Rationalizing Vendor and/or Customer Master Data 

Once D&B has received the BW export file, standardization of layouts and file matching is performed. File matching refers to the process of comparing company information to the D&B reference file and identifying the records that match the reference base. This way, the D-U-N-S number can be assigned. Assigning the D-U-N-S number allows D&B to cleanse and enhance your data with company identification, family linkage information, risk and demographic information associated.

There are 4 possible levels of matching:

·         Automatic Match: Automatic matches between the entire BW export file and the D&B database are created by use of an electronic comparison, resulting in a certain percentage of ‘perfect matches’.

·         Manual Scanning: Records that do not result in a ‘perfect match’ during automatic matching go into a second category of records, an automatically generated list of possible candidate matches. These candidates require manual scanning against the input record in order to match them to the correct D-U-N-S number.

·         On-Line Lookup: Those records to which a D-U-N-S number cannot be assigned via automatic matching or manual scanning can be manually searched for on the D&B database. In this case there is, however, no automatically generated list of possible candidate matches.

·         Mini-Investigation: If none of the above steps are successful, the record does not exist on the D&B database and a new D-U-N-S number has to be assigned, with the associated information being verified by a D&B reporter.

The exact processing of the above Stepps will vary depending on whether the file contains international or domestic data. In the first case files are matched by the global D&B database in the USA, while in the second case matching of files is done locally. The match level depends on your contract with D&B, but the level of automatic matching is always included.

The record status, that is the status of a data set relating to a vendor/ customer, is described by match codes and match grades. It indicates whether or not a match was successful. It also specifies how the match was achieved (if successful) or why it was unsuccessful. A match for a single record is classified as unsuccessful if the D-U-N-S field is filled with zeros. For a detailed description, see Match Codes and Match Grades.