As explained we are uploading for our readers chapter extracted from an
conference of the 2007 Online Show in December. We will present you why
the open access market research reports are valuable for business research
needs ?.
This is part of the public service mission to provide statistics. Being
published by governing bodies, state, regional or local authorities, these
types of information have the peculiarity to be “primary”, which means that
public publishers are the first to provide them in the information distribution
value chain.
Moreover, they cover a wide range of industries (not only major ones but
also niches), as editorial choices are not guided by commercial
aspect.
At last, public domain
information are most of the time unbiased.
As a consequence, private reports are massively based on public information, even if they are completed by desk researches and analysis.
The time frame for private publishers to include public data in their
reports increase the time-lag between public and private reports publishing.
Public reports are thus more relevant.
Basically, each of them has its own characteristics. We will present them
here one by one.
Public Domain Reports
- National Statistics
What for ?
To forecast trade, and local sales
Where is it possible to find some ?
For National Statistics, JPMorgan published in July 2004 the “Global Data
Watch Handbook”
Chamber of Commerce and Trade Union also publish Trade Statistics and Local
Statistics ( Regional Reports)
- http://www.chamberfind.com/ is a worldwide directory of Chamber of Commerce
- I haven’t find any for Trade Union yet. If someone knows one… It would be
grateful to send us its URL !
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Often difficult to analysis them as a single indicator, much more readable
in a long term analyze.
- Embassy Reports
What for ?
To assess an industry investment climate in a foreign country
Where is it possible to find some ?
http://www.embassyworld.com/ will help you for each country to find
local Consulate or Embassy.
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They are often very good indicators for a first investigation on a country
investment climate. Definitely not enough to make decision. Thus, embassies
propose ad-hoc services for that purpose.
- Evaluation Reports
What for ?
To get a deep insight into a market competition, and a detailed presentation
of each player (market position, market shares, pricing policy, distribution …)
Evaluation reports are prepared by Competition Commission to prevent conflicts
when leading companies merge.
Where is it possible to find some ?
http://www.clubi.ie/competition/compframesite/WorldsBiggestAntiTrustSitesList.html
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While they are amazingly detailed, they are never updated, and thus quickly
outdated.
- Trade statistics
Refer to National Statistics
- Customs Data
What for ?
To identify new trade opportunities for your products across the world; to
measure market share; to identify growth areas; to forecast trade and to
analyze patterns.
Where is it possible to find some ?
http://www.wcoomd.org/ie/index.html will help you to find out the
customs website of the country you are researching.
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That’s sometimes difficult to query the customs website, and even more to
understand how to analyze the raw data.
- Country Reports
What for ?
To get the latest available demographic, socio-economic, political data
related to a specific country.
Where is it possible to find some ?
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
: The CIA factbooks is continually updated. It is also possible to directly use
the National Statistics Institute of the country you are researching. For that,
you can use this directory : http://www.insee.fr/en/liens/liens_pays.htm
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The CIA website is one of the most up-to-date database for country
intelligence.
- Demographic and Social Reports
Refer to country reports
- Official Business register
What for ?
Get the latest players financial statement, their status (who are the
shareholders), the number and localisation of offices.
Where is it possible to find some ?
Each country has its own National Business Register
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Not always free, this depends on the countries. Moreover, in some countries
the law does not oblige the companies to publish this information.
- Patent and trademark information
What for ?
Follow the topics on which players are increasing their R&D efforts,
identify new technologies.
Where is it possible to find some ?
The University of Washington Engineering Library publish a bookmark of
available websites : http://www.lib.washington.edu/engineering/ptdl/
Google also, and that is free : http://www.google.com/patents
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For novices, it is difficult to understand and analyze each information
included in a patent.
Private Reports
- Annual Reports and Investor Presentation
What for ?
To get latest data, general strategy and business units year
review
Where is it possible to find some ?
Some websites aggregate Annual Reports, that one can access when registering
the website for free. Nevertheless, the easiest way is to refer to the company
financial corporate website pages.
Two kinds of reports are usually available. When Annual Reports can be
difficult to read for non experts, Investor presentations often give easy to
understand information on the company, its competitor and their
markets.
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Annual reports are limited to listed companies. They are probably the best
free document available, nevertheless, readers must keep in mind that this
document also aims at seducing new investors.
- Analyst Research Reports
What for ?
To get the latest data on a company, and a synthesis of a financial expert
short and middle term analysis
Multex analysis : “Broker research is written by equity analysts that
have deep expertise in the sectors, or companies they follow. This expertise
allows them to make well informed predictions as to how the company or sector
will develop in the future.”
Analyst research are provided by independent research, not attached to
particular deals or trading positions, thus unbiased.
Where is it possible to find some ?
This is the most atomised type of content, thus often quite difficult to
find a single source.
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Very difficult to identify when you expect them for free !
- Bank Research Papers
What for ?
A wide scope of Bank Research are available online : industry reports,
country reports… The markets and countries they are covering vary strongly.
Impossible to know if a report will be identified before searching each website
one by one. Moreover, no service centralizes their publications.
Where is it possible to find some ?
This can be difficult. Bank Research Papers can be reserved to bank’s
clients. Nevertheless, a blog used to take inventory of main bank research
website (http://www.bankresearch.org/). This website has not been updated since
May 2007.
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Probably the best free business content available.
- Press Release
What for ?
To follow company’s current events : new product release, merger, changes in
management….
Where is it possible to find some ?
Several players on the market aggregate press releases. Leaders are Business
Wire (http://www.businesswire.com/) and PR Newswire (http://www.prnewswire.com/).
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A press release alone is far away from being enough. And one must be careful
when using them, as this is corporate communication.
- White papers
What for ?
To follow a competitor product or service White papers are a promotional
tool companies published to present a player solution. Usually, they are
illustrated by a client’s case study.
Where is it possible to find some ?
http://www.itpapers.com/ gather on its website white papers limited to
the IT Industry.
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Corporate communication. Mainly used in the information technologies
markets.
As a conclusion, we have seen here how precious public industry information
are. But such a diversity of content and diversity of sources is not always
helpful to information professional.
To gain time, and efficiency, we will present you now a methodology to
easily identify these contents over the Internet.