No business is an island or operates alone. The success of your business depends on your relationship with customers, suppliers, employees, and others. In almost every case there will be other companies offering similar or the same products and/or services to similar or the same customers you are trying to target. These are your competitors and their objective is the same as yours: to grow, make money and succeed. In essence businesses are at war with each other, fighting to gain the same market share and customers. And like in war, it is necessary to understand the your enemy or competitor in this case.

Think about it! Your customer's, especially those who are educated consumers will usually know the differences between companies and their good points and bad points. They know that company A is cheaper than company B and that company C has a better customer service. For your business to operate in a market and not know the same, and more, is tantamount to giving up the battle without even starting.

Sun Tzu and the Art of War
Around the year 500 BC, the great Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu wrote a treatise on the Art of War. Now in the 21st century his views on strategy are still very relevant today - for both military commanders and business leaders looking at how to win against competitors. Sun Tzu says in the Art of War:

• If you are ignorant of both your enemy and yourself, then you are a fool and certain to be defeated in every battle.
• If you know yourself, but not your enemy, for every battle won, you will suffer a loss.
• If you know your enemy and yourself, you will win every battle.

This is where Competitive Intelligence (CI) in critical. Competitive Intelligence (CI) is a systematic and ethical method and program for gathering, analyzing, and managing external information that can affect your company's plans, decisions, and operations. To elaborate CI is the process of enhancing marketplace competitiveness through a greater -- yet unequivocally ethical -- understanding of a firm's competitors and the competitive environment.

Specifically, Competitive Intelligence (CI) is the legal collection and analysis of information regarding the capabilities, vulnerabilities, and intentions of business competitors, conducted by using information databases and other "open sources" and through ethical inquiry. The Diversa Group can provide CI for your company, providing you and your management team with early analysis and warning of changes in the competitive landscape.

CI enables senior managers in companies of all sizes to make informed decisions about everything from marketing, R&D, and investing tactics to long-term business strategies. Effective CI is a continuous process involving the legal and ethical collection of information, analysis that doesn't avoid unwelcome conclusions, and controlled dissemination of actionable intelligence to decision makers.

Competitive intelligence is a crucial part of the emerging knowledge economy. By analyzing rivals' moves, CI allows companies to anticipate market developments rather than merely react to them.

With competitive intelligence and analysis you will find out the following:
• Who is your competition?
• How does your competition think?
• What are your competitor’s strengths?
• What are your competitions weaknesses?
• Where your competitor is vulnerable?
• What threats does your competitor pose to your business?

Once you learn all of this information you will have decision making intelligence that you can use to help you develop strategies to beat your competitors, gain more market share and customers, and provide a better product and/or service. With this competitive intelligence you will be able to make the right decisions to help your business operate effectively, grow and succeed.

Do you need Competitive Intelligence (CI) to help give you the competitive edge over your competition? If so, WE CAN HELP!

The Diversa Group has the expertise and resources available to assist with gathering Competitive Intelligence (CI). Contact us today regarding your business or business idea and let us help get you started.

You can also schedule your appointment by calling us at 1-877-254-0717 or emailing us at entrepreneur@diversagroup.com

Your first confidential consultation is FREE!