Competitive intelligence
See the next move before it is made. We help companies understand how competitors make money, where the market is heading and how to position ahead of change.
When clients call us
Decisions that depend on knowing the field
Clients come to us when a decision depends on understanding competitors or a market better than they do today.
A new competitor
A rival has entered your market, and you need to understand its economics and its likely next moves.
Entering a new market
Before you commit, you need to know who is there, how they compete and where the gaps are.
Losing share
Customers are moving to competitors, and it is not clear why.
Pricing pressure
Competitors are cutting prices, and you need to know whether they can sustain it.
An acquisition target
You are considering buying a competitor or a company in an adjacent market.
Long-term planning
Leadership wants a view of the risks and opportunities that will shape the industry over the next few years.
How we help
Intelligence you can act on
Competitive intelligence for companies in Vancouver and across Canada. We draw on public sources, industry research and market data, and read the findings through a financial lens.
Tactical intelligence
Immediate input on competitive pressure, market entry or share gains: the landscape, competitor offerings and the gaps in the market.
Strategic intelligence
The long-term risks and opportunities facing the business, and the intelligence needed to build a more defensible model.
Competitor financial analysis
How rivals make money: their pricing, cost structures and financial position, estimated from what is available.
Market mapping and sizing
Who serves which customers, how large each segment is and where it is growing.
Scenario planning
How competitors and the market could respond to your moves, and how you would respond to theirs.
Acquisition screening
Profiles of potential targets in your market or adjacent ones, with a view on fit and value.
Our view
Understand competitors through their economics
Most competitive analysis stops at products, prices and marketing. The more useful question is how a competitor makes money: its cost structure, its margins and the constraints on what it can do next.
Our background in financial modelling and pricing lets us estimate those economics from the outside. It turns competitive intelligence from a description of the market into a view of what competitors can and cannot sustain.
How an engagement works
Five steps from question to insight
Every engagement starts with the decision it needs to inform. That keeps the research focused on what matters.
- QuestionDefine the decision and the questions the intelligence must answer.
- GatherCollect information from public sources, industry research and market data.
- AnalyzeBuild competitor profiles and estimate their economics.
- SynthesizeTurn the findings into implications and options for your business.
- MonitorTrack the signals that matter, so you see change early.
Need a clearer view of your competitors?
What you receive
A clear view of the field
Every deliverable is built to inform a specific decision.
- Competitor profiles with estimated economics
- A market map with segment sizes and growth
- Analysis of competitor pricing and cost structures
- Scenarios for competitor moves and responses
- Implications and recommended actions
- A monitoring plan for key market signals
Selected clients
Companies we have worked with
Frequently asked questions
Questions we hear most often
What is competitive intelligence?
Competitive intelligence is the gathering and analysis of information about competitors and markets to support better decisions. The aim is to anticipate change, avoid being blindsided and act on opportunities before others do.
Where does the information come from?
From public sources such as filings, company disclosures, industry reports and market data, combined with our own industry research. We use lawful and ethical methods only.
Is this about undercutting competitors?
No. The goal is to reduce the risk of being disrupted, to spot risks before they become obvious, and to capture opportunities before they are taken.
Can you estimate a private competitor’s financials?
Often, within a reasonable range. We use what is known about its size, pricing and operations, together with industry benchmarks, to model its likely cost structure and margins.
Do you only work with companies in Vancouver?
No. We are based in Vancouver and work with companies across British Columbia and Canada.
How are fees set?
Fees depend on the scope and complexity of the work. We confirm them in an engagement letter after a first conversation, so the cost is clear before work begins.
Have a question that isn’t covered here? Start a conversation.
