Definition and History of DUNS
DUNS stands for Data Universal Numbering System, a business identification system developed by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) since 1962. Each number consists of nine digits and is unique to every business entity registered in the system — similar to a national ID for an individual.
The system has become a de facto standard across many industries and is used by millions of companies in more than 200 countries. Government agencies, international financial institutions, and major technology companies use DUNS as one way to verify the existence and credibility of a business.
Primary Functions of a DUNS Number
In practice, a DUNS number serves as a business identity reference in B2B transactions, government tender processes in various countries, business credit applications, and verification by digital platforms. Google uses it as one signal to validate that an entity registering as an organization in Play Console genuinely exists as a legal entity.
Beyond identification, D&B also builds a credit and reputation profile for businesses based on their DUNS number. This profile can include financial information, payment history, company size, and other operational data relevant to business partners or lenders.
- Unique global business identification
- Verification reference for international digital platforms
- Foundation for D&B business credit profile construction
- Requirement for government tenders and contracts in many countries
- Standard for data exchange between multinational companies
Who Can Obtain a DUNS Number
Almost all types of legally operating business entities can register for a DUNS number, including limited liability companies, partnerships, firms, non-profit organizations, and even registered sole proprietorships. What matters is that the business can be proven to exist through official documents.
Registration is carried out by an authorized representative or rightful owner. D&B will verify the information provided by contacting the registered contact or requesting additional documents. This process is designed to ensure the data entering their database is accurate.
The Difference Between DUNS and NIB
NIB (Nomor Induk Berusaha) is the Business Identification Number issued by the Indonesian government through the OSS (Online Single Submission) system. NIB is domestic in nature and used as a business identifier within the national licensing ecosystem. DUNS, by contrast, is an international private system issued by a US-based private company.
Both are often required together when verifying a business on international platforms: NIB proves the legal status of your business in Indonesia, while DUNS validates the existence of your business in a globally recognized international database.
How to Check Whether Your Business Already Has a DUNS Number
D&B provides a free search feature on their website to check whether a business is already registered. You simply enter the company name and country, and the system will display matching entries if any exist. If nothing is found, your business is likely not yet registered.
Note that some businesses may already be listed because a trading partner or another party submitted their information without the owner's knowledge. If the data that appears is inaccurate, a claim and data update process must be completed before using that number for official purposes.