Power Smarter Growth with the City Vitality Index

The City Vitality Index (CVI) is a powerful, data-driven tool developed by Dun & Bradstreet India to measure and rank the economic vibrancy of cities and districts across the country. It blends satellite imagery, AI-powered analytics, and D&B’s proprietary business intelligence to deliver hyperlocal insights into urban economic activity. CVI helps businesses, investors, and policymakers make smarter decisions about location strategy, market expansion, and infrastructure planning all based on real-time, actionable data.

The City Vitality Index (CVI) by Dun & Bradstreet India uses a rich mix of indicators to capture the full picture of a city’s economic activity and growth potential. These include:

• Night-time light intensity (sourced from NASA’s Black Marble data) as a reliable proxy for economic activity and urban development.
• Urban infrastructure metrics, covering roads, utilities, public services, and overall city planning.
• Employment and workforce trends, highlighting shifts in job sectors and the level of formalization.
• Business density and formalization, tracking the number of registered enterprises and identifying high-growth zones.
• Connectivity and logistics infrastructure, evaluating access to trade routes, transport networks, and mobility options.

Together, these indicators provide hyperlocal insights that help businesses, investors, and policymakers make smarter decisions about market expansion, infrastructure investment, and location strategy across Indian cities.

The City Vitality Index (CVI) by Dun & Bradstreet India uses a robust and objective data methodology to assess urban economic activity. It combines:

• Earth Observation (EO) technologies to gather spatial and environmental data.
• Satellite imagery and geospatial analytics to track urban growth and infrastructure.
• AI-powered data modeling to link visual patterns with economic indicators.
• D&B’s proprietary business databases, offering deep insights into enterprise activity at the city and district level.

This approach avoids the limitations of survey-based data, ensuring accuracy, scalability, and real-time relevance making CVI a reliable tool for businesses, investors, and policymakers across India.

The City Vitality Index (CVI) by Dun & Bradstreet India serves a wide range of stakeholders across industries and sectors. It provides actionable insights for:

• Retail & FMCG brands to identify high-potential markets and plan store locations.
• Banks and insurance companies for regional risk profiling and strategic expansion.
• Real estate developers and infrastructure planners to assess site feasibility and urban growth.
• Logistics and supply chain teams to optimize routes and identify ideal hub locations.
• Private equity and venture capital firms for investment scouting and portfolio planning.
• Government bodies and policymakers to support urban planning and resource allocation.
• Consulting firms and researchers for economic modeling and advisory services.
• Startups and tech companies to map innovation ecosystems and identify growth clusters.
• Manufacturing and industrial enterprises for facility planning and workforce access.

These insights help organizations make smarter, location-based decisions across India’s diverse urban landscape.

The City Vitality Index (CVI) is a data-driven framework that helps businesses evaluate and compare cities based on their economic vibrancy, infrastructure readiness, and growth potential. CVI supports strategic decision-making by:

• Optimizing City Selection for Expansion

  Identify cities with strong economic fundamentals and infrastructure to support business growth and operational efficiency.

• Prioritizing High-Potential Urban Markets

  Leverage real-time data on consumption patterns and business activity to focus on cities with rising demand and commercial momentum.

• Mitigating Economic and Market Risks

  Detect early signals of economic slowdowns or volatility in urban centers to proactively manage risk.

• Targeting Investment in Growth-Ready Cities

  Pinpoint urban zones with favorable business conditions, regulatory support, and growth indicators for strategic investments.

• Enhancing Supply Chain and Logistics Planning

  Identify cities with logistics-friendly infrastructure to improve supply chain resilience and reduce operational bottlenecks.

• Spotting Emerging Urban Hubs

  Gain a first-mover advantage by recognizing cities on the cusp of becoming major commercial centers.

Industries that rely heavily on geographic expansion, urban infrastructure, and evolving consumer behavior can gain significant strategic advantages from the City Vitality Index (CVI). These include:

• Retail & FMCG - Identify high-footfall urban zones and consumer hotspots to optimize store placement and inventory planning.
• Real Estate & Infrastructure - Assess city-level growth indicators and infrastructure readiness for smarter development and investment decisions.
• Logistics & Transportation - Pinpoint cities with efficient transport networks and strategic connectivity to enhance delivery speed and reduce costs.
• Telecom & Digital Services - Target urban areas with rising digital adoption and infrastructure to expand network coverage and service offerings.
• Financial Services - Discover emerging financial hubs and underserved markets with strong economic potential.
• E-commerce Platforms - Align logistics and marketing strategies with cities showing high online consumer activity and purchasing power.
• Energy & Utilities - Evaluate urban demand patterns and infrastructure capacity to guide energy distribution and utility planning.
• Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals - Locate cities with growing healthcare needs and infrastructure for targeted service delivery and expansion.
• Hospitality & Tourism - Identify cities with rising tourism potential and favorable business conditions for hospitality investments.

Manufacturing firms can use the City Vitality Index (CVI) to make smarter, location-based decisions that align with growth, efficiency, and sustainability goals. Key benefits include:

• Identify High-Growth Industrial Clusters

  Discover cities with thriving industrial zones and favorable conditions for manufacturing expansion.

• Optimize Plant and Warehouse Locations

  Choose locations based on infrastructure quality, workforce availability, and proximity to suppliers and markets.

• Evaluate Logistics Corridors and Connectivity

  Assess transportation networks and regional connectivity to streamline distribution and reduce costs.

• Align with State-Led Industrial Policies

  Leverage insights into government-supported investment zones and incentives for manufacturing.

• Plan for Labor and Housing Needs

  Monitor urbanization trends to ensure access to skilled labor and adequate housing for workforce sustainability.

• Ensure ESG and Sustainability Compliance

  Evaluate environmental factors and city-level sustainability metrics to meet regulatory and corporate responsibility goals.

Yes, the City Vitality Index (CVI) is designed to align with global ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks, helping organizations make responsible, data-driven decisions that promote sustainable urban development.

• Environmental (E)

  • Urban Sustainability Metrics

    CVI uses satellite and geospatial data to monitor urban sprawl, green cover, and infrastructure growth—enabling assessment of environmental impact and sustainability.

  • Resource Efficiency

    By analyzing infrastructure and energy usage patterns (e.g., night-time light intensity), CVI supports efficient urban planning and energy management.

  • Climate Alignment

    CVI aligns with global standards such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), aiding climate risk assessment and reporting.

• Social (S)

  • Workforce Inclusion

    CVI tracks employment trends, labor formalization, and sectoral shifts to provide insights into economic equity and job accessibility.

  • Urban Equity

    It identifies underserved regions, helping direct development efforts to improve access to essential services and opportunities.

  • Smart City Enablement

    CVI supports the planning of inclusive, tech-enabled urban environments that enhance quality of life.

• Governance (G)

  • Data-Driven Policy Making

    CVI delivers objective, real-time data to support transparent governance and evidence-based resource allocation.

  • Responsible Investment

    Investors and policymakers can use CVI to align with ESG mandates, ensuring capital flows into sustainable and inclusive growth areas.

  • Compliance & Reporting

    CVI provides quantifiable metrics tied to urban development and economic activity, supporting ESG disclosures and regulatory compliance.

The City Vitality Index (CVI) offers granular, real-time insights into the economic dynamics of cities and districts across India, helping investors identify high-potential opportunities with precision and confidence.

• Spotting Emerging Growth Hubs

  • CVI leverages satellite imagery and business activity data to detect rising economic momentum in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
  • Investors gain a first-mover advantage by identifying promising locations before they become saturated.

• Tracking Economic Momentum

  • By analyzing indicators like night-time light intensity, business registrations, and infrastructure development, CVI highlights cities with accelerating growth.
  • This enables data-backed prioritization of regions for capital deployment.

• Infrastructure-Led Development

  • CVI maps logistics corridors, transport connectivity, and urban infrastructure projects.
  • Investors can align with government-backed initiatives and public-private partnerships for long-term returns.

• Risk-Adjusted Decision-Making

  • The index provides risk profiling by evaluating economic volatility, business formalization, and employment trends.
  • This supports smarter investment decisions with a clearer understanding of potential risks and returns.

• Identifying Underserved Markets

  • CVI pinpoints low-competition, high-potential areas with latent demand—ideal for sectors like retail, fintech, healthcare, and education.

• ESG-Aligned Investments

  • CVI helps investors align with sustainable and responsible investment goals, including environmental impact and social inclusion.

The latest CVI report is available for download on Dun & Bradstreet’s official website:

• City Vitality Index Q1 2025 Report (PDF)

Additional insights, interactive dashboards, and historical data may be available upon request or through subscription services.

The City Vitality Index (CVI) offers strategic insights that help startups and technology-driven businesses make smarter decisions about location, talent, and market expansion. Here's how CVI adds value:

• Identify Innovation-Friendly Cities

  CVI highlights urban centers with strong digital infrastructure, tech adoption, and startup ecosystems.

• Map Talent Availability and Tech Clusters

  Discover cities with a concentration of skilled professionals, incubators, and R&D hubs to support scaling and innovation.

• Target Emerging Markets in Tier-2 and Tier-3 Cities

  Spot rising economic signals in less saturated regions, offering lower competition and high growth potential.

• Support Strategic Decisions

  Use CVI insights to guide office setup, partnership development, and market entry strategies.

• Align with Smart City and Government Tech Initiatives

  Leverage data on government-backed tech zones and smart city programs to tap into infrastructure and policy support.

Absolutely. The City Vitality Index (CVI) is designed for seamless integration across enterprise platforms, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency.

• CRM & ERP Systems Integrate CVI data into customer relationship and enterprise resource planning systems to support strategic planning and market expansion. • GIS Platforms Use CVI with geographic information systems for advanced spatial analysis, city mapping, and location intelligence. • Market Intelligence Dashboards Enrich executive dashboards with real-time urban economic indicators to guide high-level decisions. • Custom Analytics Solutions Leverage CVI data for predictive modeling, scenario planning, and tailored analytics aligned with business goals.

This interoperability makes CVI a powerful tool across functions—from strategy and operations to analytics and investment planning.

The City Vitality Index (CVI) is updated quarterly, ensuring that users have access to the latest and most relevant urban economic data. This regular update cycle empowers businesses, investors, and policymakers to make agile, informed decisions and respond swiftly to emerging trends and economic shifts across Indian cities.

Currently, the City Vitality Index (CVI) is focused on cities and districts across India, offering deep insights into urban economic dynamics, infrastructure readiness, and growth potential.

However, Dun & Bradstreet may consider expanding the CVI framework to other geographies in future iterations, based on market demand and data availability. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to evolve and scale the index globally.

Yes. The City Vitality Index (CVI) is a powerful decision-support tool for government bodies, urban planners, and public policy stakeholders, offering actionable insights to drive inclusive and resilient urban development.

• Evidence-Based Policy Formulation

  CVI provides real-time, data-driven insights to support strategic planning, resource allocation, and policy design.

• Targeted Regional Development

  Identify underserved and high-potential regions to guide infrastructure investments and social programs.

• Smart City & Infrastructure Planning

  Align with national and state-level smart city initiatives and plan urban infrastructure based on economic and demographic indicators.

• Monitoring Urban Growth & Inclusion

  Track progress on urban development, economic inclusion, and sustainability goals to ensure equitable growth.

By leveraging CVI, public sector leaders can make transparent, data-backed decisions that foster sustainable and inclusive urban ecosystems.