D&B on Microsoft Azure, with Dynamics 365: Companies announce integration, co-selling agreement

Microsoft and Dun & Bradstreet are teaming up to give companies worldwide direct access to D&B data through Microsoft Azure and Dynamics 365.

The companies jointly announced:

• Dun & Bradstreet data will be made available within Microsoft Dynamics 365, leveraging Microsoft's Common Data Service. The industry-standard D-U-N-S Number (used to establish a business credit file, and required in government contracts) and core business data will be integrated to help joint customers qualify sales leads and stay synchronized with Dun & Bradstreet's global business database of 265+ million business records.
• Dun & Bradstreet will reach Microsoft's commercial users and prospects through a joint, co-sell arrangement focused on Dynamics 365, Dun & Bradstreet's core business data and D&B Hoovers.
• Dun & Bradstreet will power core applications and build new services on Microsoft Azure, and plans to use Microsoft intelligent cloud services to modernize applications.
• The first offerings are expected to be in market later this year.

This is a natural move for Dun & Bradstreet, building upon an aggressive four-year digital transformation, let by Chairman and CEO Bob Carrigan - proving perhaps that digital transformation is not just for newer brands like beauty retailer Sephora, showcased at Inspire 2017. Dun & Bradstreet is in fact a 176-year-old company.

For Microsoft, the announcement strengthens its position as a company willing to support its partners in meaningful ways. The company announced its Azure co-sell program at Inspire 2017 earlier this month. Yes, the program is aimed at increasing incentives for partners, but also at increasing the Azure footprint. Dun & Bradstreet is effectively a new ...