Today, let's talk about ImportKey and Tendata, two highly popular global trade data platforms. Each has its own unique features and can offer different levels of support depending on your needs. So, how do you choose the platform that best suits your requirements? Let's take a look!

1. Data Coverage

ImportKey has a relatively narrow scope, mainly focusing on a few key countries, such as China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and a handful of others. Its data for the U.S. market is quite comprehensive, but if your business targets a broader global market, especially Europe, Africa, or other regions, ImportKey's data might seem a bit “limited”. For example, its trade data for countries like Germany, China, and India is incomplete and may cause you to miss out on some business opportunities.

ImportKey provides customs data for the following countries:

In contrast, Tendata offers a much broader global perspective. It provides customs trade data from 218+ countries and regions. If your business requires global market analysis or you're looking to find suitable international trade customers from around the world, Tendata is undoubtedly a better choice. Whether your target is the European market, emerging markets in Asia, or Latin America, Tendata can provide detailed data to help you find potential customers and partners globally.

>>Learn the list of countries provided by Tendata<<

2. Data Quality

ImportKey relies mainly on bill of lading data, which is fairly basic, offering buyer, supplier, product names, and HS codes. Since much of its data (apart from the U.S.) is indirect (derived from U.S. customs data to infer other countries' data), the completeness and accuracy of the data can be somewhat limited.

On the other hand, Tendata excels in its diverse and rich sources of customs trade data. Tendata pulls data from six major databases, including official customs data, commercial data, internet data, business registration data, intellectual property data, and news & public opinion data. It updates over 10 billion customs records daily, keeping you up to date with the latest market trends. If you need higher quality, more accurate data, Tendata is definitely the platform you should go for.

3. Company Contact Information

A platform's ability to provide company contact information directly affects how efficiently you can reach potential customers.

One drawback of ImportKey is that, although it gives you company names and basic information, it does not provide any contact details. You would have to go the extra mile to look them up yourself through Google or social media. For B2B businesses eager to find partners quickly, this can be time-consuming.

With Tendata, you get access to 2.1 billion companies and 700 million company contact details. Tendata not only provides most companies' contact information, but also verifies them to ensure their accuracy. Additionally, users can access detailed company information, such as ownership details, official company contacts, news, intellectual property, and even executive-level contacts (emails, phone numbers, social media). This allows you to directly connect with decision-makers and save time reaching out.

>>Get company contact information from Tendata<<

4. Analysis Tools

If you just need some simple customs trade data, ImportKey can provide that easily. It allows you to search by product name or company name and generates basic visual charts. This is great for users who only need a general idea of the market situation.

However, if you're looking for more in-depth market analysis and want to discover potential clients, Tendata provides a wealth of powerful tools. It supports over ten dimensions of search, including exporting country, importing country, ports, price, and more. It also offers 17 different types of market analysis reports, giving you a comprehensive understanding of global market trends. Particularly, the T-Insight feature lets you dive deeper into specific products' global market trends, helping you directly find the right customers.

>>Learn more about the functions of T-insights<<

Conclusion

So, how do you choose the right platform for your business?

If your business primarily focuses on a few key markets (such as the U.S.) and your needs are relatively simple, ImportKey may meet your basic requirements.

However, if you need a global perspective, especially if you want to leverage multi-dimensional customs trade data analysis and precise customer contact information to accelerate expansion, Tendata is the stronger choice. It helps you quickly find potential customers worldwide and boosts market development efficiency.

In conclusion, whether you're a small B2B business just starting out or a larger company looking to expand globally, choosing the right data platform is key to unlocking success. We hope this article has helped clarify the differences between ImportKey and Tendata, so you can make the best choice based on your specific business needs!