The Benchmark of Success: How Competitive Intelligence Secured A Solid E-Commerce Strategy

Don’t compare yourself to others is a familiar idiom, but when it comes to business, comparison might just be the key to success. Competitive analysis allows you to identify where your competitors are succeeding, where they’re missing the mark, and, in some cases, which areas they’re ignoring completely. These insights allow you to adjust your strategy to fill market gaps and eat into your competitors’ overall share.

A client of ours wanted to build a solid direct-to-consumer e-commerce strategy. They’d spotted an opportunity to sell bulkier products their competitors were overlooking. This presented a chance to improve margin efficiencies and gain an edge in the market. But to do so, they needed full-scale competitive analysis to validate their assumptions. That’s where our team of consultants stepped in to help.

Competitive analysis in strategy building

During phase one of the project, our consulting team worked closely with the client to understand their specific needs and challenges. Then followed a close analysis of the competitive landscape. By evaluating historic data and the product landscape, we lifted the curtain on the offerings and performance of their competitors. We then benchmarked the client's overall performance by retail channel. This, alongside our market sizing, enabled the client to accurately assess their progress against competitors.

The second phase of the project focused on developing a direct-to-consumer e-commerce strategy. Our consultants advised and helped support the implementation of an ongoing monitoring programme. Repeated every six months, our consultants followed the brand’s strategy over several years, measuring and quantifying its effectiveness.  With a wealth of research now translated into practical, actionable insights, the client had successfully mapped out the most effective route forward.

Research driven by outcomes

Our client gained a realistic assessment of their competitors and had their assumptions about the landscape validated. With comprehensive data points and measurable success indicators, they were able to create and execute a strong e-commerce strategy and gain an edge on their competitors.

Competitive intelligence is an immutable aspect of every successful e-commerce strategy. For more information about how our expert consultants can provide the insights and direction to succeed, get in touch with us today.