Welcome to BIIA   –  One of the Largest Information Resources for Business Information and Credit Information Professionals – The BIIA Network Consists of 4,500 Members

The Business Information Industry Association (BIIA) is a trade association for providers of a wide range of business information services which help other businesses manage growth and reduce risk.

Our members’ services spectrum includes information content, platforms, workflow software, decision systems, identity and authentication services, compliance and risk assessment tools.  The largest member segments are business information, b2c and b2b marketing services, risk management, fraud prevention, compliance services, consumer credit bureaus, commercial credit information companies and software providers supporting digital commerce.

Benefits of a BIIA Membership:

Outreach:

BIIA has established one of the largest global networks of business information providers with over 70 members and connecting over 4,500  information professionals.

Information Resources:

BIIA is one of the largest information resources for business information and credit risk management professionals.  Through our portal, BIIA.com, we provide a wealth of information for members, users, regulators and the general public on the latest developments in business information and its value for users and national economies as a whole.  

The BIIA portal has become an important resource on standards, trends, technological developments and policies for our industry.  The BIIA library has surpassed 13,000 news items and best demonstrated practices.  BIIA members receive regular news alerts on key developments in the industry and the regulatory environment.   Our readership is widespread; between 4 to 5 thousand unique visitors access BIIA.com per month. 

BIIA’s readership accesses approximately 200,000 pages of documents annually.  The largest readership segments by country are show in this chart.  The readership is global and the breakdown on a regional basis is as follows:  Asia 38%; the Americas:  35%; and EMEA 27%.

The content of the BIIA portal not only embraces developments within our industry, BIIA systematically collects information on important developments and trends which are likely to impact our members in the future:

Of grave concern to our members is Cyber Security which has moved to the top of our industry’s agenda.  Artificial Intelligence (AI) has entered the decision space moving the emphasis from simple scoring tools to insights and greater accuracy in risk prediction and fraud prevention.   It also offers the promise of cost reduction in data collection and analysis.  AI is starting to impact the commercial lending space with the rating agencies moving into the private company data risk assessment.

Identity (authentication) has also moved up on the industry’s agenda due to regulatory requirements such as AML, KYC, and beneficial ownership.  Businesses and consumers are increasingly conducting financial transactions via electronic devices, therefore identity is more than ever an integral part of such transactions.

Fintech, in terms of technology based on online lending platforms, the use of extreme analytics, alternative data, and machine learning, may alter the information flows between lenders and credit bureaus with the likelihood of less data being shared with credit bureaus.  The growth of small business lending by Fintechs may over time diminish the role of credit bureaus and commercial information providers (role of payment data), because Fintechs currently do not use traditional credit information nor do they share their loan experiences with the information sector.

Lurking in the wings is Blockchain with its distributed ledger technology, which is starting to make an entrance into financial services, payment systems and supply chain services.  The initial hype has subsided as many of the proof of concepts have not yet made it into the Beta stage.  Nevertheless here and there are signals that some concepts are now moving into the beta stage with some successes.

Industry Advocacy: As a global trade association BIIA is committed to monitoring and reporting on key regulatory developments that are of interest to our membership and prospective members that operate in the industries we cover.In 2020 we have made a conscious effort to increase our global regulatory reporting coverage recognizing the geographically diverse location and business reach of our members. 

From a competitive point of view, perhaps even from a survival point of view, the above developments are all critical factors for our members.  It is part of BIIA’s mission to provide insights on such developments through the BIIA portal, newsletters and in BIIA conferences.   

Members are advised to log onto biia.com at all times.  Approximately 30% of the content is password protected and for use by members only!

Networking:

The association provides a neutral open forum for its members to debate and resolve common issues with users, regulators, government and the public information sector. We advocate a legal regulatory environment which supports the information users and the information industry.

Expertise and Knowledge:

The BIIA board of directors consist of a group of volunteers who have an extensive knowledge of the various information industry segments with many years of combined experience which is available to support members:.https://www.biia.com/about-biia/board-of-directors-2.

Market Engagement:

The association represents the interests of its membership by participating in international and regional committees that focus on information services such as the World Bank International Committee on Credit Reporting.

The association also represents the interest of its membership  by being actively involved in regional initiatives that seek to develop the information that is available to support growth in regions such as the Asia-Pacific Financial Forum (APFF), Financial Infrastructure Development Network (FIDN) estblished as part of the work of the APEC / ABAC financial infrastructure development forums.

BIIA Webinars:

BIIA participates in important webinars on industry; for example a discussion facilitated by the World Bank’s SME Finance Forum on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on business information and credit risk.

BIIA also facilitates and moderates webinars on behalf of its members in which important industry developments and trends are discussed.  

BIIA Biennial Conferences

BIIA 2022:  The BIIA 2022 Biennial Conference was held in May of 2022.   The event attracted 170 delegates from 20 countries.  A recording of the conference will become available shortly.

BIIA 2019 Biennial Conference 

For the BIIA 2019 Biennial Conference we chose to express the technological changes impacting our clients and our industry in the form of a formula:  AI + Analytics + Data = The Future of Managing Risk

In the opening keynote, Dr. Anthony Scriffignano, SVP/Chief Data Scientist at Dun and Bradstreet, explored how the massive availability of data is changing the questions we must ask in the context of increasing digitization.  Modern methods, tools and technologies can be very helpful or, as Dr. Scriffignano puts it, “they can accelerate the speed with which we hit the wall.”  If, however, we ask the right questions (and maybe use a bit of different math!), new sources of data can yield fascinating inferences. This talk, both relevant and occasionally irreverent, will explore some of the new ways data and AI are being used to expose risk and opportunity and the skills leaders need to take advantage of a curious world awash in data.  To learn more about the BIIA 2019 Biennial Conference, please click on this link:  Recorded Sessions

Embracing Digitization:

The DNA of our membership originates from data, either about individuals or businesses. Our members have always stayed at the forefront of digital development having been the first to computerize paper based business and consumer databases.  Over time members developed platforms, workflow tools to transfer data and solutions in a seamless fashion rather than traditional business and consumer credit reports.  Our industry members spearheaded decision support services origination from simple credit scoring to decision analytics.

Embracing digitization was the theme of the BIIA 2017 Biennial Conference.  Digitization is driven by technological advances in data mining, analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, mobile services, providing the elements for insights and decision making in real time.  These developments provide both opportunities and challenges.  Opportunities for economic growth benefiting the society as well as the information industry and its clients. The challenge will be to stay technologically one step ahead of Cybercriminals who are using the same tools.

Please listen to the panel discussions of the BIIA 2019 Biennial Conference

Industry Advocacy:

The association provides industry advocacy support for its members by monitoring the regulatory environment and by participating in forums with regulators. 

The associations industry advocacy effort is led by Neil Munroe, Managing Director in conjunction with members of the newly formed BIIA Regulatory Forum.  Neil can be reached at:  munroen@biia.com

Members benefit from a wide range of expertise and best demonstrated practices.

  • Key industry topics that the Association is actively engaged at an international level include:
    • Data privacy
      • EU General Data Protection Regulation
      • Regulatory developments in other continents
    • Cybersecurity
    • Access to finance for MSMEs and SMEs
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Cross border credit information access
    • Big Data
    • FinTech
    • Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Blockchain
  • B20 Industry Advocacy Activities:
    • Since the inception of the B20 initiatives the BIIA leadership has taken an active role in B20 Forums for example: BIIA participated in the B20 SME Development Taskforce (SDTF), which was part of the B20 China presidency and in the B20 SME Cross-thematic Group and the B20 Digitization Taskforce, both were initiated by the B20 Germany presidency.  BIIA has continued to participate in other relevant initiatives with subsequent presidencies.
  • Review of 2020 Industry Advocacy Activities: As a global trade association BIIA is committed to monitoring and reporting on key regulatory developments that are of interest to our membership and prospective members that operate in the industries we cover.In 2020 we have made a conscious effort to increase our global regulatory reporting coverage recognizing the geographically diverse location and business reach of our members. 

Regulatory Communities:

In dealing with the wide range of regulatory topics BIIA has established two communities:

Regulatory Affairs Forum

Set up at the beginning of 2019 in response to feedback from members and chaired by Neil Munroe, Deputy Managing Director the Regulatory Affairs Forums objectives are:

  • To facilitate the sharing of information on regulatory developments and
  • to discuss how BIIA might be able to support members in influencing policymakers and regulators.

Forum meetings are held virtually every two months and is open to all BIIA Members to take part. Current membership consists of both global and regional/country companies involved in business and consumer information services and other related industries.

Countries represented at the Forum include the Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Cambodia, Germany, Iceland, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK and the US.

If you would like to participate in future meetings of the Forum and learn about regulatory developments in the business and consumer information industry please contact Neil Munroe – munroen@biia.com

Regulatory Roundtable

BIIA, as a neutral non-partisan body, facilitates a Middle East and Asia Pacific Regulatory Roundtable.

Roundtables are hosted by BIIA on a regular basis (if possible at least once a year) to enable the meeting of a number of regulators from the Asia Pacific region to discuss key areas of interest as they relate to credit reporting.

The objectives of the Roundtable are:

  • to facilitate and promote closer regional discussion and engagement by regulators on the topic of credit reporting enabling a better understanding of the regional challenges facing regulators and the credit reporting system and their role in the overall credit information sharing environment.
  • to help regional regulators identify areas of mutual concern and potential collaboration, as well as gaining insight into how the credit reporting industry may change or evolve in response to changing demands and requirements.
  • to promote closer engagement with the ICCR as the global credit reporting standards setting body, enabling regulators in the region to work with the committee on key areas requiring global guidance.
  • From the discussions to agree on a work plan on identified issues to assist regulators in the region.

The Roundtable events normally consist of an initial meeting of regulators and representatives from the International Committee on Credit Reporting (ICCR) and BIIA followed by a meeting which includes other stakeholders such as credit reporting service providers.

As the last Roundtable in May 2022,  with 17 Regulators from 15 countries attending.

The event is held as an ‘invitation only’ event and operates under ‘Chatham House’ rules to ensure an open dialogue amongst participants.

Regulators who would like to be part of future Regulatory Roundtable events should contact Neil Munroe. Managing Director at munroen@biia.com>

BIIA Affiliation with International Institution: 

BIIA is a member of the International Committee on Credit Reporting (ICCR), which produced several recommendations concerning General Principles for Credit Reporting and Facilitating SME financing through improved credit reporting (English)

BIIA participates regularly in regional and local conferences organized by the IFC concerning credit and credit information infrastructure issues.

BIIA is a member of the IFC’s SME Finance Forum  which has the objectives to expand access to finance for small and medium businesses.

BIIA is a member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and ABAC’s Financial Infrastructure Network (FIDN).  BIIA provides its expertise on data standards.

BIIA monitors and informs its members of significant developments on the policy dossiers being worked on across the globe via the work of the Regulatory Committee and the newly formed Regulatory Forum.  BIIA participates in important forums and committee meetings advocating a legal regulatory environment beneficial to the industry and assists members in dealing with specific local issues by providing examples of demonstrated best practice.

BIIA Governance :  Meet the Leadership Team (Board Members)

For details click here

About BIIA:  BIIA was formed in 2005 in Hong Kong initially as a Regional Organization.  Within two years of its launch BIIA attracted significant interest for information companies outside Asia, thus BIIA became a global association.  Membership today comprises of 75 information companies.  BIIA is registered in Hong Kong as a Limited Liability Corporation by Guaranty.   BIIA is a Not-for-Profit Organization.  For further background click on Membership Kit (password protected).

BIIA Membership