In this article, we explore the reasons and frequency of URLs changes, as well as a recommended solution for the long-term identification of companies.
When and Why Do North Data URLs Change?
The URL of a company profile may change in the following cases:
- Change of Legal Form: If a company's legal form changes (e.g., from GmbH to AG), the URL is updated to reflect the new legal structure.
- Name Change: A change in the company name also results in a new URL to ensure that the company profile remains up to date.
- Change of Location: If a company moves to a different city or region, this may lead to a URL adjustment.
- Optimization of URL Structure: Independent of company data, North Data may modify URLs for technical or structural reasons to improve usability and performance.
How Can Companies Be Uniquely Identified Despite URL Changes?
Since URLs are not static, it is recommended to use the uniqueKey field instead.
According to North Data's documentation:
"The unique key can be found in the register.uniqueKey field of the company data structure. If you plan to store company data in your database and you want to refer to the North Data database, you would store this unique key (instead of the internal North Data company ID, because the internal company ID might change over time)."
The uniqueKey remains unchanged even if the URL or internal IDs change. This ensures a reliable link between company data in external systems.
Where Can the uniqueKey Be Retrieved?
The uniqueKey is available through the North Data Data Service: North Data Data Service
For a detailed guide on how to use the uniqueKey, refer to the official API User Guide: North Data API User Guide