Competitive Analysis Framework · CHAPTER 5 OF 6
Core features and differentiation
Bring All Competitors Together
After adding competitor overviews, SWOT analysis, resources, and screenshots, bring all competitors into one comparison view.
This helps you see what most competitors are offering and what has become standard in the market.
Bring All Competitors Together
After adding competitor overviews, SWOT analysis, resources, and screenshots, bring all competitors into one comparison view.
This helps you see what most competitors are offering and what has become standard in the market.
What Are Core Features?
Core features are the capabilities provided by most or all competitors in the market.
They are not differentiators.
They are the basic features users expect from products in that category.
Competitor 2
Competitor 3
Competitor 1
What Are Core Features?
Core features are the capabilities provided by most or all competitors in the market.
They are not differentiators.
They are the basic features users expect from products in that category.
Competitor 2
Competitor 3
Competitor 1
Example: Core Features in HR Software
Example: Core Features in HR Software
Compare With Your Product
Once core features are listed, compare them with the software you are redesigning.
This helps you understand where the product currently stands against the market.
Compare With Your Product
Once core features are listed, compare them with the software you are redesigning.
This helps you understand where the product currently stands against the market.
Core Features Match the Market
They make the product competitive enough to stay relevant.
If an important core feature is missing, suggest adding it during redesign before trying to differentiate.
Feature-1
Feature-2
Feature-3
Feature-4
Persona 5
Persona 6
Feature-5
Feature-6
Feature-7
Feature-8
Persona 1
Core Features Match the Market
They make the product competitive enough to stay relevant.
If an important core feature is missing, suggest adding it during redesign before trying to differentiate.
Feature-1
Feature-2
Feature-3
Feature-4
Persona 5
Persona 6
Feature-5
Feature-6
Feature-7
Feature-8
Persona 1
Find What Can Make the Product Stand Out
The final part of competitive analysis is about finding opportunities that can make the software stronger in the market.
By this stage, we understand what competitors do well, where they fall short, and where users still face gaps.
These insights can help us identify standout features.
Find What Can Make the Product Stand Out
The final part of competitive analysis is about finding opportunities that can make the software stronger in the market.
By this stage, we understand what competitors do well, where they fall short, and where users still face gaps.
These insights can help us identify standout features.
Move Beyond Basic Features
Move Beyond Basic Features
Example: Reducing Tool Dependency
In one dossier management project, users could create, review, and approve documents inside the software.
But they still needed another tool to convert the approved document into eCTD format.
So we integrated eCTD conversion and download into the product, making the workflow complete in one place.
Example: Reducing Tool Dependency
In one dossier management project, users could create, review, and approve documents inside the software.
But they still needed another tool to convert the approved document into eCTD format.
So we integrated eCTD conversion and download into the product, making the workflow complete in one place.
Example: Bringing Trusted Methods Into the Product
In one pharma investigation product, users relied on trusted methods like fishbone analysis to identify root causes.
Competitors had not built these methods into the software.
So we integrated them into the workflow, helping users investigate without switching tools.
Example: Bringing Trusted Methods Into the Product
In one pharma investigation product, users relied on trusted methods like fishbone analysis to identify root causes.
Competitors had not built these methods into the software.
So we integrated them into the workflow, helping users investigate without switching tools.
Carry These Insights Into the UX Audit
Competitive analysis does not end with research.
The findings should carry forward into the UX audit.
They help the team identify what is missing, what needs improvement, and which opportunities should shape the redesign.
Carry These Insights Into the UX Audit
Competitive analysis does not end with research.
The findings should carry forward into the UX audit.
They help the team identify what is missing, what needs improvement, and which opportunities should shape the redesign.