number created | Verified through a company spokesperson plus outside sources |
| D-U-N-S Number already exists | Former name and/or former address provided | |
| D-U-N-S Number could not be created | Outside sources could not confirm the existence of the business and attempts to reach the business based on the provided information were unsuccessful | |
| Full Research - Full Credit Risk Review | Data was changed or added as the result of the full review | Verified through a company spokesperson plus outside sources |
| Data was verified as correct as the result of the full review. The current date of the report has been updated | Verified through national registry | |
| Data could not be verified by the full review. The current date of the report has been updated | Unable to confirm through outside sources and company spokesperson declined to provide information |
In addition to Resolution Codes, D&B will provide updated Research Results for any element updated during the Research Process including:
- D-U-N-S Number
- Business Name
- Street Address
- City
- Country
- Territory
Resolution for Existing DUNS
D&B will provide a Resolution Code and Sub Resolution for each Research Type associated with the request. The Resolution codes will allow the submitter to clearly see if information was changed/added, correct, or unable to verify.
| Research Type | Resolution | Sub Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Business Name | Data was changed or added | Verified through a company spokesperson plus outside sources |
| Address | Data was correct, so it was not changed | Verified through a company spokesperson |
| Chief Operating Officer (CEO) | Requested change could not be verified, so data was not changed | Unable to confirm through outside sources and company spokesperson declined to provide information |
In addition to Resolution Codes, D&B will provide updated Research Results for any element updated during the Research Process including:
- Business Name
- Primary Address
- TradeStyle Name
- CEO
- SIC
- Telephone Number
- Legal Structure
- Sales
- Employee
- Principles
- Stock Owners
- Related Company and Affiliates
- Control Year
- Duplicates
- Business Operating Status
- Merger & Acquisitions
- Linkage
- Rating & Scores
Direct+ Product Documentation