The Edge of Intelligence

In a world where lateral thinking is upending age-old

industries, businesses require an intelligence edge.

Lateral thinking is upending age-old industries

Market intelligence helps businesses understand the needs of their customers, accelerate their growth, and adapt quickly to evolving environments. But many need help to capture these dividends.

New research conducted with more than 500 readers of the Financial Times suggests that many businesses are now committed to spending more on market intelligence. However, it also reveals anxiety about how to maximise returns on investment. This report explores how leaders are overcoming such concerns; confident they can exploit fresh sources of data, navigate disruption and create new revenue streams.

60%
60%
60%
60%
60%
More focussed on

strategic benefit

60% of leaders (39% of followers) are confident about their ability to use market intelligence to understand new business models that could impact clients' businesses.

50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
Willing to look more broadly in their

search for market intelligence

50% (33% of followers) are confident about their ability to secure market intelligence from sectors adjacent to their own.

50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
More aware of the

significance of disruption

55% (42% of followers) are confident about securing market intelligence to identify potential disruption to clients' businesses.

The more we can use data to form our own opinions and take our own positions on issues and subjects at large, the more valuable we’ll be perceived to be by others in our organisation, and by clients.

Stephen Phillips Global Head of Business Information & Analytics, Morgan Stanley