D&B and FirstRain Link for '360-degree' Business View

Business information provider Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has announced a partnership with customer insights specialist FirstRain. The two will deliver a solution which combines structured and unstructured business data and analytics and provide a '360-degree' view of a company.

FirstRain uses patented analytics technology to locate business-focused web and social media data, and then integrates it into CRM and social enterprise platforms. Last summer, the firm released a new tool called Market Insights, promising real-time data on customers, end markets and competitors to sales and marketing teams.

As part of the new deal, FirstRain will provide D&B with customer and market intelligence gathered from unstructured information such as social media conversations on Twitter and blogs. This, the firms say, will provide clients with real-time insights on companies, markets and competitors, and offer a 'superior understanding' of their customers' businesses.

Laura Kelly (pictured), D&B's Chief Product Officer, comments: 'The relationship with FirstRain will enable our customers to receive up-to-the-minute insights on prospects, customers, competitors and key markets. FirstRain's company and industry social analytics combined with D&B's structured data gives customers advanced warning of sales and growth opportunities in their markets, when and where they need it.'

Web sites: www.dnb.com and www.firstrain.com .