Simple explanation + practical steps + how to turn insights into decisions.
This helps you define where you compete: the sector boundaries, growth drivers, key trends, regulation, and how value is created in that space.
Industry: ____
Customer: ____
Problem: ____
Alternative: ____
Define where you compete, understand market dynamics, and turn industry insights into positioning + actions.
Industry & Sector Analysis helps you define the real market context: sector boundaries, growth drivers, key trends, regulation, competition patterns, and how value is created and captured in that space.
A good industry definition makes competitors obvious, customers clear, and pricing comparable. A weak definition makes everything vague.
| Level | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Too broad | Tech | No clear competitors, customers, pricing, or channels. |
| Better | B2B SaaS for retail inventory optimisation | Clearer customer type and problem domain. |
| Best | UK mid-market retailers using WMS + forecasting (operations teams) | Clear ICP, geography, workflow context, and buyer roles. |
This step builds your “market view”: what changes demand, costs, and opportunities over time.
Set correct boundaries: what market you’re really competing in
Understand growth, cycles, and what forces shift demand and costs
Who buys, how they decide, and what they value most
Where value is created and where money is made (or lost)
Who matters, what they compete on, and how the market is shaped
Changes that can reshape the industry in 6–24 months
Your final output should create decisions and tasks, not just notes.
If you are comparing multiple industries, score each area 1–5. This makes the decision more objective.
Example (simplified): “UK mid-market retailers using WMS + forecasting” (B2B operations software).
| Area | Insight | Decision / action |
|---|---|---|
| Segments | Ops teams value reliability + integrations over “cool features”. | Position on uptime, integrations, and measurable cost reduction. |
| Trends | Automation and AI forecasting adoption is rising. | Build forecasting features carefully + prove ROI with case studies. |
| Profit pools | Platforms and implementation partners capture margin. | Partner with WMS integrators; offer implementation packages. |
| Risks | Long sales cycles and budget approval delays. | Offer pilot plans and a clear “payback period” message. |