Competitive & Industry Intelligence
Competitive and industry intelligence is the structured tracking of what rival companies do and how an industry is changing — competitor positioning, new product development, partnerships, R&D trends and market expansion. Benchmarking, M&A tracking, startup and funding monitoring, and value chain analysis sit within it, so decisions are made from data rather than impression.
Who it's for: strategy, product and business development teams that need to know what competitors are doing, and leadership groups preparing a plan or a response to a move in the industry.
What this covers
We track and analyse competitors' activities across five areas, read together over time rather than one at a time.
- Competitor benchmarking & positioning across the companies that matter in your industry.
- Competitive moves, M&A & partnership tracking, including market expansion.
- Funding, startups & ecosystem monitoring across the wider innovation landscape.
- Industry structure & value-chain analysis, showing who holds power in the structure.
- Strategic implications & scenario assessment, turning the record into plausible next moves.
Competitive intelligence vs. market research
The two overlap at the edges, and a full picture usually needs both, but the questions they answer differ.
Market research
Studies demand — customers, segments, size and growth.
Competitive intelligence
Studies supply and rivalry — who else is in the market, what they're doing, and what they're likely to do next. Continuous by nature, since a competitor's position changes with each product, deal or funding round.
From tracking to action
A hiring pattern, a partnership and a patent filing often point at the same programme. Read together, that record supports anticipating a competitor's next move instead of reacting to it.
For planning
Benchmarking shows where a company stands against rivals on the dimensions that matter to buyers.
For response
Scenario assessment turns the record into a set of plausible competitor moves, so a team can prepare a response before the move is made.
What you receive
- Competitor benchmarking and positioning across the companies that matter in your industry
- Tracking of competitive moves, including M&A, partnerships and market expansion
- Monitoring of startups, funding activity and the wider innovation ecosystem
- Industry structure and value chain analysis, with strategic implications and scenario assessment
Frequently asked questions
What is competitive and industry intelligence?
It's the collection and analysis of information about competitors and the industry they operate in, turned into something a decision maker can use. It covers where each competitor sits, what they're building, who they're partnering with, where their R&D is heading, and which markets they're entering. Read together over time, that record supports anticipating a competitor's next move instead of reacting to it.
What sources are used?
Public and published sources carry most of this work — company disclosures, product announcements, technical and patent publications, regulatory filings, job postings, conference material, funding records and press coverage. The value comes from reading these together rather than one at a time: a hiring pattern, a partnership and a patent filing often point at the same programme. Each finding is attributed to its source, so a reader can judge how firm it is.
How is this different from market research?
Market research studies demand: customers, segments, size and growth. Competitive intelligence studies supply and rivalry: who else is in the market, what they're doing and what they're likely to do next. The two overlap at the edges, and a full picture usually needs both, but the questions differ. Competitive work is also continuous by nature, since a competitor's position changes with each product, deal or funding round.
How are the findings used?
Findings feed planning and response. Benchmarking shows where a company stands against rivals on the dimensions that matter to buyers. Tracking of M&A, partnerships and funding shows where the industry is consolidating and where new entrants are forming. Value chain analysis shows who holds power in the structure. Scenario assessment then turns the record into a set of plausible competitor moves, which lets a team prepare a response before the move is made.
Start a competitive intelligence brief
Tell us the industry and the competitors you're tracking, and we'll scope the search.
