Storing Market & Competitive Intelligence

 

When gathering market intelligence it needs to be known how and where the data and information is supposed to be stored. Document management systems, collaboration tools with storage facilities, content management software for corporate Intranets, company networks – there are as many possibilities to store intelligence as there are ideas to process it after storing.

Most of the time the intelligence process will determine the way data and information is handled and processed. Along comes the consideration or the necessity to store and archive the intelligence. Many tools incorporate archiving and storage capabilities. Especially document management systems are positioned to master this part of the intelligence handling.

For example, web based portals that provide intelligence and data access might interface with a backbone document management system such as Hummingbird or an ERP storage facility. CRM systems might have their own archiving and indexing mechanisms too.

A more manual, thus challenging to manage way of storing intelligence would be company network locations. Access management and actuality might ask for significant attention and resources. While intelligence quality could likely be controlled better as documents are mostly hand-picked and reviewed before they are made available.

With this method in particular, not to underestimate for all other methods too though: a proper retention policy and quality management needs to be established and thoroughly communicated to all contributors. The better retention is being managed the higher the acceptance of the intelligence substance and vice versa.