Competitive Intelligence

Business Intelligence  or Competitive Intelligence (can be used as a synonym) is to learn how to manage and process the large volume of information and documentation for the benefit of our business and professional activity. To develop in the organization, company, firm or research group, systematic procedures to capture, analyse, relate and add value to business relevant to our company, research institution, region or country.

Competitive intelligence covers the complete and continuous process of capture relevant information from outside and within the organization on issues of interest. Then, select, analyse, disseminate and transmit to the organization in order to make it shared knowledge oriented to guide a competitive decision-make..

There are several types of business intelligence depending on the focus of analysis, among them are:

• Regulatory Intelligence: regulatory and legislative regulation that may affect business, with particular emphasis on changes that could take place.
• Economic, Social and Political Intelligence: focus on analysing and acting according to economic, social and political aspects of society and the environment in which one operates.
• Technological Intelligence: specialized in analysing the situation of research and state of the art of technologies, processes, surveys and patents of all actors involved that compete in the environment of the organization.
• Market Intelligence: it analyses the offers and demands on the market, the internal and external factors that may influence in the future. For example: new products, benchmark, substitute products, public negotiation, etc.

All these types of business intelligence analysis specific aspects of the environment and are interrelated. A competitive intelligence system must be undertaken from the holistic approach, understanding that the organization lives in a system where all dimensions are interrelated.