Does CI really make a difference to the bottom line?
Yes. Research shows that companies with well-established CI programs enjoy greater earnings per share than companies in the same industry without CI programs. Moreover, “In a recession, competitive intelligence can pay off big,” reported Business Week magazine in its Nov 26, 2001 issue. Among the examples cited: At Texas Instruments, the CI team uncovered the need to pursue an acquisition before a rival could do so “and safeguard what is now a $100 million business with enormous growth potential at a time when bright spots on the tech horizon are few.” Among the findings in a March 2002 Trendsetter Barometer survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers: Fast-growth CEOs who rated competitor information as being either “very” or “critically” important grew revenues by 14.2 %, versus 11.8% for all others — a 20% faster rate. Significantly, those placing a premium on competitor information are outperforming their peers on sustained revenue growth, gross margins, and a number of other key performan
