In 1994, the Martre Report defined economic intelligence (EI) as follows: “Economic intelligence can be defined as the coordinated search, processing and distribution (...) of information useful to economic players. (...) Useful information is that which is needed by the various decision-making levels of the company or community, to develop and implement in a coherent manner the strategy and tactics necessary to achieve the objectives defined by the company, with the aim of improving its position in its competitive environment.”
The three pillars of business intelligence
30 years later, the means may have changed, but the definition remains the same: business intelligence is the legal exploitation of strategic information as a competitive lever and economic security tool for companies, for both defensive and offensive purposes. And this economic security is based on 3 fundamental pillars:
1. Intelligence - competitive, technological, business, opportunity, regulatory, geopolitical
2. Protection - through training people, securing infrastructures, preventing information leaks to protect the company's information assets and image
3. Influence and counter-influence - to avoid a reputational crisis and keep control of your image
Information at the heart of everything
If 30 years ago, the challenge was to find information, today it is to ensure its reliability. Social networks, traditional media, newsletters, professional networks, various events, expert or “expert” comments, institutional communications, incidental sources... the aim of business intelligence is also to rationalize information and make it reliable, so as to exploit it accurately and to its full potential.
IE is a toolbox that can be used on a day-to-day basis, but even more so when it comes to the highlights in the life of a company : product or offer development, company acquisition, commercial negotiation, internal or external litigation... the cases of application and the means used are ever more numerous. Because in 2024, more than ever before, knowledge is power.
