Competitor & Market Research

Project Case Study :: Research
Case Study Overview

Whenever we have a new client here at Nagarro, we provide a complimentary workshop with the client in attendance in order to understand the business needs and opportunities for us to help them. Depending on the initial scope of requests they think they want, we tailor the workshop to those needs and what we suspect is needed. All of this provides the client with possibilities of how our partnership is the right fit for them.

I was not the moderator for this workshop, but did participate in the meeting and did the documentation.

Joe the Strengths Administrator
The Benchmark

Though Duolingo was not a direct competitor at the time (since Duolingo Math came out in October), Thinkster and Duolingo are in the learning technology space. Duolingo is famous for its worldwide success, inclusive practices, and progressive iteration of its gamification techniques.

Joe the Strengths Administrator

Research Methods

My first step for researching was identifying direct competitors and industry competitors that we can draw inspiration from.

I started researching the top math applications, in addition to the learning and habitual markets.

Joe the Strengths Administrator

For most comparison research I use the S.W.O.T method and sometimes add more metrics, such as what their brand experience is like and the app store specs and ratings.

Joe the Strengths Administrator
Joe the Strengths Administrator

Direct Competitor Matrix

That research helped me identify 5 key areas of success with each of the direct competitors that are important for product adoption and accessibility.

Initially the client thought they were supiror to the other tech based companies – the bottom three there.
Doesn’t quite look like that now does it?
All the other tech based companies have 4 checks when Thinkster only has 3.
They are actually 2nd to last above Mathnasium. But they are number 2 in tutoring based companies.
So I’m gonna say Varsity Tutors is the one to beat here since they are most like the client with tech and tutoring.

I don’t know how open they were to having free stuff or other languages,
but it became a common topic after this and a recommendation moving forward that they work on thosse two areas.

Joe the Strengths Administrator

The little plus indicator means there are more subjects in addition to math.

Results & Outcomes

This research proved valuable to knowing how Thinkster stacked up to the tutoring and learning tech markets, which we discovered they did not compete well, even though the client said they were superior. These findings provided us with a clearer direction for our product strategy on how they can compete.
Project :: Thinkster Student App