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Product management

Market Research

Qi3 employs rigorous market research methodologies to really get under the skin of a technology/product or service. Our methodology ensures our market research delves deeper than your average consultant’s analysis.

We have extensive experience in conducting research in a huge range of applications and for a wealth of companies from SME’s to large Corporations to University research centres.

Our team has experience in a wide range of technology domains, combined with strong backgrounds in sales and marketing, so we are able to extract the maximum potential of a technology and provide real business insights & qualified prospects for early adoption.

We call our market research methodology Technology Market Evaluation (TME). We use it to evaluate the feasibility and potential applications or markets of a given technology, group of technologies or patent.

Over the years we’ve conducted over 150 TMEs for a host of SMEs, technology corporations and research institutes, covering a huge range of applications.

Our TME is a rigorous market research methodology incorporating quality and project management blended with a number of unusual features. This gives our outputs the feel of a company’s in-house product marketing activity rather than an impersonal consultant’s analysis.

Because we understand that every business situation, technology and market is unique, we carefully tailor the deliverables to your needs. In addition the level of detail covered and the number of issues looked at vary according to the level of service chosen. This flexible approach to the methodology is what sets Qi3’s TME apart. And more than providing desktop research, Qi3 interfaces directly with field experts, potential end-users and manufacturers to unearth the true value of a technology, and provide actionable recommendations to clients.

There are generally two stages to the TME methodology.

The first will allow you to decide whether further patenting and R&D costs are justified. Typical issues we address might include:

What are the key features and benefits of the technology?
Assessment of Technology Readiness Level
Core competences of your organisation in this technology area
The ‘sweet spots’ where the technology is best suited to particular applications
Suitability of applications and markets suggested by clients and comparison with competitors
Current size and values of the markets
Next steps and further work required

At the second stage we go into greater detail to reveal, for example:

Market forces and segmentation
Market growth forecast
Best entry strategy
How to achieve early sales
Identify target companies for early sales and collaborative development.

Our deliverables typically focus on real customers and strategic partners, as opposed to just a dry assessment of the technology.
We have a flexible team of domain experts and technology business marketers, and can discuss case studies from our portfolio of completed projects, many of which have led to successful commercialisation.

For a confidential discussion, please contact robin.higgons@qi3.co.uk or call 01223 422404.

Portfolio Strategy

One of our specialisms is product / service portfolio strategy. We analyse the performance of the current product portfolio and work with you to set overall business ambitions. We then produce detailed options for the current product portfolio and parameters for new products required to fill the gap.

Qi3 has had great success in rigorous application of this methodology to generate highly profitable accelerated organic growth in established businesses. The technique is also applicable to businesses that are developing away from dependence on a narrow product market base.

Business Model Development

A business model describes the rationale of how an organisation creates, delivers and captures value. Creative business model design is at the heart of the stability and profitability of a business. The advent of the Internet and other technological changes has substantially changed the business model options available to companies. If your business model is the same as that of five years ago, it should be reexamined.

Qi3 supports companies in preparing value propositions and translating them into a series of business model options, for selection and implementation within the organisation. . Our approach utilises our understanding of the market combined with our financial modelling skills.

Product Launch

Once your product / service is fully developed, the product launch process is a vital link in the chain towards sales success. Too many companies invest in developing super products, only to feel that they deserve greater market traction. We love helping companies at this stage of product introduction.

Qi3 offers skilled resources, such as marcoms management support, coaching to get the best sales support from engineering staff, organising launch events, trade fairs and securing pioneer sales. We are experienced in delivering all elements of the marketing mix to support product launches, often in multiple countries. If your product launch has not yet yielded the desired success, we help to analyse the situation and execute changes to strategy.

Strategic Sale

In business to business sales, the formation of relationships and early sales with key strategic customers is often vital. There may be a handful of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to sell to, specific regional reference customers, or funding bodied to convince. Some strategic relationships become enduring channels to market, or even to later acquisition.

Qi3 staff are skilled in establishing enterprise level contacts and developing them into enduring relationships. Successes for our clients have included:

Securing early stage R&D contracts
Putting together a successful UK bid consortium for a US company
Selling >£0.5m evaluation licences for an IP portfolio in the USA, Japan and the UK
Introducing a new technology to 6 or the world’s 7 major OEMs, and securing a deal with one