Purpose of 1. Enterprise Research

The essence of enterprise research is to understand the competition, which is an important means for enterprises to understand their own advantages and disadvantages, find market opportunities, formulate competitive strategies and enhance competitiveness. The purpose of enterprise research can be summarized as follows:

Identify and define benchmark enterprises. Benchmarking enterprises include not only direct benchmarking enterprises, but also potential benchmarking enterprises, substitute benchmarking enterprises, cross-industry benchmarking enterprises, etc. Through Porter's five forces analysis model, we can effectively analyze the competitive environment and competitive pressure, and determine the scope and type of benchmark enterprises.

Analyze and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of benchmarking enterprises. The advantages and disadvantages of benchmarking enterprises can be analyzed from multiple dimensions, such as brand, product, price, channel, promotion, service, finance, technology, talent, innovation, culture, etc. Through SWOT analysis, we can systematically sort out the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of benchmarking enterprises, so as to find out their own competitive advantages and differentiation points.

Analyze and forecast the strategies and movements of benchmark enterprises. The strategies and developments of benchmark firms reflect their objectives, intentions, actions, and outcomes, making them a key yet challenging focus of corporate research. Through PESTEL analysis, the macro-environment and influencing factors faced by benchmark companies can be examined from six dimensions: political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal. Using a strategic map, one can analyze a benchmark company’s strategic objectives, key performance indicators, strategic initiatives, and causal relationships across four perspectives: financial, customer, internal processes, and learning and growth. Through competitive information, it is possible to collect, analyze and disseminate information about benchmarking companies and predict their future behavior and market changes.

Deliver and apply corporate research results. The ultimate goal of enterprise research is to provide the basis and guidance for the strategic decision-making of enterprises. Therefore, the results of enterprise research must be effectively transmitted to decision makers and can be transformed into concrete action plans. Through reports, presentations, training, etc., the main findings of enterprise research can be,Conclusionand recommendations, presented to the relevant personnel in a clear, concise and persuasive manner. By formulating competitive strategies, optimizing competitive combinations and adjusting competitive resources, the theoretical knowledge and practical experience of enterprise research can be applied to the actual operation and management of enterprises.

Content of 2. Enterprise Research

The content of enterprise research is the core of enterprise research, but also the difficulty of enterprise research. The content of enterprise research should be based on the purpose and needs of enterprise research, flexible selection and combination, not one size fits all, can not be comprehensive. Generally speaking, the content of enterprise research can be divided into the following aspects:

Basic information. Including the name, address, contact information, scale, establishment time, ownership structure, organizational structure, key personnel, development process, mission vision, values and other information of the benchmarking enterprise, which can be obtained from the official website, annual report, announcement, news and other channels of the benchmarking enterprise, and can also be supplemented through market research, online search, industry reports and other means. The basic situation is the basis of enterprise research and the starting point of enterprise research, which can help us to have a preliminary understanding and understanding of benchmarking enterprises.

market situation. Including benchmarking enterprises market positioning, market share, market growth, market coverage, market segmentation, market opportunities, market threats and other information, this information can be obtained from industry associations, consulting agencies, third-party data platforms, professional media and other channels, but also through market research, user research, competition information and other ways to supplement. Market conditions are both a key focus and a significant challenge in corporate research. They enable a comprehensive assessment and informed judgment of benchmark companies’ market performance and growth potential.

Product status. Including the benchmarking enterprise's product types, product characteristics, product quality, product innovation, product life cycle, product advantages and disadvantages, product reputation, product satisfaction and other information, this information can be obtained from the benchmarking enterprise's official website, product manual, product evaluation, product experience and other channels, can also be supplemented through market research, user research, mysterious customers and other ways. Product situation is the core of enterprise research and the key to enterprise research, which can help us to have an in-depth analysis and comparison of the product strength and product attractiveness of benchmark enterprises.

Marketing situation. Including the benchmarking enterprise's marketing objectives, marketing strategies, marketing mix, marketing effectiveness, marketing advantages and disadvantages, marketing innovation, marketing trends and other information, this information can be obtained from the benchmarking enterprise's official website, advertising, social media, activities, word of mouth and other channels, can also be supplemented by market research, user research, competition information and other ways. Marketing performance is both a crucial and a notoriously elusive dimension of corporate research. It enables an objective assessment and evaluation of benchmark firms’ marketing capabilities and market influence.

Financial situation. Including the benchmark enterprise's financial situation, financial indicators, financial analysis, financial risk, financial forecast and other information, this information can be obtained from the benchmark enterprise's annual report, financial report, announcement, news and other channels, can also be supplemented by market research, industry reports, expert evaluation and other ways. Financial situation is an objective aspect of enterprise research, but also a sensitive aspect of enterprise research, which can help us to have an accurate understanding and comparison of the financial strength and financial stability of benchmarking enterprises.

Technical situation. Including the technical level, technical characteristics, technological innovation, technological protection, technical cooperation, technological trends and other information of benchmarking enterprises, which can be obtained from the official website of benchmarking enterprises, patents, papers, awards, exhibitions and other channels, or through market research, user research, technical evaluation and other ways to supplement. The technical situation is the core aspect of enterprise research, and it is also a challenging aspect of enterprise research, which can help us to have a deep understanding and prediction of the technological advantages and technological potential of benchmarking enterprises.

Talent situation. Including the benchmark enterprise's talent scale, talent structure, talent quality, talent training, talent incentive, talent flow, talent demand and other information, this information can be obtained from the benchmark enterprise's official website, recruitment, training, evaluation, turnover and other channels, can also be supplemented through market research, employee research, talent evaluation and other ways. Talent situation is not only the soft aspect of enterprise research, but also an important aspect of enterprise research, which can help us to have a comprehensive understanding and evaluation of the talent resources and talent competitiveness of benchmarking enterprises.

Methods and Tools for 3. Enterprise Research

The methods and tools of enterprise research are the means of enterprise research and the key of enterprise research. The methods and tools of enterprise research should be reasonably selected and applied according to the purpose and content of enterprise research, and should not blindly follow the trend or remain unchanged. Generally speaking, the methods and tools of enterprise research can be divided into the following categories:

Desktop research. Refers to the collection, collation and analysis of public information of benchmarking enterprises, such as official website, annual reports, financial reports, announcements, news, patents, papers, awards, exhibitions, advertisements, social media, word of mouth, etc., to understand the basic situation, market situation, product situation, marketing situation, financial situation, technical situation, etc. Desktop research is a common method of enterprise research, and it is also the basic method of enterprise research. It can help us obtain the first-hand information and second-hand information of benchmarking enterprises, but we should also pay attention to the timeliness, accuracy and completeness of the information.

Market research. Refers to the design, implementation and analysis of the market research projects of benchmarking enterprises, such as questionnaires, research, observation, experiments, tests, etc., to understand the market situation, product situation, marketing situation, user situation, etc. of benchmarking enterprises. Market research is an important and effective method of enterprise research, which can help us obtain quantitative and qualitative data of benchmarking enterprises, but also pay attention to the representativeness, reliability and comparability of the data.

Competitive information. This refers to gaining insight into and forecasting a benchmark firm’s strategic position, operational dynamics, and future prospects by collecting, analyzing, and disseminating relevant information about it, such as its strategies, trends, plans, changes, risks, and opportunities. Competitive information is an advanced method of enterprise research and a difficult method of enterprise research, which can help us to obtain the tacit knowledge and forward-looking knowledge of benchmarking enterprises, but we should also pay attention to the legality, compliance and confidentiality of knowledge.

Data analysis. Refers to the use of data analysis theories, methods, techniques and tools, such as statistical analysis, data mining, data visualization, data modeling, data forecasting, etc., to process, analyze and present relevant data of benchmarking enterprises, such as market data, product data, marketing data, financial data, technical data, talent data, etc. Data analysis is an auxiliary method of enterprise research and an innovative method of enterprise research. It can help us improve the efficiency, quality and value of enterprise research, but we must also pay attention to the source, cleaning and interpretation of data.

The Current Situation and Problems of 4. Enterprise Research

Enterprise research is a science as well as an art, which requires continuous learning, practice, improvement and innovation. The current situation and problems of enterprise research reflect the level and development of enterprise research, and also put forward the challenges and opportunities of enterprise research. According to our experience and observation, the current situation and problems of enterprise research can be summarized as follows:

The importance of corporate research has not been fully recognized and valued. Many enterprises' understanding of enterprise research is still superficial and formal, and they do not regard enterprise research as an important basis and guidance for strategic decision-making, nor do they regard enterprise research as the promotion and guarantee of core competitiveness. This has led to problems such as insufficient investment, insufficient frequency, insufficient scope, insufficient depth, and unclear effects in corporate research, which have affected the quality and value of corporate research.

The content of corporate research has not been sufficiently expanded or innovated. Many enterprise-to-enterprise research content is still stuck in the traditional and conventional aspects, not according to the changes in the market environment and the characteristics of benchmarking enterprises, flexible selection and combination of enterprise research content, also did not according to their own strategic objectives and needs, customize and optimize the content of enterprise research. This has resulted in corporate research being overly narrow in scope, generalized, outdated, and ineffective, thereby undermining its relevance and practical value.

The methods and tools of enterprise research have not been fully used and updated. Many business-to-business research methods and tools are still at the simple and basic level, not according to the purpose and content of enterprise research, reasonable selection and application of enterprise research methods and tools, nor according to the progress of technology and the growth of data, timely update and upgrade the methods and tools of enterprise research. This has led to problems such as too rough, inefficient, backward, and incompatible with the methods and tools of enterprise research, which affects the efficiency and quality of enterprise research.

The results of enterprise research have not been fully transmitted and applied. Many business-to-business research results are still in the form of reports and presentations, which are not effectively transmitted to relevant decision makers and implementers, nor are they effectively translated into specific action plans and improvement measures. This leads to problems such as too dusty, isolated, wasteful and useless results of enterprise research, which affects the significance and value of enterprise research.

Trends and Directions of 5. Enterprise Research

Enterprise research is a constantly developing and changing discipline, which needs to keep pace with the times and adapt to the needs and changes of the market. The trend and direction of enterprise research reflects the frontier and future of enterprise research, and also puts forward the opportunities and challenges of enterprise research. Based on our observations and forecasts, the trends and directions of corporate research can be summarized as follows:

The importance of corporate research will be more widely recognized and given greater attention. As market competition intensifies and becomes increasingly complex, corporate research will become an essential and routine component of strategic decision-making, while also serving as a key driver for enhancing and safeguarding a company’s core competitiveness. More enterprises will invest more resources, time and energy to carry out more frequent, extensive, in-depth and effective enterprise research, so as to obtain more accurate, comprehensive, timely and valuable benchmark enterprise information and knowledge.

The scope of corporate research will be further expanded and innovated. With the change of market environment and the diversification of benchmarking enterprises, the content of enterprise research will no longer be limited to the traditional and conventional aspects, but according to the needs and changes of the market, flexible selection and combination of enterprise research content, but also according to their own strategic objectives and needs, customize and optimize the content of enterprise research. More enterprises will carry out more diversified, personalized, innovative and effective enterprise research to meet more accurate, practical, forward-looking and meaningful benchmarking enterprise analysis and evaluation.

The methods and tools of enterprise research will be more applied and updated. With the progress of technology and the growth of data, the methods and tools of enterprise research will no longer stay at the simple and basic level, but according to the purpose and content of enterprise research, reasonable selection and application of enterprise research methods and tools, but also according to the development of technology and data changes, timely update and upgrade the methods and tools of enterprise research. More enterprises will use more sophisticated, efficient, advanced and compatible enterprise research methods and tools to improve the efficiency and quality of more efficient, high-quality and high-value enterprise research.

The results of enterprise research will be more transmitted and applied. As the results of corporate research increase and their value increases, the results of corporate research will no longer remain in the form of reports and presentations, but will be effectively passed on to relevant decision makers and implementers, as well as effectively translated into concrete action plans and improvement measures. More enterprises will achieve more smooth, interactive, intelligent, real-time enterprise research results of the delivery and application, in order to achieve more obvious, continuous, creative, useful enterprise research significance and value.

6. the case of corporate research from Champ Consulting.

Shangpu Consulting is a consulting company specializing in corporate research. It has many years of experience in corporate research and a professional corporate research team to provide high-quality corporate research services to customers in all walks of life. The following are some examples of business research from Champ Consulting, demonstrating the capabilities and effectiveness of Champ Consulting's business research:

Case 1: Conducted a benchmarking study for an internationally renowned automobile manufacturer, identifying its key competitors in the Chinese market. The study covered these benchmark firms’ market position, product offerings, marketing strategies, and technological capabilities. Through desktop research, market research, competitive information and data analysis, Shangpu Consulting provides customers with detailed analysis reports of benchmarking enterprises and competitive strategy suggestions for different benchmarking enterprises. Through the corporate research of Shangpu Consulting, customers have effectively improved their competitive advantage and market share in the Chinese market.

Case Study 2: Conducted a benchmarking study for a leading domestic e-commerce platform to identify potential best-in-class companies in overseas markets. The study covered the benchmark firms’ basic information, market conditions, product offerings, and financial performance, among other key aspects. Using desktop research, market research, competitive intelligence, and data analytics, Shangpu Consulting has provided clients with comprehensive benchmarking reports on leading companies, as well as tailored market-entry strategy recommendations for various markets. Through the corporate research of Shangpu Consulting, the client effectively avoids the competitive risks and market barriers in overseas markets.

Case Study 3: Conducted a benchmarking study of innovative leading companies in the domestic market for a nascent Chinese edtech firm, covering aspects such as their technological capabilities, innovation strategies, user base, and industry trends. Using desktop research, market research, competitive intelligence, and data analytics, Shangpu Consulting has provided clients with innovation analysis reports on benchmark companies, as well as tailored innovation strategy recommendations for each of those benchmarks. Through Shangpu Consulting’s corporate research services, clients have effectively enhanced their innovation capabilities and market competitiveness.