Excellent and Deep Credit Analysis
May 30, 2024
Excellent and Deep Credit Analysis
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with D&B Finance Analytics
Our primary use is to qualify new or reactivated customers, to review existing customers and to provide background data for us to use in collections or legal proceedings. We run probably 2-300 D&B reports weekly, sometimes more, and this refers only to domestic and Canadian customers. I don't have metrics for Europe or other regions.
The D&B information is our first line of analysis and is absolutely critical to determining creditworthiness. We also pursue trade references as well as LOC's when needed, but D&B information is our go-to at the beginning of the credit review.
The D&B information is our first line of analysis and is absolutely critical to determining creditworthiness. We also pursue trade references as well as LOC's when needed, but D&B information is our go-to at the beginning of the credit review.
Pros
- Detailed analysis of company conditions
- Quantification and classification of metrics
- Background on the customer
Cons
- Updates on smaller firms are often spotty, and often we're notified or find out about substantial changes (e.g., location, management, et al., well before these turn up in their report.
- It would be nice to have forms automatically submitted when the return key is used; this is a nice shortcut instead of mousing over to the Submit button, and was present in earlier iterations.
- The ability to tailor automatic sign-outs. Often I'm working on a specific customer, and I go back to start another a few minutes later, and find myself logged out. Automatic sign-outs were for a longer time span previously.
- Reducing risk by pointing out potential issues at the outset
- Hard quantification of certain metrics, in particular the Paydex stat, as well as failure and delinquency likelihood.
- Assists with lowering DSO (sorry, no hard figures available) by letting us know when there is a potential issue from the beginning, or when we update our records.
We use it almost exclusively for credit risk management in my department and do so daily. We do not use it for A/R management, as our individual branches are responsible for their own collections, based upon the account rating and limit.
It has definitely improved our ability to anticipate credit events prior to their happening, with a concomitant improvement in managing our overall risk.
It has definitely improved our ability to anticipate credit events prior to their happening, with a concomitant improvement in managing our overall risk.
Implementation overall was handled by another team, but I can say we're very pleased with the speed of use, as well as the data depth when running reports. These are run solely by Credit, but we also use them at the request of individual branches in advance of a sale or to see whether a customer qualifies for a higher limit, prior to Sales requesting a larger order.
- Experian Account & Portfolio Management
This isn't precisely the software we used, but this is closest of the options presented. We used Experian almost exclusively for small firms not fully represented under D&B, in particular Canadian firms which Experian had a more robust reporting regimen. Customers in Canada who didn't turn up in a D&B search often turned up in an Experian search. Most of our business is not in Canada, so to avoid duplication of effort and reporting, we moved about four years ago to D&B only.
Do you think D&B Finance Analytics delivers good value for the price?
Yes
Are you happy with D&B Finance Analytics's feature set?
Yes
Did D&B Finance Analytics live up to sales and marketing promises?
I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process
Did implementation of D&B Finance Analytics go as expected?
I wasn't involved with the implementation phase
Would you buy D&B Finance Analytics again?
Yes
Using D&B Finance Analytics
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using Familiar | None |
- Finding a Paydex score
- Getting other metrics meaningful to my decisions
- Customer look-up
- None
Comments
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