Example competitive intelligence & market intelligence questions

The following is a list of competitive intelligence questions. Some could be real examples. Most aren’t. But either way, they won’t contain any hint of the client or their industry. Some intelligence questions may seem too simplistic. Maybe they are, but simple sometimes doesn’t mean easy.

We intend to update these examples of competitive intelligence questions constantly. Distinguishing itself from broader examples, this page hones in on the specific questions that drive competitive intelligence efforts. We explore the types of inquiries that businesses must ask to uncover valuable insights about their competitors. By addressing these questions, companies can navigate through the competitive landscape with a clear direction and make informed strategic decisions.

Financial-related competitive intelligence questions examples

1. What are our competitors’ current financial performance and market share?
2. What are the real profit margins of your competitors?
3. What are our competitors’ current financial performance?
4. What are our competitors’ economic or non-economic values or beliefs?
5. Are our competitors’ resources constrained, or are they financially strong?
6. What are our competitors’ strengths in the eyes of the capital markets?
7. What is our competitors’ growth rate, and which areas?
8. How do our competitors allocate their funds?
9. What are our competitors’ drivers for financial success?
10. What are our competitors’ drivers for financial success?

Real-world example competitive intelligence questions

1. How do they convince a potential customer to switch to them?
2. Which strategic partners give them scale?
3. What is their tech stack? – e.g. microservices, all cloud-native, or a mix
4. What’s their current and future market growth strategy?
5. What are they going to do next?
6. Who might also be trying to move into that market?
7. What would be required for us to offer there that could make us a market leader?
8. Are you seeking a system that can be deployed quickly, with integrated security and internal customers’ ability to provide tactical input?
9. What are global product trends within core banking?
10. What makes our competitors better than us?

example warning related competitive intelligence questions

1. Which companies should we forge alliances or joint ventures with which are likely to give them a unique advantage?
2. Should we divest or cancel product lines?
3. Which companies should we acquire that could improve their most important technology platforms or market share position?
4. What are the current and future threats, including disruptive changes in the industry, government, and technology?
5. Who are the potential new entrants into our industry?

Competitor-related competitive intelligence questions examples

1. Who are our key competitors?
2. Are our competitors meeting their strategic objectives?
3. What are our competitors’ strategic objectives?
4. What are our competitors’ goals?
5. What is our competitors’ current market share?
6. How do you think our competitors will react to a particular move?
7. What is our competitors’ real financial performance?
8. What is our competitors’ strategy?
9. What is your understanding of our competitors’ assumptions about themselves? i.e., socially conscious, an industry leader, a low-cost producer, having the best sales force etc
10. Which is the best battleground for fighting it out with our competitors?
11. How can our competitors take our customers off us?
12. What are our competitors’ strengths in the eyes of the capital markets?
13. What is our competitors’ growth rate, and which areas?
14. How do our competitors allocate their funds?
15. What are our competitors’ drivers for financial success?
16. What is our competitors’ attitude to risk?
17. What business do our competitors not do or claim not to?
18. Who are our competitors’ partners? Why do they partner? What is it in for them?
19. What are our competitors doing that is interesting?
20. Who are our competitors’ main customers?
21. How do our competitors differentiate themselves, and are their offerings from us?
22. Are our competitors exploiting their research and development?
23. Are our competitors planning to introduce any radical new approaches?
24. Who are the key competitors in this market?
25. What is the background of the top management of our competitors?
26. What kind of managers are working in their teams?
27. Where are they similar to others in the market?
28. What reputation does my competitor really have?
29. Are our competitors’ teams managed to achieve financial or human objectives? How does this affect the company?
30. How many people are employed in our competitors? Is that the right level?
31. Are the key players seen to be developing our competitors?
32. How do our competitors perceive us? Our strategies and tactics?
33. Who within our competitors are the risk takers?
34. Who do our competitors collaborate with(research labs, universities etc)?
35. What are our competitors’ cultures and styles?
36. How aggressive are our competitors in terms of product development and marketing?
37. What are our competitors’ approaches to capturing physicians’ loyalty?
38. Who is the key competitor in the new market / geographical area?
39. What threats are we doing to encounter in the market over the next year?
40. Who are my competitors?
41. How strong is our competitors’ supplier management?
42. Where do our competitors compete? In what segment and for which customers?
43. Who are my future competitors?
44. How do our competitors motivate and train their workers?
45. How do our competitors motivate and train a remote sales force?
46. How quickly can our competitors bring a new product/service to market?
47. What does our competitors appear to believe about its relative position? – in cost, product quality, technological sophistication
48. How do my competitors price their products?
49. How do our competitors’ goals measure up to our goals?
50. ‘What is the dosage of our competitors next drug?’ What is the dosage of our competitors’ next drug?
51. Where are our competitors’ weaknesses compared to others?
52. What do our competitors do better than anyone else?
53. What are our competitors’ exclusive marketing agreements?
54. What are the key issues facing my industry?
55. What are our competitors’ supplier agreements?
56. Do our competitors have sophisticated inventory management?
57. What are the changes in our competitors’ plans, activities or relationships with our key customers?
58. Do our competitors have efficient order processing?
59. How are our competitors generating capital for new ventures?
60. What expertise do our competitors possess in a particular process or technology?
61. What are our competitors’ marketing strategies?

SWOT Weakness competitive intelligence questions examples

1. What are the key weaknesses in our current product or service offerings?
2. Are there any shortcomings in our operational processes or efficiency?
3. How effective are our internal communication and collaboration?
4. What weaknesses exist in our financial management or budgeting practices?
5. Are there any gaps in our technology infrastructure or IT systems?
6. How strong is our brand identity and recognition compared to competitors?
7. What weaknesses are associated with our current marketing and advertising strategies?
8. Are there any skill or knowledge gaps within our workforce?
9. How well do we adapt to changes in the market or industry trends?
10. What weaknesses exist in our customer service or support capabilities?
11. Are there any weaknesses in our supply chain management or logistics?
12. How effective are our current risk management and mitigation strategies?
13. What weaknesses are associated with our current pricing or cost structure?
14. Are there any weaknesses in our ability to innovate and stay ahead of the competition?
15. How well do we adapt to changes in customer preferences or demands?
16. What weaknesses exist in our organisational structure or decision-making processes?
17. Are there any weaknesses in our sales and distribution channels?
18. How well do we manage and utilise our data and information resources?
19. What weaknesses are associated with our employee retention and talent development?
20. Are there any weaknesses in our ability to anticipate and respond to market disruptions?

Decision-associated example competitive intelligence questions

1. Where do we not want to compete with our competitors?
2. What vulnerabilities in our competitors can we exploit?
3. What is the range of options open to us for dealing with unfolding new realities?
4. How and where might our competitors’ objectives conflict with ours?
5. How do our competitors plan to compete in the future?
6. Which companies should we acquire to develop market share?
7. Should we move into that market?
8. Are our competitors aiming for a premium price?
9. Which companies should we acquire to develop market share?
10. What are the implications for our company if we move into that market?
11. What is the best route to enter a market?

counterintelligence questions examples

1. What legitimate denial and deception tactics might we employ to safeguard our proprietary information?
2. What can we do, and what are we doing to reduce our competitors’ chances of getting it?

Example Warning Related Competitive Intelligence Questions

1. Are there any regulatory challenges facing your industry?

Customer, Market & Distribution competitive intelligence questions examples

1. Which companies should we forge alliances or joint ventures with which are likely to give them a unique advantage?
2. What are your barriers to entry?
3. In what areas of the business have our competitors exceeded expectations? Why?
4. What niche do we operate in?
5. What trends could change the industry drastically?
6. What are the critical success factors of the industry sector?
7. How do our competitors compete? Cost, speed or service?
8. Where do our competitors compete, and which customers and niches?
9. What kind of demand is there for our product or service?
10. What gives our competitors distinctiveness?
11. What have our competitors stopped doing over the last few years, and why?
12. ‘Is our competitors supply chain ethical? ‘Is our competitors’ supply chain ethical?
13. Who are our competitor’s key suppliers?
14. What is our competitors’ supply chain?
15. Will competitive density increase or decrease?
16. What can we do, and what are we doing to reduce our competitors’ chances of getting it?
17. What niche should we be operating in?
18. What industry should we be competing in?
19. Which prospective clients are our competitors not interested in?
20. What clients do our competitors prospect?
21. What products do our competitors not offer?
22. What products do our competitors offer?
23. What is our route to a market?
24. Who owns our competitors’ IP?
25. Who are our competitors’ biggest customers?
26. Who manufactures our competitors’ range of products?
27. What is our competitors’ real Financial Position?
28. What is our competitors’ International Customer Base?
29. Who are our competitors’ key customers?
30. What is our competitors’ social media footprint?
31. What is our competitors preferred advertising route they prefer an agency to pursue?
32. What brands are in our competitors’ portfolios?

Customer, Market & Distribution competitive intelligence questions examples

1. Which companies should we forge alliances or joint ventures with which are likely to give them a unique advantage?
2. What are your barriers to entry?
3. In what areas of the business have our competitors exceeded expectations? Why?
4. What niche do we operate in?
5. What trends could change the industry drastically?
6. What are the critical success factors of the industry sector?
7. How do our competitors compete? Cost, speed or service?
8. Where do our competitors compete, and which customers and niches?
9. What kind of demand is there for our product or service?
10. What gives our competitors distinctiveness?
11. What have our competitors stopped doing over the last few years, and why?
12. Is our competitors’ supply chain ethical?
13. Who are our competitors’ key suppliers?
14. What is our competitors’ supply chain?
15. Will competitive density increase or decrease?
16. What can we do, and what are we doing to reduce our competitors’ chances of getting it?
17. What niche should we be operating in?
18. What industry should we be competing in?
19. Which prospective clients are our competitors not interested in?
20. What clients do our competitors prospect?
21. What products do our competitors not offer?
22. What products do our competitors offer?
23. What is our route to a market?
24. Who owns our competitors’ IP?
25. Who are our competitors’ biggest customers?
26. Who manufactures our competitors’ range of products?
27. What is our competitors’ real financial position?
28. What is our competitors’ International customer base?
29. Who are our competitors’ key customers?
30. What is our competitors’ social media footprint?
31. What is our competitors’ preferred advertising route they prefer an agency to pursue?
32. What brands are in our competitors’ portfolios?

SWOT threats competitive intelligence questions examples

1. What are the potential threats posed by emerging competitors in the market?
2. How might changing customer preferences and trends impact our business?
3. Are there any regulatory or legal threats that could affect our operations?
4. What risks are associated with technological advancements or disruptions in our industry?
5. How vulnerable are we to economic downturns or fluctuations in the market?
6. Are there any potential supply chain disruptions that could impact our business?
7. What are the risks associated with our current financial position or funding sources?
8. How exposed are we to cybersecurity threats or data breaches?
9. Are there any geopolitical or international factors that could pose threats to our business?
10. What risks are associated with our current pricing strategy or cost structure?
11. How might changes in government policies or regulations impact our business?
12. Are there any environmental or sustainability threats that could affect our operations?
13. What risks are associated with our reliance on key suppliers or partners?
14. How vulnerable are we to negative public perception or reputation damage?
15. Are there any potential threats from substitute products or services in the market?
16. What risks are associated with our current marketing and advertising strategies?
17. How vulnerable are we to changes in labour market conditions or talent availability?
18. Are there any potential threats from disruptive technologies or business models?
19. What risks are associated with our current distribution channels or logistics?
20. How exposed are we to natural disasters or other unforeseen events that could disrupt our business?

Financial-related competitive intelligence questions

1. What are our competitors’ pricing strategies?
2. Who is backing our competitors, and what is their real financial state?

Investor-related competitive intelligence questions

1. How copyable is the product?
2. Where is the risk in our investment?
3. How capable is the technology?
4. Who are the people behind this product?
5. What are the risks with the people running this company?
6. What are our competitors’ key product features?
7. What products can they offer?
8. How committed are our competitors to achieving their declared strategy objective?
9. Are their stated goals achievable?
10. Are their strategic objectives achievable?
11. What niche do they operate in?
12. What industry are they really competing in?
13. How many customers does their offering have?
14. What are your prospect’s alternative investment options?
15. What else can their customers use?
16. What is their market entry strategy?
17. How are customers going to find them?
18. What trends and trigger events cause their prospects to search for solutions?
19. How do their potential customers make buying decisions?
20. Who are their ideal customers?
21. Who would want their product?
22. What business-critical problems do they solve for their customers?
23. What is their compelling reason for your customers to use your services/products?
24. What distinguishes them from their rivals to give them a competitive advantage?
25. Can you challenge their assumptions?
26. How can competitive advantage is achieved?
27. What markets do they think they are in?
28. What clients can they prospect?
29. Will they be able to compete in their market?
30. Are they asking for too little money to make it work?
31. Is their business strategy well thought out?
32. What are they capable of? Will they want too much of my time?
33. What products do they not offer?
34. What is the pricing structure within their market?
35. What are the potential problems within the supply chain?
36. How much is it going to cost you?
37. What are their unique value proposition and unfair advantage?
38. What is the supply chain for this product?
39. What other investments have they been involved in?
40. What is their background?
41. Why do they really need investment?
42. What is the market for this product & investment?
43. What is the sales cycle for this product?

Product & Tech-Related Competitive Intelligence Questions Examples

1. Does our competitor have a strong historical or emotional identification with particular products?
2. What is the expected product launch date?
3. What developments are underway in product, production and packaging technologies within our competitors?
4. What are our competitors’ key product features?
5. Which channel partners do our competitors engage with?
6. What are the key technical areas where our competitors are focusing their research & development?
7. What new products are our competitors developing?
8. What are our competitors’ intentions or plans to launch or extend brands/products?

SWOT strengths competitive intelligence questions examples

1. What are our unique selling propositions or competitive advantages in the market?
2. How strong is our brand reputation and customer loyalty?
3. What are the core competencies or expertise that differentiate us from competitors?
4. How well do we leverage technology and innovation to drive our business forward?
5. What are our key strengths in terms of product quality or service excellence?
6. How effective are our marketing and advertising strategies in reaching and engaging customers?
7. What strengths exist in our operational efficiency and cost management?
8. How strong is our financial position and stability compared to competitors?
9. What strengths do we have in terms of strategic partnerships or alliances?
10. How well do we understand and meet the needs of our target market?
11. What strengths exist in our supply chain management or logistics capabilities?
12. How well do we utilise data and analytics to drive informed decision-making?
13. What strengths do we have regarding employee expertise, skills, and dedication?
14. How effective are our customer service and support functions?
15. What strengths exist in our research and development capabilities?
16. How strong are our company culture and organisational values?
17. What strengths do we have in terms of intellectual property, patents, or proprietary technology?
18. How well do we adapt to changes in the market or industry trends?
19. What strengths exist in our geographical reach or market presence?
20. How effective are our customer relationships and client retention strategies?

SWOT Opportunity competitive intelligence questions examples

1. What are the most promising new markets for our products or services?
2. Are there any new distribution channels we could use to reach more customers?
3. How can we improve our marketing efforts to generate more leads and sales?
4. Are there any strategic partnerships we could form to expand our reach?
5. What customer pain points could we address with new product or service offerings?
6. How can we leverage our existing strengths to create new opportunities?
7. What trends in our industry or the broader economy could we capitalise on?
8. What are the most extensive unmet needs of our target customers?
9. How can we innovate and differentiate ourselves from our competitors?
10. What new technologies could we adopt to improve our products or services?
11. Are there any new or emerging markets we could enter with our existing offerings?
12. How can we improve our operational efficiency to reduce costs and increase profitability?
13. What new revenue streams could we generate through diversification?
14. Are there any regulatory changes that could create new opportunities for us?
15. How can we better serve our existing customers and increase customer loyalty?
16. What are the most significant gaps in our current offerings, and how can we fill them?
17. How can we leverage our brand and reputation to create new opportunities?
18. Are there any underserved or neglected customer segments we could target?
19. How can we use data and analytics to identify new opportunities and make better decisions?
20. What are the biggest challenges facing our industry, and how can we turn them into opportunities for growth?