Drawing on over a decade of hands-on experience supporting Diligencia’s clients, I wanted to share my perspective on what truly matters when selecting a due diligence solutions provider.
If you’re reading this, you likely already know that in today’s fast-moving business environment, access to accurate corporate records is essential. Whether you’re managing risk, conducting due diligence, or making strategic investment decisions, reliable data is the foundation of informed decision-making. But not all due diligence platforms are created equal. Asking the right questions before selecting a provider can save time, reduce risk, and ensure you get real value.
Here are five essential questions every customer should ask before choosing a due diligence platform:
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1. Will I get expert onboarding and ongoing support?
2. Can I download entity reports?
3. Who is behind the data? Is it just scraped online?
4. Can you provide additional insight?
5. What makes you different from other suppliers?
A smooth onboarding experience is key to maximising the value of a due diligence platform. Ask whether the provider offers training to help you navigate the system effectively. Are these sessions one-off, or is ongoing guidance available as new questions arise? The best platforms provide continuous support from knowledgeable specialists and consultants, helping you interpret data and reports accurately, resolve questions quickly, and get prompt assistance with complex issues. Onboarding isn’t just about learning the platform, it’s about building confidence in the intelligence it provides.
Entity records serve many purposes, from audits and regulatory compliance to internal reviews and business decision-making. Being able to download, print, and store date-stamped, comprehensive reports ensures transparency and accountability. Ask whether the platform allows easy access to full entity reports for sharing with colleagues or for future reference. Platforms that provide this functionality save time, streamline workflows, and help maintain accurate records for regulatory requirements or internal audits.
Many global data providers rely solely on automated scraping to provide large, static databases with little in the way of personalised service, and outdated or incomplete information.
At Diligencia, we are specialists in the wider Middle East and Africa, providing proprietary data from primary, official sources (e.g. ministries, official gazettes). Our raw material is public record data retrieved from over 350 official sources, either by automated online document extraction, bulk uploads of registry data or in-person collection from the relevant registry. The information we provide often goes beyond what is available in open sources and from other vendors.
Global coverage is meaningless without local insight. Trusted local sources and teams of experienced analysts provide on-the-ground perspective, uncovering details that may not be publicly available online. This is especially important in complex markets or jurisdictions with limited public data. Platforms that leverage local networks and in-house expertise ensure the information reflects reality, not just publicly scraped records. Look for providers who can research new and update existing entity records, monitor counterparties, or conduct enhanced due diligence as needed.
Finally, ask what truly differentiates the platform and its data from competitors. Just as importantly, ask what the provider cannot do. Limitations may stem from local research constraints, jurisdictional access issues, or possibly a product or service that is still immature. Having this transparency from the outset helps set realistic expectations and avoids investing time and resources into a platform that ultimately does not meet your requirements.
At Diligencia, our differentiation is clear and deliberate. We focus on depth, accuracy, and service quality rather than scale alone. Specifically, we provide:
Verified corporate data from the Middle East and Africa, sourced directly from official registries and primary public records
Curated, clearly structured intelligence, designed to be immediately usable for compliance, risk, and decision-making
A highly responsive, specialist service, with direct access to experienced analysts and support teams who understand both the data and the jurisdictions behind it
Choosing the right due diligence platform is about more than accessing data - it’s about partnering with a team that supports your decisions from day one. The right provider will offer comprehensive training, ongoing specialist support, authoritative datasets, local insights, and fast, reliable reporting. Asking these questions upfront ensures you onboard confidently and get actionable intelligence that drives informed, risk-aware decisions.
Onboarding is only the beginning…
About the author
Marilena Salter is our Client Support Manager with over 10 years’ experience at Diligencia. She works closely with subscribing clients to support training, respond to enquiries, manage orders, and oversee renewals, delivering a consistently high standard of service.
Diligencia helps customers from around the world to find essential information on organisations registered in Africa and the wider Middle East, drawing on primary sources that are otherwise hard to find. Using our curated data, we enable our clients to effectively manage their compliance obligations, allowing them to continuously monitor their suppliers and counterparty risks in the MEA region.