Researching the business environment requires a research strategy, critical thinking, creativity and an open mind.
Next to the tips in the previous chapters, we have a few additional tips for you:
Clearly identify the industry you are researching.
Think about alternative names for describing the industry. For example, you may find information about the
shipping industry under: shipping, marine freight, transport & logistics, dry bulk, wet bulk, tankers etc.
Be aware that industry reports are not always available for niche industries
If you can’t find an industry report for your niche industry, consider researching the broader industry. E.g.: if you are researching white asparagus, you may also want to research the broader fruit & vegetables industry.
Industry Associations: Industry associations clearly benefit from collecting data about their industry. Many industry associations collect industry statistics, maintain directories, publish white papers and research reports, organize conferences, and trade shows. Industry experts may be identified through these organisations.
Governmental Materials: Governments provide a wealth of industry information. Look for the regulatory agencies for your industry, as they may provide detailed statistics and figures on their websites.
Note: Some databases (also) use database-specific classifications. EMIS uses both the NAICS classification and their own classification of industries.
An example of a national statistical classification is the Dutch SBI-code. This code is used by e.g. the Central Bureau of Statistics (database Statline), the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and the database CompanyInfo.