In Q2 2026, Dun & Bradstreet will implement several global updates to its scores and data models. These changes affect, among others, the Failure Score, PAYDEX®, and modeled business data such as revenue and employee counts.
The updates range from improved score explanations in the United Kingdom to model adjustments in Italy and stricter data requirements in Finland. As a result of these developments, scores will better reflect the current market situation, and risks will be presented more consistently and accurately.
Below is an overview of the key developments.
United Kingdom: more insight through improved score explanations
In the United Kingdom, the commentaries accompanying the Failure Score, Delinquency Score, and SME Score will be updated. These so-called commentaries provide additional context to a score and support risk interpretation.
With this update, the explanations will better reflect a company’s current situation, and different risk scenarios will be presented more clearly. This leads to more consistent and transparent interpretation of score results. As a result, the number of monitoring alerts may increase due to updated commentaries.
China: expansion of local scoring and global integration
In China, the scoring offering will be further expanded and more closely integrated with Dun & Bradstreet’s global models.
Indicators such as Supplier Evaluation Risk (SER) and Supplier Stability Indicator (SSI) will now be calculated locally. In addition, the Global Business Ranking (GBR) will be reintroduced, and the Overall Business Ranking (OBR) will be added to Direct+.
These changes provide more complete and locally validated insights, while still aligning with international standards. This enables more consistent assessment of companies in China within a global risk framework.
Global: revised models for revenue and employee data
Dun & Bradstreet has globally updated its revenue and employee models. These models form the basis for estimating company size and profile.
The update uses new data sources and analytical techniques, resulting in modeled values that better reflect current conditions and are less sensitive to fluctuations. The updated models were introduced at the end of March 2026 and will gradually become visible in data and products from Q2 onward. From May 2026, the new values will also be included in monthly data deliveries, such as WorldBase.
Italy: Failure Score update
An update to the Failure Score for Italy is scheduled for June 2026. This update aligns the model with recent developments in legislation and the business environment. A key change is the implementation of the new ATECO 2025 classification, aligning the model with the European standard (NACE Rev. 2.1) and adjusting business segmentation.
In addition, improvements have been made to the modelling of specific business types, such as sole proprietorships and partnerships, further refining risk assessment for these groups. For organizations, this means that from June 2026 onwards, changes may occur in the Failure Score and underlying risk classifications of Italian companies.
Finland: adjustment of PAYDEX® methodology
In Finland, the PAYDEX® methodology will be adjusted to better align with the global standard. This update, planned for Q2 2026, introduces stricter requirements for trade data. A sufficient trade depth will now be required to calculate a score, such as multiple invoices from different suppliers.
This shifts the focus toward the quality and reliability of underlying data. Scores will be based on more robust and representative trade information, resulting in more consistent and better-supported insights into payment behavior. At the same time, international comparability improves, providing organizations with a more stable and reliable view of payment behavior and supplier risk.
What does this mean for your organization?
With these updates, models and underlying data are being further refreshed and better aligned. This may be reflected in scores, model outputs, and data deliveries, for example within monitoring, reporting, and portfolio analyses. If you have any questions, you can contact customer service or your account manager.
