This article is the latest in our questions for respected competitive intelligence professionals. This week, we spoke to Professor Fumiyuki Takahashi of the Japan University of Economics. At the end of this series of questions, we will analyse the answers and publish a report.
1. In your view, what’s Competitive Intelligence?
Competitive Intelligence is identifying, gathering, analysing information, and then distributing Intelligence to support strategic decision-making.
2. In your view, what’s the true benefit of CI?
CI’s real benefit is understanding competitive environments, tracking industry trends, and making better business decisions.
3. How would you advise a company with no experience in Competitive Intelligence to get started?
Start to set their own goals, identify competitors, and use the right tools.
4. What analytical tools do you recommend?
It depends on the company’s situation. I think Competitor Analysis, Competitor Value Chain Analysis, Benchmarking, Gap analysis, Scenario Planning, etc., are useful tools.
5. Competitive Intelligence is becoming too much about risk mitigation, copying the competitor and the last dataset. And not enough about growth, exploration and creation. It can stop people from being original, risky and creative enough. Do you agree?
I partially agree that CI is becoming too focused on avoiding risks. Indeed, CI has been conducting information gathering and analysis activities with a competitive strategy in mind. However, CI activities are also evolving according to the demands of the times. Currently, the fusion of external information and internal knowledge is constantly changing with the aim of corporate growth.
6. Without giving away anything confidential, what’s the best result you have achieved with CI?
Through the intelligence activities in which I was involved, I contributed to the decision-making process for the company’s medium-term strategy.
7. Artificial Intelligence and platforms will transform CI, and there will be no need for human input in the future. Is the longevity of the job of a Competitive Intelligence analyst limited? Do you agree?
I’m not at all convinced that there will be a time when human input is no longer needed. No matter how much AI has evolved, it cannot replace human Intelligence in directly providing the most accurate strategic information.
8. Finally, what’s the one piece of advice you would give a CI analyst?
A CI analyst should cooperate with consultants, marketing, and professional data analysts.
Competitive Intelligence expert Professor Fumiyuki Takahashi of the Japan University of Economics
Competitive Intelligence expert Professor Fumiyuki Takahashi of the Japan University of Economics answered our questions in this article. This article is part of a series where we ask great people who understand Competitive Intelligence their thoughts on the subject.
We are Octopus. The Global People-Powered Competitive Intelligence Agency.
Outsmart your competition. Make the unknown known. Octopus helps you gain clarity in complex markets. With clients and tentacles around the world, we deliver sharp, actionable competitive intelligence through a blend of deep primary (HUMINT) and secondary research. If you’re looking to make smarter decisions, beat the competition, and reduce uncertainty, we’re the partner you want on your side.
