Introducing the Business Partner Explorer: Unlocking new opportunities in the Catena-X network

At Cofinity-X, we are committed to driving digital transformation in the automotive and manufacturing industries. We are excited to introduce the Business Partner Explorer, a powerful new feature that simplifies the way companies share and access business partner data across the Catena-X network. This tool is designed to help organisations unlock the full potential of their supply chain by enabling efficient data sharing and collaboration.

What is the Business Partner Explorer?

The Business Partner Explorer is a secure, easy-to-use platform that enables partners registered with the Cofinity-X network to share high-quality location information and access critical business partner data. It is a self-organised data pool where customers upload and manage their own data, ensuring a single source of truth for business partner information. This feature is part of the Jupiter 1.3 release and is available as a service on the Cofinity-X marketplace.

Key components of business partner data

Before we look at how the Business Partner Explorer works, let's break down the key components of business partner data within Catena-X:

- BPNL (Business Partner Number for Legal Entities): Represents a legally registered organisation, such as a company or entity listed in a tax register.

- BPNS (Business Partner Number for Locations): Identifies a geographical location where a company operates, such as a factory, warehouse or office. A legal entity can have 0 to N locations.

- BPNA (Business Partner Number for Addresses): Represents a physical location used for operational purposes, such as official entrances, postal delivery points or truck gates. A legal entity can have one to N addresses, either directly or through a site.

These components are linked together to provide a structured and transparent approach to managing business partner information.‍

How to use the Business Partner Explorer

1. Making your business partner data available (data provisioning)

If your company wants to share its business partner information within the Catena-X network, the Business Partner Explorer makes it easy:

Step 1: Log in to the Cofinity-X portal.

Step 2: Navigate to the Business Partner Data Manager section (requires the "Business Partner Data Manager" portal role).

Step 3: Enter or update your company's locations and addresses.

Step 4: Submit your data - Done!

Intuitive and easy to use interface

We've designed the user interface (UI) to be simple and intuitive, ensuring that businesses can submit data quickly and accurately. Customers are responsible for the accuracy of the data they provide, and the data is curated and enriched by Cofinity-X to improve quality.

2. Access to business partner data (data consumption)

If your company would like to consume business partner data from other Catena-X members, the Business Partner Explorer allows you to seamlessly access this information:

Step 1: Subscribe to the Business Partner Data Consumption service via the Cofinity-X marketplace.

Step 2: Use the API endpoints (provided by Cofinity-X) to integrate data directly into your systems.

Step 3: Retrieve BPNL, BPNS and BPNA information in real time.

Our Eclipse Dataspace Connector (EDC) ensures that organisations can easily connect and retrieve data without manual effort, enabling seamless integration into existing business processes.

Key benefits of Business Partner Explorer

By using the Business Partner Explorer, companies benefit from:

✅ High quality data: Information is provided directly by data owners and curated by Cofinity-X, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

✅ Increased efficiency: Automated data retrieval via API reduces manual effort and data inconsistencies.

✅ Secure data exchange: Data is exchanged in a secure environment accessible only to partners registered on the Cofinity-X network.

✅ Improved collaboration: Reliable and structured data improves supply chain visibility and efficiency.

✅ Free until 31 July 2025: Data usage is free for all partners until 31 July 2025, making it the perfect time to explore the benefits.

Getting started: Easy & Free!

We've made it easy to get started with Business Partner Explorer:

1. Register on the Cofinity-X portal.

2. Provide your business partner details (if applicable).

3. Subscribe to the data consumption service and start using your business partner information.

For now, the service is completely free - the perfect opportunity to explore its benefits!

Shape the future with us!

With the Business Partner Explorer, Cofinity-X takes another step towards a seamless, digital and connected supply chain. Whether you need to provide your own business partner data or access information from others, this feature ensures that your data is structured, reliable and easy to use.

Interested? Our team is ready to help - contact us today!

‍

‍

‍