Market Research as a Source of Competitive Intelligence

Market researchers often seek to distance themselves from competitive intelligence, usually on the grounds that the provision of such information infringes their code of practice. In doing so they ignore the fact that some of the most valuable information about competitors is provided by standard market research techniques and programmes. Indeed it is difficult to see how a market can be fully analysed without taking account of the competitive environment and many of today’s most effective competitive intelligence analysts cut their teeth in the market research business rather than starting out in the intelligence world.