The systematic collection, analysis, and application of publicly available information about competitors, market trends, and industry dynamics to support strategic decision-making. It involves legal and ethical research to understand the competitive landscape.
Combines 'competitive' (Latin 'competere' meaning 'to strive together') with 'intelligence' (Latin 'intelligere' meaning 'to understand'). The practice emerged from military intelligence concepts applied to business in the 1980s, as global competition intensified and information became more accessible through technology.
Competitive intelligence is like being a business spy, but completely legal and ethical - you're Sherlock Holmes with a MBA, piecing together public clues to understand what competitors are really up to! The best practitioners can predict competitor moves months in advance by analyzing patent filings, job postings, supplier relationships, and other 'breadcrumbs' that reveal strategic direction.
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