Competitive Analysis Framework · CHAPTER 2 OF 6
Competitive analysis foundations
Because the market already gives direction.
Competitive analysis shows what already exists in the market.
It helps you understand common features, familiar workflows, standard patterns, and user expectations.
So the redesign does not start from assumptions.
It starts with market context.
Because the market already gives direction.
Competitor research often becomes UI reference collection.
That does not
Explain how the product actually works for the user.
Show why users prefer one product over another.
Reveal workflow gaps, feature depth or support dependency.
Competitor research often becomes UI reference collection.
There are two types of competitors
to study:
Direct
Competitors
Indirect
Competitors
There are two types of competitors to study:
Direct Competitors
Indirect Competitors
Direct Competitors
Direct competitors are products that solve the same core problem for the same type of users.
They help us understand what users already expect and where the product can stand out..
For example, for a BMR product, other Batch Manufacturing Record software would be direct competitors.
Competitor 1
Competitor 2
Direct Competitors
Direct competitors are products that solve the same core problem for the same type of users.
They help us understand what users already expect and where the product can stand out..
For example, for a BMR product, other Batch Manufacturing Record software would be direct competitors.
Competitor 1
Competitor 2
Indirect Competitors
Indirect competitors are not direct alternatives to your product, but they have one feature or workflow that overlaps with yours.
Example: A BMR product had a warehouse module, so we studied Zoho Inventory for inventory and stock movement flows.
It is not a BMR competitor, but it solves one overlapping workflow well. Making it an indirect competitor.
Indirect Competitors
Indirect competitors are not direct alternatives to your product, but they have one feature or workflow that overlaps with yours.
Example: A BMR product had a warehouse module, so we studied Zoho Inventory for inventory and stock movement flows.
It is not a BMR competitor, but it solves one overlapping workflow well. Making it an indirect competitor.
The goal is to redesign with market awareness.
The goal is to redesign with market awareness.
The insights from competitive analysis should directly influence redesign decisions, not just stay inside a research document.
The insights from competitive analysis should directly influence redesign decisions, not just stay inside a research document.
We do not start competitor research from scratch.
Industry research is the first step in SaaS redesign, where we identify an initial competitor list.
By the time we reach competitive analysis, we understand the industry, users, and workflows better.
This helps us refine the list and study the right competitors in depth.
We do not start competitor research from scratch.
Industry research is the first step in SaaS redesign, where we identify an initial competitor list.
By the time we reach competitive analysis, we understand the industry, users, and workflows better.
This helps us refine the list and study the right competitors in depth.
Competitor research
reduces redesign risk.
This step gives teams a clear direction on what to study, what to avoid, and where the product needs to improve before redesign begins.
It helps the team avoid redesigning in isolation.
Competitor research reduces redesign risk.
This step gives teams a clear direction on what to study, what to avoid, and where the product needs to improve before redesign begins.
It helps the team avoid redesigning in isolation.
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The 6-part framework we use before redesigning complex software.
Validate the Competitor Set
Compare Feature Coverage
Study Workflow Behaviour
Analyze UX Patterns
Find Differentiation Opportunities
Create Competitor Repository & Summary
The 6-part framework we use before redesigning complex software.
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