The Development and Present Situation of 1. Industrial Market Research

As an independent discipline, industrial market research originated in the United States in the middle of the 20th century. At that time, with the acceleration of industrialization, the variety and quantity of industrial products and services were increasing, and the complexity and dynamics of the industrial market were also increasing. Industrial enterprises were facing fierce competition and changing customer needs. In order to adapt to this situation, industrial enterprises began to learn from the concepts and methods of consumer goods market research, the industrial market for systematic analysis and forecasting, in order to develop effective marketing strategies and marketing decisions. This gave rise to the emerging field of industrial market research.

The development of industrial market research has gone through three stages: the first stage is from the 1950 s to the 1970 s, mainly focusing on descriptive and explanatory research, focusing on the basic characteristics and laws of the industrial market, such as the definition, classification, structure, behavior and influencing factors of the industrial market; The second stage is from the 1980 s to the 1990 s, mainly focusing on predictive and normative research, focusing on the changing trend and future development of the industrial market, such as industrial market demand forecasting, supply forecasting, competition forecasting, innovation forecasting, etc.; the third stage is from the beginning of the 21st century to the present, mainly based on evaluation and decision-making research, focusing on the value creation and value realization of the industrial market, such as industrial market value chain analysis, value positioning, value transfer, value evaluation, etc.

The current state of industrial market research is diversified and deep. On the one hand, the fields and levels involved in industrial market research continue to expand, from a single product or service market to the entire industry or industry market, from a single domestic market to a global market, from a single market level, to policy, Technology, environment and other multi-dimensional analysis; on the other hand, the methods and tools of industrial market research continue to innovate, from the traditional qualitative and quantitative analysis, development to hybrid research and multi-method research, from traditional statistics and surveys, to the application of emerging technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence.

The main methods and tools of 2. industrial market research.

The methods and tools of industrial market research refer to a series of means and techniques used to collect, process, analyze and present information related to the industrial market. The methods and tools of industrial market research can be classified according to different dimensions, such as descriptive, explanatory, predictive, normative, evaluative and decision-making methods according to the research purpose. According to the research logic, it can be divided into induction, deduction, hypothesis testing and case analysis, etc. According to the research scope, it can be divided into macro research, meso research and micro research, etc; according to the research data can be divided into qualitative research, quantitative research and mixed research, according to the research tools can be divided into literature analysis, expert interviews, questionnaires, experimental design, mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, data mining, machine learning and so on.

The selection and use of methods and tools for industrial market research should be based on a comprehensive consideration of factors such as the purpose, object, content, conditions and resources of the research, following the principles of scientificity, effectiveness, applicability and innovation. Generally speaking, the methods and tools of industrial market research should have the following characteristics: first, it can reflect the complexity and dynamics of the industrial market, that is, it can capture the characteristics of diversification, decentralization, uncertainty and variability of the industrial market, and can adapt to the rapid development and change of the industrial market; second, it can reflect the systematicness and relevance of the industrial market, that is, it can consider the internal structure and external environment of the industrial market, to be able to analyze the interaction and interaction of the industrial market, and to construct the overall perspective and strategic perspective of the industrial market; third, to realize the value and decision-making of the industrial market, that is, to be able to evaluate the value creation and value realization of the industrial market, to provide support and basis for the decision-making of the industrial market, and to promote the optimization and promotion of the industrial market.

Frontier Trends and Future Prospects of 3. Industrial Market Research

As an evolving discipline, industrial market research is facing new opportunities and challenges, and also presents new trends and directions. Based on the internal logic and external environment of industrial market research, this paper discusses the frontier trends and future prospects of industrial market research, including the following aspects:

(1) Digital trends. Digitalization refers to the process of transforming and enhancing information, processes, models and values in industrial markets using digital technologies and digital platforms. The impact of digitalization on industrial market research is mainly reflected in two aspects: First, digitalization provides more data sources and data types for industrial market research, such as massive data generated by technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and blockchain, as well as user data, behavioral data, and transaction data generated by social media, e-commerce, and online platforms; second, digitalization provides more analytical methods and tools for industrial market research, such as data processing, data analysis, data visualization and other functions provided by big data analysis, data mining, machine learning, artificial intelligence and other technologies. The trend of digitalization requires industrial market researchers to effectively use digital technology and digital platforms to obtain, integrate, analyze and present industrial market data, and improve the efficiency and quality of industrial market research.

(2) intelligent trend. Intelligence refers to the process of using artificial intelligence and intelligent equipment to optimize and improve the decision-making, management, operation and innovation of the industrial market. The impact of intelligence on industrial market research is mainly reflected in two aspects: first, intelligence provides more decision support and decision participation for industrial market research, such as intelligent analysis, intelligent prediction, intelligent recommend, intelligent optimization and other technologies to provide decision-making suggestions, decision-making schemes, decision-making evaluation and other functions; second, intelligence provides more management collaboration and management innovation for industrial market research, such as intelligent monitoring, intelligent control, intelligent collaboration, intelligent innovation and other technologies to provide management information, management feedback, management coordination, management improvement and other functions. The trend of intelligence requires industrial market researchers to effectively use artificial intelligence and intelligent equipment to assist, participate in and innovate the decision-making and management of the industrial market, and improve the efficiency and effect of the industrial market.

(3) Green trend. Greening refers to the process of transforming and upgrading the production, consumption, distribution and exchange of industrial markets by using green technology and green ideas. The impact of greening on industrial market research is mainly reflected in two aspects: first, greening provides more environmental responsibilities and opportunities for industrial market research, such as environmental protection, environmental improvement, environmental competition, environmental cooperation and other functions provided by green design, green manufacturing, green supply chain, green marketing and other technologies and concepts; second, greening provides more social responsibilities and social opportunities for industrial market research, such as social satisfaction, social contribution, social innovation, social win-win and other functions provided by technologies and concepts such as green consumption, green public welfare, green entrepreneurship and green sharing. The trend of greening requires industrial market researchers to effectively use green technology and green concepts to balance, coordinate and promote the economic, environmental and social benefits of the industrial market, and improve the sustainable development of the industrial market.

4. Conclusion

Industrial market research is an important discipline, which is of great value for understanding and improving industrial market. This paper reviews the development course and current situation of industrial market research, introduces the main methods and tools of industrial market research, discusses the frontier trend and future prospect of industrial market research, and hopes to provide some reference and inspiration for the study and practice of industrial market research.