Competitive & Industry Research

Know the Landscape. Outmanoeuvre the Competition.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of your competitive environment and industry dynamics to inform strategic decision-making.

In today’s fast-moving business environment, understanding your competitive landscape is not a luxury—it is a strategic necessity. Competitive and industry research provides the intelligence you need to anticipate market shifts, identify opportunities, mitigate threats, and make informed decisions about positioning, investment, and growth.

At Mansfield, we combine primary research (interviews, surveys, mystery shopping) with secondary research (industry reports, public filings, media analysis) to build a comprehensive, real-time picture of your competitive environment. Our research goes beyond publicly available data to uncover the insights that truly matter—the strategies your competitors are planning, the gaps they are leaving open, and the trends that will shape your industry over the next 3–5 years.

What We Deliver

Our competitive and industry research programmes typically cover:

Competitor Profiling

  • Business model and revenue structure analysis
  • Product/service portfolio and positioning
  • Pricing strategies and promotional tactics
  • Strengths, weaknesses, and strategic intent
  • Market Structure Analysis

  • Market size, growth rate, and segmentation
  • Market share distribution and concentration
  • Barriers to entry and competitive intensity
  • Value chain and profit pool mapping
  • Trend & Disruption Scanning

  • Technology trends and digital disruption
  • Regulatory and policy changes
  • Consumer behaviour shifts
  • Emerging business models
  • Customer & Channel Intelligence

  • Customer switching patterns and loyalty drivers
  • Channel preferences and evolution
  • Unmet needs and white-space opportunities
  • Pricing sensitivity and willingness-to-pay
  • Strategic Scenario Planning

  • Best-case, base-case, and worst-case scenarios
  • Impact assessment of competitor moves
  • Opportunity identification and prioritisation
  • Risk mitigation strategies
  • Our Research Process

    1

    Scope Definition

    We define the competitive set, geographic scope, and key intelligence requirements.

    2

    Secondary Research

    We gather and analyse publicly available data—annual reports, press releases, industry databases, and media coverage.

    3

    Primary Research

    We conduct interviews with industry experts, customers, suppliers, and channel partners to gather fresh intelligence.

    4

    Analysis & Synthesis

    We synthesise all data into a coherent narrative with clear implications for your strategy.

    5

    Strategic Recommendations

    We translate findings into actionable strategic recommendations with clear priorities.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you gather intelligence on private companies?

    We use a combination of indirect methods: interviews with industry insiders, customer and supplier perspectives, mystery shopping, public records analysis, and digital footprint analysis.

    How often should competitive research be updated?

    We recommend annual comprehensive reviews with quarterly monitoring for key competitors and market developments.

    Can you research competitors in mainland China?

    Yes. We have extensive experience researching the China market, including access to Chinese-language sources and local expert networks.

    Ready to Turn Insights into Action?

    Contact us to get a customized research or training solution that drives your business and team growth.