Competitive Intelligence Importance
Competitor tracking is gaining wider significance because of its underlying importance in influencing market position. Proper competitor tracking mechanism explores finer ways to have a better market position and an increased customer base. Competitive intelligence has always been a mandate today and a compulsory ingredient for an accurate strategic planning. Can a cricket team fight against its opponent without properly analysing their strength and weakness? It’s the same like going in the battle field without knowing enemy’s game plan. If this happens, certainly the chances of winning are nearly impossible. What is the ultimate goal of every marketer??? Of Course, a rising market share… and how can this be achieved? Through a deep analysis of market trend, checking customer orientation, knowing about the competitors and their market segmentation, making a proper R & D of strategies and then accordingly making out your own plan. All this requires dedicated efforts and eagle eye view upon moving market.
How Competitive Intelligence Drives Market Success
The ultimate goal of any marketer is to achieve consistent market growth and increased profitability. This is only possible through:
- Market Trend Analysis – Keeping track of industry shifts, emerging trends, and technological advancements.
- Customer Orientation Assessment – Understanding evolving consumer preferences and behaviors.
- Competitor Profiling – Identifying key players, their strengths, weaknesses, and strategic approaches.
- Research & Development (R&D) – Innovating and adapting strategies based on insights gathered from the competitive landscape.
A structured approach to competitive intelligence ensures businesses not only survive but thrive in a challenging market environment.
What You Need To Identify While Studying Market Competition
Competitive intelligence is a step by step approach to drill down the opponent’s strategy. It’s not a single step but a series of small phases to be studied for getting the complete picture of the same.
- First of all, a crucial step is about knowing who actually your opponents are. This is the most obvious and yet most mistaken part of robust competitive intelligence. For a machine vendor, not only the other machine vendor are the ones whom he has to look for, but also he needs to give attention towards the latest technology, latest market trends, customer orientation etc.
- Next phase is identifying the financial power, time since your competitor is in the market, company size, etc.
- Third phase is identifying your opponents market hold, its influence between the customers.
- Thereafter is the need to get a comprehensive info about their growth rates, margins, manufacturing etc. This requires an intensive market research and dedicated efforts
- When both these inputs are aggregated at a common platform, there is now time to get closer to your competitor with a forward step. After collecting all the necessary information, try to maintain relationship with your competitors with the help of various associations and network. This will further help you know more about them and make yourself better.
Competitor tracking is a deep rooted secret of establishing better market hold. Identifying the implicit aspects, exploring the prevailing opportunities and putting a strong strategy forward, one can strongly compete even with the most prominent competitors and surpass them. The techniques mentioned above give you a necessary start for getting an all-round information for the opponents.
The Competitive Advantage
Competitive intelligence is the foundation of any market strategy. By uncovering hidden opportunities, assessing risks and refining your approach, you can stay in the game. The above techniques will get you started with gathering and using competitive intelligence.
To beat the competition you have to go beyond market watching. You have to be intelligence driven in your decision making, using real-time data and predictive analytics to stay one step ahead.
Conclusion
Competitive intelligence isn’t just about tracking competitors – it’s about being proactive and adaptive. Companies that get this right will not just be competing – they will be leading.
