FAQ

Common questions.
Straight answers.

Everything you want to know before starting a mission: process, timeline, data quality, confidentiality and pricing.

ABD Contact Desk
Do I need to already know the target company?

Yes. ABD Contact Desk is for when you know the company to approach, but not yet the right people there.

What is a contact?

A contact is a person matching the role sought, with their name, current title, company and professional email address.

When is a contact billed?

A contact is only billed once a matching person and a professional email address have been delivered.

What happens if an address is invalid?

A business email address reported as invalid within 7 calendar days of delivery is checked by ABD; if it is indeed invalid, the contact concerned is replaced free of charge.

How is a mission billed?

The first 5 contacts are free as part of the discovery offer, and your initial request and its scoping are reviewed free of charge. Beyond that, for an occasional requirement, ABD defines the scope of the mission and sends an offer tailored to the volume and complexity of the search; for a recurring requirement, a custom monthly package can be agreed with you; it is neither automatic nor mandatory. The ABD Contact Desk page describes the discovery offer and these two formats.

Do I need to commit for a set period?

Not by default: each individual mission is independent and billed individually, with no recurring commitment. For recurring needs, ABD can offer a custom monthly package, agreed with you; it is never mandatory.

Can I search for several roles at the same company?

Yes. You can list several roles or departments in a single request.

How is a mission paid?

By bank transfer, upon receipt of invoice, once the scope and terms have been confirmed by ABD.

Does ABD contact the people identified?

No, not as part of Contact Desk: ABD identifies and delivers professional contact details, and reaching out remains your responsibility. If you would like support with the search for partners or the first introductions, this can be part of an International Advisory mission whose scope is defined with you.

Can you choose the companies for me?

Not as part of Contact Desk. If your target markets or companies are not yet defined, an International Advisory engagement may be the right fit.

Process & timeline
How does an ABD mission run from start to finish?

Every mission follows the same method, in four steps:

  • Scoping: a conversation to define the objective, country, sector, offer, targets and expected decision.
  • Validation: you receive the scoping note in writing and validate it before anything starts.
  • Research, analysis and qualification: research drawing on several sources, adapted to the country, then checks and, in International Advisory missions, prioritisation.
  • Delivery: the agreed deliverable(s) are delivered; for International Advisory, with a debrief and next steps.
What is the timeline for a mission?

ABD Contact Desk: for standard requests, contacts are delivered within 24 to 48 hours, weekends included, once the brief and scope are confirmed. If a particular search cannot be completed within that time, ABD lets you know and a suitable timeline is agreed with you before starting.

International Advisory: the timeline depends on the mission and is set once the scoping is validated. It depends on the country, source availability and the type of mission (study or strategy). An indicative estimate is given at scoping, before any order is placed.

Is there a minimum or maximum volume for contact research?

There is no strict minimum. To preserve the quality of the research, ABD generally recommends working in successive batches. Volume is defined based on the market, the roles sought and source availability.

What happens if the scoping changes during the mission?

The scoping note validated in writing is the reference for the mission. Any significant change (new country, sector change, new objective) is treated as an amendment, which may adjust the timeline and quote.

Minor adjustments are accommodated at no extra cost if the mission hasn't started yet.

Data quality
How is the quality of information ensured?

The process combines several checks:

  • Research from professional, institutional and sector sources adapted to each country
  • Checking of the available sources against each other, where the country allows it
  • Documentation of the status of each contact detail (confirmed, likely or unavailable)
  • In International Advisory missions, a priority (Priority 1, Priority 2, To explore) assigned and justified by a qualitative note
We don't claim that every piece of information has been confirmed by two independent sources: some countries don't allow it. The status of each data point is always documented.
Where does the information come from?

Information comes from publicly accessible professional sources: registries, company websites, sector bodies, specialised publications and professional networks adapted to each country. No database bought in bulk is used.

What happens if a contact doesn't match the scoping after delivery?

For ABD Contact Desk, the companies, locations and roles sought are confirmed by email before the search, and only contacts matching the request are delivered and billed. The file contains no prioritisation or analysis.

The guarantee covers email addresses: a business email address reported as invalid within 7 calendar days of delivery is checked by ABD and, if it is indeed invalid, the contact concerned is replaced free of charge. If a delivered contact does not seem to match your request, let ABD know.

Format & integration
In what format are missions delivered?

Depending on the engagement:

  • Contact and partner files: Excel (.xlsx) or CSV, standardised columns, ready to import into your CRM
  • Scoping notes, studies and action plans: structured PDF documents, ready to share with your teams
  • Google Sheets / Docs: on request, secure sharing with restricted access
Are contact files compatible with my CRM?

CSV files are structured with standardised columns, suited to direct import into most CRMs on the market. If your CRM uses a specific column schema, share a sample import file with us during scoping.

Data & confidentiality
Do the deliverables comply with applicable regulations?

Deliverables are professional data (name, title, business contact details) from sources accessible under the conditions applicable in each country. As the party responsible for your own outreach, it is your responsibility to meet the obligations that apply to your activity, including informing people and handling their requests.

ABD does not provide legal advice. For use on a large scale or across several countries, we recommend having your process validated by a qualified legal professional.
Can I get a confidentiality agreement before we start?

Yes. An NDA can be signed before any exchange of strategic content, including before scoping. Just mention it when you first get in touch.

Your targets, assumptions and files are never shared between clients or missions, never resold, and deleted on request at the end of the mission.

Pricing
How is pricing calculated?

Pricing depends on two factors:

  • Volume: number of contacts, scope of the study, or number of markets studied
  • Complexity: country, niche sectors, availability of local sources

Every mission is quoted individually, after the initial scoping. The individual mission, its scope and its timeline are confirmed before work begins.

Are there hidden fees or subscriptions?

No. Individual ABD missions are billed per engagement, with no ongoing commitment. For recurring Contact Desk needs, a custom monthly package can be agreed with you; it is neither automatic nor mandatory. The quote covers the whole mission: scoping, research or analysis, qualification, delivery and one round of revisions if needed.

Scope of the mission
How do I know if I need contact research or International Advisory?

If you already know where to go and who to contact, targeted B2B contact research is enough. If you still need to define where, why and how to grow, International Advisory (market assessment and/or entry strategy) is for you.

Does ABD handle outreach or negotiation with the companies identified?

It depends on the agreed mission. As part of International Advisory, ABD can search for and shortlist partners, identify useful institutional contacts, then organise targeted introductions and prepare the first conversations, where this is part of the scope defined with you. Contact Desk, on the other hand, is limited to identifying the right people: reaching out remains your responsibility.

ABD does not, by default, handle sales representation, negotiation, contract signature, collections, order administration, after-sales service or full management of a distributor network.

A question not covered here?

Tell us about your situation. ABD will reply with the first scoping questions.

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