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B2B Data Supplier: What to Look for Before You Decide

B2B data supplier selection is one of the most critical decisions your business will face, particularly when your marketing campaigns depend on attracting new customers and generating qualified leads. Having worked with countless businesses over the years, I’ve seen how the right data partnership can completely transform campaign performance, whilst the wrong choice leads to wasted spend and missed opportunities. Below, I’ll address the key questions you should be asking potential suppliers, share insights from our clients’ experiences, and show you exactly what separates effective data providers from the rest.

Why sector relevance matters in B2B data supply

Not all company data is equal. At Insight Data, our focus is on construction, fenestration, glazing, and building products. This gives us a more accurate and extensive database of verified firms than generalist data vendors like RD Marketing. A database provider with sector-specific insight ensures you target the right companies at the right time with relevant messaging.

How does data quality affect lead generation?

Bad data leads to wasted spend, missed opportunities, and poor conversion rates. You need a supplier that prioritises data quality, ongoing validation, and data enrichment. At Insight Data, we use a blend of machine learning, in-house research, and verified data sources to keep every record accurate and actionable. That’s why our platform supports better lead generation and higher ROI.

Static lists vs. live, verified marketing data

B2B data supplier office environment with professionals at work

RD Marketing offers one-off lists. Glenigan and Barbour ABI focus on project data, not contact information. Insight Data’s approach is different we offer live marketing data verified in real-time. Our in-house team updates records daily, flagging company changes and verifying job titles, emails, and mobile numbers. This is how we maintain data freshness and avoid bad data.

What types of data should a good supplier provide?

You’ll want more than just a name and email. A reliable contact database provider should offer:

  • Company size and sector
  • Demographic data and location
  • Financial information
  • Decision-maker details like phone, job title, and social media profiles
  • Intent data and market movement triggers

Our platform includes all of the above and is used daily by marketing teams and sales teams who rely on relevant, verified insight.

Do you offer platform access or just downloads?

Insight Data’s Salestracker CRM provides secure web and mobile access, giving you real-time access to live prospect data wherever you’re working. Unlike Glenigan or Barbour ABI, Salestracker is a true CRM system that integrates into your sales and marketing workflows without the need for manual data uploads. Glenigan and Barbour ABI do not offer CRM functionality or mobile CRM access.

How important is customer support in a B2B data partnership?

B2B data supplier meeting focused on customer support and strategy

Customer support isn’t a bonus; it’s a core requirement. When you invest in a B2B data supplier, you’re not just buying records. You’re entering a partnership that should help you unlock real business outcomes.

At Insight Data, we provide full onboarding, training, and ongoing support as standard. This includes strategic advice, campaign guidance, and help desk access whenever you need it. Our team is here to make sure your data performs, not just on day one, but long term.

 

Many of our clients have been with us for more than a decade. Here’s what a few have said:

“For over 10 years, we’ve relied on Insight Data. It’s the only genuinely dedicated database for our sector. We’ve tried other options, but Insight Data is the best. There’s nothing else that gives you the depth of information, sectors, products, contact information, credit rating, it’s got everything we need.”
— Gerald Allen, Head of Marketing, Epwin

“We have used Insight Data for over 10 years and have always found the data to be comprehensive, accurate and crucial to our marketing activity.”
— Marketing Team, Edgetech UK

“I feel that the data provided helps our company target specific customers and areas to achieve the best results. I recently took over the marketing position and had zero experience with the system. Insight Data provided endless support and guidance to the point that I now feel much more confident in producing campaigns that increase our profits.”
— Julie Mozley, Marketing Manager, Vita Hardware

These experiences reflect what we aim to deliver for every client: accurate data, responsive support, and measurable marketing results. That’s why support is built into our service from the start and remains part of everything we do.

Are there compliance risks with some data vendors?

Yes. Any data solutions must comply with data protection regulations. We offer audit trails, opt-out tracking, and real-time preferences to keep your team compliant. Many data services stop at delivery, but Insight Data stays with you through the campaign lifecycle.
B2B data supplier business meeting between two professionals

What makes Insight Data different?

We’ve built our business on delivering actionable, sector-specific data for over 21 years. As Alex Tremlett, our Commercial Director, explains:

“Our platform delivers valuable insights that trigger timely, targeted outreach. Clients don’t just get contacts they get a strategic advantage.”

How Insight Data Compares to Other UK Data Suppliers

Feature Insight Data Barbour ABI Glenigan RD Marketing
Live contact updates ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No ❓ Unclear
Construction sector focus ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ❌ No
Named decision-maker contacts ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Yes
CRM / automation integration ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No
GDPR tools ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No ❓ Not clear
Account manager support ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No
Real-time filters ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No
Customer support ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No

What are the signs of a trustworthy B2B data supplier?

A trustworthy B2B data supplier offers more than a spreadsheet. They prove their value through long-standing client relationships, consistent data accuracy, and transparent support.

Look for signs such as:

  • Over a decade of continuous service to recognised brands
  • Verified sector targeting with minimal bounce rates
  • Clear audit trails and GDPR compliance baked into the process
  • A dedicated account manager, not just a generic support inbox

At Insight Data, we’ve worked with some of the UK’s most respected brands in construction and fenestration. From live updates to full platform access and strategic campaign support, our clients stay because our data performs.

We don’t expect you to just take our word for it; our long-term partnerships and proven results speak for themselves.

How often should your B2B data supplier update information?

Daily. Weekly updates aren’t enough when companies are changing every day. Our in-house researchers and automated checks pull in different sources and update specific data types in real time.

Should my data supplier support social media campaigns?

Yes. We include social media profiles in our records, ideal for LinkedIn outreach and social media platforms targeting. Most traditional data vendors ignore this completely.

What role do search engines play in data validation?

We cross-reference our records using search engine data, online registries, Companies House, and sector-specific databases to confirm accuracy. This is part of our multi-source approach to maintaining an extensive database.

What support do you get after signing up?

Insight Data offers post-sale customer support, training, and strategic advice. You also receive access to our account managers, campaign tips, and data monitoring services. Most data providers drop support once they send a file, but we don’t.

Can you help me find a very specific target audience?

Yes. You can filter records by specific criteria such as region, product type, number of employees, or even market trends. Whether you’re targeting fabricators, installers, or architects, we help you reach the right target audience fast.

B2B data supplier team meeting in a professional office

Want a flexible plan or a trial first?

We offer a free plan and short-term trials, so you can explore our platform before committing. No hard sell, just the chance to see real results.

B2B data supplier selection: What questions should you ask before choosing a provider?

Selecting the right B2B data supplier can make or break your marketing campaigns. These frequently asked questions address the key considerations when evaluating providers, from data quality and compliance to integration capabilities and ongoing support services.

What makes a B2B data supplier reliable?

A reliable supplier offers verified, compliant, and enriched data across multiple contact points, with tools for targeting and ongoing support not just a list.

Can I integrate the data into my sales platform?

Yes. We support most CRMs and sales platforms through our extensions and APIs.

What’s the difference between Insight Data and others?

Unlike generic providers, we specialise in your industry. You get relevant information from verified companies that actually match your business goals.

Do you offer different types of data?

We cover a wide range of data from demographics and financials to job roles and social media all verified and ready to use.

Further Reading

If you’re still comparing suppliers, these two articles offer extra insight:

Ready to Transform Your Marketing with Sector-Specific B2B Data?

Don’t let poor data quality and generic supplier lists hold back your marketing campaigns. Insight Data’s sector-focused approach delivers the verified contacts and real-time insights your business needs to reach the right decision-makers at precisely the right moment.

Whether you’re targeting fenestration specialists, local builders, builders merchants, architects, house builders, or main contractors, our comprehensive construction industry databases provide the depth and accuracy that generalist suppliers simply can’t match.

With daily data updates, full CRM integration, GDPR compliance tools, and dedicated account management support, you’ll have everything needed to generate qualified leads and drive meaningful ROI from your marketing efforts. Our clients consistently report better conversion rates, reduced campaign waste, and more strategic targeting capabilities.

Get in touch today to discover how Insight Data can improve your marketing precision. Call us on 01934 808293, email hello@insightdata.co.uk, or explore our sector-specific databases to see the difference quality data makes to your campaigns.

About the Author

Kirsty Winter, Head of Sales at Insight Data, in a professional headshot wearing a black blazer with styled blonde hair.I’m Kirsty Winter, Head of Sales at Insight Data. With 14 years’ experience in the glazing and construction sectors, I started in our research team, where I built a deep understanding of the challenges businesses face in these industries. That foundation shaped how I work with clients today, helping them use real-time prospect data to target the right companies, generate qualified leads, and grow with confidence.

Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of businesses to unlock new opportunities, improve their marketing results, and achieve measurable sales growth. I now lead our sales team and continue to support clients across the UK with practical, data-driven strategies that deliver results.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

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Insight Data have helped us to grow our business significantly and shown us the best way to use our time and resources to make sure we’re targeting the right audience to get the results

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For over 10 years, we’ve relied on Insight Data. It’s the only genuinely dedicated database for our sector. We’ve tried other options, but Insight Data is the best. There’s nothing else that gives you the depth of information – sectors, products, contact information, credit rating – it’s got everything we need

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We needed a CRM package that was geared to our industry and was easy to use. There are a lot of companies out there but Insight Data’s Salestracker seemed to offer everything we needed.

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We were hugely impressed with Insight’s professionalism and comprehensive industry knowledge. Whether it was their telesales team, copywriters or graphic designers, we were safe in the knowledge that they understood what we do, who we want to target and what our products can offer them. We are delighted with what has been achieved so far and we look forward to working further with Insight Data moving forward.

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