In today's rapidly evolving business world, companies face the challenge of operating effectively and data-driven. Measuring results across different systems often proves to be a maze, resulting in obstacles such as inaccurate dashboards. These challenges arise because different departments use various systems, such as CRM systems, accounting systems, and broader applications like SAP. How do you ensure good collaboration between all these systems?
Diversity in systems and departments
Data flows through various channels and departments; for instance, marketing and sales often rely on CRM systems such as Salesforce. Simultaneously, the finance department depends on accounting systems like Exact, while broader systems like SAP manage overall business processes. This complex landscape is further complicated by the use of an average of 130 SaaS applications per company (Statista, 2022).
See: Information about all companies worldwide in real time in your CRM with dataxess
Some of these applications integrate seamlessly, while others struggle to collaborate. Nevertheless, it is crucial that these systems function harmoniously. And the benefits extend beyond just accurate dashboards and reports:
- Comprehensive measurement of marketing campaigns
Results can be measured from the beginning of a marketing campaign to post-conversion, providing insights into the entire customer journey.
- Uniform business information across departments
Ensuring consistent communication between different departments, where they are confident they are discussing the same company.
- Accurate billing
Always invoicing the correct branch by linking the right data.
- Truly reliable reports and dashboards
Creating genuinely reliable reports and dashboards, without duplicate records and uncertainties about accurate data.
The key to collaboration: The D-U-N-S number
The solution to making systems cooperate that weren't originally designed to do so is surprisingly simple: the D-U-N-S-number. A D-U-N-S-number serves as a unique code for each organization globally, similar to an international Chamber of Commerce (KVK)/Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO) number but more advanced. By integrating the D-U-N-S number into various systems, businesses can overlay all information with confidence, specifying which organization it pertains to.
The D-U-N-S-number not only enables collaboration between systems but also provides a structured framework to easily distinguish parent-child structures, headquarters, and branches of companies. This approach not only enhances the efficiency of business processes but also lays the foundation for a reliable data ecosystem that businesses can trust.
In a world where data is the driving force behind decision-making, the D-U-N-S number stands as an essential tool for companies aiming for accuracy, consistency, and coherence in their data-driven journey. It overcomes the obstacles of heterogeneous and non-collaborative systems, laying the foundation for a seamless, integrated approach to business information.
