What Is Web Scraping? Definition, Risks, and Better Alternatives
Web scraping has always been an option many companies and users rely on - usually because there isn’t a budget for verified data from a provider. In 2020-2023 especially, scraping was seen as one of the most efficient ways to extract data from websites. And some websites really do behave like databases: they contain huge amounts of information - detailed product descriptions (e-commerce), stock prices, people’s business profiles, statistics, company revenues, business data, and more.
Web scraping can be done manually (and years ago it was mostly a manual task) but nowadays, in most cases, it’s almost fully automated using scraping tools. Website scraping isn’t an easy process, though - sites have CAPTCHAs or protect themselves from scrapers, and such scraped data often comes very unstructured. So the second big step is being able to process and read the data to get the information you’re searching for.
But let’s first understand what web scraping is.
17 Best B2B Data Providers in the USA in 2025
Choosing the best B2B data providers in the USA is essential for sales, marketing, and compliance teams that want to connect with the right accounts and maintain accurate customer records. The U.S. market is massive and competitive, with millions of companies across every sector and strict privacy rules shaped by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Not every global provider delivers the same depth of U.S. coverage, and not every platform offers structured, compliant, and continuously updated data.
Understanding UBO Structure
UBO Structure: Mapping Ownership and Control
In an interconnected global economy, corporate ownership structures have grown increasingly complex. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, between 2 and 5 percent of global GDP is laundered each year, which equals $800 billion to $2 trillion in illicit funds flowing through hidden networks. The World Bank has reported that nearly 70 percent of major corruption cases over the last two decades involved the use of anonymous shell companies to conceal ownership. At the center of this challenge lies the concept of the UBO databases, a web of companies, trusts, and contractual arrangements that ultimately connect to an ultimate beneficial owner.
Company Signals Use Cases for B2B Growth
Company signals are increasingly searchable datasets on the market, as they simply give companies much deeper insights into their prospects. Company signal datasets often complement traditional firmographic data by capturing dynamic business activities that reveal growth, risk, and market momentum.
TOP 10 Most Popular E-Commerce Platforms Among European SMBs in 2025
We have recently analyzed nearly 12 million unique URLs from our dataset on SMBs across Europe.
Out of those, around 25% are e-commerce websites - giving us a clear, data-backed view of which platforms truly dominate the market today.
UBO vs Shareholders: Key Differences Explained
UBO vs Shareholders is one of the most important distinctions in corporate compliance. Many organizations mistakenly believe that knowing their shareholders is enough to satisfy due diligence requirements. In reality, regulators, banks, and investigative teams are increasingly focused on the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO), the individual who truly controls or benefits from a company regardless of how shares are recorded.
Use Cases for UBO Data: Compliance, Finance, and Digital Platforms
Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) data identifies the individuals who ultimately own or control a legal entity, even when ownership is hidden behind layers of companies, trusts, or nominee directors. UBO intelligence has moved from a regulatory formality to a strategic foundation for transparency, risk management, and operational trust.
What Is an Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO)
Why UBO Identification Matters
The concept of the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) is central to global compliance and financial transparency. Regulatory frameworks such as the European Union’s Anti-Money Laundering Directives and the United Kingdom’s Persons with Significant Control (PSC) register require organizations to identify the real individuals behind legal entities. In the United States, beneficial ownership reporting rules are evolving, with FinCEN recently narrowing obligations under the Corporate Transparency Act to exclude most domestic entities while maintaining requirements for certain foreign companies.
10 Best Sales Intelligence Tools for 2025
Sales intelligence has evolved into a foundational layer of modern go-to-market strategy. In 2025, with the global market projected to surpass $40 billion, organizations are investing in platforms that provide accurate firmographics, verified contacts, technographics, and intent signals. These datasets fuel CRM hygiene, account-based marketing (ABM), prospecting, and territory planning.
Data Decay: Why It Matters Across Business, Consumer, and POI Data
Data decay is one of the most expensive problems hiding inside revenue operations. Every year, as much as 20 to 25% of B2B records go stale, with job changes, company closures, and shifting hierarchies leaving CRMs riddled with inaccuracies. For a RevOps leader, that translates into inflated pipelines, inaccurate forecasts, and sales reps losing hours every week chasing contacts who no longer exist.