Citations are supporting infrastructure
Citations help distribute and reinforce business information across the web. Their role is best understood as part of a larger local-search system rather than as a standalone ranking shortcut.
What citations can support
Useful citation work can improve the consistency and discoverability of business details, create presence on relevant directories, and make it easier to audit where a business is represented online.
What citations cannot guarantee
No responsible citation guide should promise that a certain number of listings guarantees local-pack rankings. Citation work needs to coexist with a complete Google Business Profile, a strong local website, reviews, links, local relevance, and technically sound pages.