COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE
Win with people-powered competitive intelligence.
Most companies think they know their competitors. They don’t. They know the website, the press releases, and the public pitch. We find what’s behind all of that. How they sell in the real world, what they’re planning, and where they’re vulnerable.
We find the answers to beat your competitors
What We Do
Your competitors are making moves right now. Some of those moves will affect your business. The question is whether you find out in time to do something about it, or whether you find out afterwards and scramble to respond.
We use HUMINT-led research. That’s speaking to industry insiders, former employees, channel partners, and customers. We build a picture of your competitive landscape that no dashboard or monitoring tool can replicate. We ask the questions your competitors hope no one ever asks. Then we tell you what to do with the answers.
Every engagement starts with the decision you need to make. Not a wish list of things to monitor. A specific, defined set of questions.
In our experience, too many companies find it too easy to dismiss competitors as irrelevant. Others do not know their market well enough and are missing out on business. It’s a dangerous game to play.
And it’s why our clients use our competitive intelligence services to be able to act decisively. Armed with meaningful real-world knowledge. And we can do the same for you.
What we can find out for you
The questions we answer most often:
- What are your competitors planning to do next?
- How do they win business you should be winning?
- Where are they vulnerable? And where are they strong?
- What do their customers actually think of them?
- How do they price, package, and position against you?
- Which market should you move into, and when?
- Should you invest? And is the story you’ve been told accurate?
Competitive Intelligence Services
Every project begins with a question. What is the competitor doing? How are they selling against us? Is this market worth entering? We find the answers.
Our work draws on twenty years of primary research, HUMINT methodology, and sector experience across the UK, US, and MENA. We do not use dashboards or automated monitoring tools. We use people.
Competitor analysis and benchmarking
A structured assessment of how your key competitors operate. We look at pricing, positioning, sales approach, product direction, and go-to-market activity. The output tells you where you stand and where the gaps are.
Useful when you need to brief your board, sharpen your positioning, or understand why a competitor is winning more business than they should.
Learn more about competitor analysis and benchmarking.
B2B mystery shopping
We approach your competitors as buyers. We go through their sales process, ask the questions your prospects ask, and report back on how they pitch, price, handle objections, and close. You get a direct view of what your buyers see when they evaluate your competition.
This is primary intelligence. It cannot be replicated by monitoring tools or secondary research.
Learn more about B2B mystery shopping.
Market intelligence
A clear picture of the market you operate in. Who the main players are, how the market is structured, where it is moving, and what buyers want. Useful before a new product launch, a market entry, or a major investment decision.
Learn more about market intelligence and market entry.
Who we work with
We serve SaaS teams, private equity and investment firms, industrial and manufacturing businesses, consultants, and law firms. We also work with businesses entering or competing across MENA markets.
Common scenarios we are brought in to solve
- We keep losing deals to the same competitor, and nobody can tell us why
- We need hard evidence for the board, not opinions, before a major decision.
- We are assessing a new market and do not have reliable intelligence on how it works.
- We need to verify vendor claims before committing significant budget.
- A new competitor has appeared, and we know nothing about them.
- We want a discreet, ethical intelligence partner who operates within SCIP guidelines.
What you get (deliverables)
- A clear set of findings (what’s true, what’s noise, what’s unknown)
- Competitive narratives (how rivals frame value, where they are weak)
- “So what” actions (what to change in product, pricing, sales, or targeting)
- Evidence pack (sources, interview notes where appropriate, and validation logic)
How we work
- Define the decisions you need to make (not just “research competitors”)
- Build a question set and evidence standard
- Gather proof (primary + secondary)
- Triangulate and validate
- Deliver clear actions + an internal library you can reuse
Quick Case Studies
Product & pricing intelligence for a SaaS company: B2B Identity Verification Providers
Pricing intelligence in the engine market (indexed model + board-ready outputs): Pricing Intelligence in the Engine Market
Financial Services Digital Transformation Decision: Financial Services Case Study: Embracing the Digital Wave
How a Global Technology Provider Unlocked 40% More Buyer Engagement: Diagnosing the sales experience.
FAQs
What makes competitive intelligence different from market research?
Market research often describes the market. Competitive intelligence explains competitor behaviour and the implications for your choices.
Do you use ethical methods?
Yes. We operate with clear safeguards and avoid “grey zone” tactics. Make this explicit on the page as a trust signal.
How quickly can we get results?
Most projects run for 6-8 weeks, depending on scope, the number of questions and competitors. Sometimes longer, shorter and of course, ongoing.
Can you support sales teams?
Yes — especially where deals are repeatedly lost to the same competitor.
Do you cover UK/US and international markets?
Yes. Include regions served in your trust strip and trust panel. Many clients in the UK, US, Canada, the Middle East and even Australia.
What if we don’t know the right questions yet?
That’s common. We start with your decision, then build the intelligence questions from that.
What industries does Octopus Intelligence work in?
Octopus Intelligence works across SaaS and technology, private equity and investment, manufacturing and industrial markets, and professional services, supporting clients from startups to global enterprises.
Who founded Octopus Intelligence and what is their background?
Octopus Intelligence was built by former British military intelligence analysts, who apply intelligence-gathering methods used in defence to the commercial world of competitor and market research.
What is HUMINT and how does Octopus Intelligence use it?
HUMINT, or human intelligence, is information gathered directly from people rather than public data. Octopus Intelligence uses HUMINT to speak with the customers, partners and insiders who know how a competitor really operates, uncovering insight that software cannot reach.
Does Octopus Intelligence offer B2B mystery shopping?
Yes. B2B mystery shopping is one of Octopus Intelligence’s core methods. A trained researcher poses as a genuine prospect to experience a competitor’s sales process first-hand, revealing how they pitch, price and discount in real conversations.
Not sure which service fits your question? Book a free consultation, and we will tell you.