airfocus-logoBlog
About airfocus

Try for free

Product Strategy

Everything You Need To Know About Product Competitors

12 Jan 20224 mins read
Tomas Prochazka
Everything You Need To Know About Product Competitors
By Tomas Prochazka
CONTENTS

With increased globalization and digitalization, the marketplace for your products is more competitive than ever before.

Businesses not only need to work to find their target audiences, they must find unique ways to stake out their niche among thousands of other competitors. 

One of the best ways to do this is to be aware of your product competition.

In this post, we'll break down the basics of product competition.

eBook

Leveraging
Product Strategy

Read now
CTA eBook image background
airfocus eBook Leveraging Product Strategy for Product and Business Growth

What is product competition?

Product competition is whenever one product is directly competing with another product to fill a particular consumer need. For instance, if two products both solve a consumer's need to cook steak, then these are product competitors. 

It's important to note that product competition doesn't necessarily mean that the two products have anything else in common. An oven, grill, sous vide, and frying pan could all be considered product competitors, even though the price, features, form, and function of each vary drastically. 

3 levels of product competition 

There are, generally speaking, three ways that a business can engage in product competition. By using one of these approaches, a brand can improve its odds of beating out its competitors or at the very least finding its place among the top tier of them. 

1. Ship a breakthrough product

The first and most challenging way to succeed in product competition is to launch a breakthrough product.

This means offering a product so radical that it can define its own niche. 

You will nearly always see this sort of product in tech these days, though it can happen in other industries. McDonald's, for instance, offered a breakthrough product in the restaurant industry and as a result, is synonymous with "fast food." The same goes for Apple with the iPhone and Google with Google Search.

Product compete

2. Create an improved product

Your business can also succeed in product competition with an improved or iterative product. These are products that add something to a preexisting product yet remain unique to your brand and brand recognition. For instance, introduce a smartphone with a foldable screen or a collapsible water bottle. 

Improved products are more predictable than breakthrough products and provide more flexibility. You may start with a product that doesn't differ much from the competing product it's iterating on, but as you continue to improve on it over time, you might establish a unique niche for it that stands on its own. 

You can look at Windows and macOS computers in this way. Both started in a very similar position, but over the years have found ways to stand apart and establish separate customer bases. 

3. Me Too products

The simplest and most reliable way to compete with product competitors is with a "Me Too" product. These are products that are in many respects indistinguishable from their competitors, except that they are far more affordable. 

These are products that are often referred to as "off-brand" or "private label" products. While this is usually a good way to penetrate the market, these products are rarely innovative and typically have little to no R&D budget. 

What is indirect product competition?

Indirect competition is similar to product competition in that it's between two products for the same customer. The difference, however, is that indirect competitors have a harder time taking one another's customers. 

For example, two competing brands of candles will have to work hard to distinguish themselves as superior in the eyes of the consumer. It will come down to their scents, appearances, and materials in their product competition. 

Manufacturers of matchsticks and lighters, on the other hand, are also indirect competitors. Consumers will choose one or the other based on preferences and habits, and less so because of a perceived value difference. They're competing indirectly, because both solve a similar need but in ways that don't cross over in the consumer's purchasing habits.

Product Competitor

How can smart, connected products put you ahead of the competition?

You can be far, far more efficient

Smart products have been gaining traction with consumers and manufacturers alike for several reasons. One of the key reasons is that these products tend to be more efficient. They bring in more data, embrace algorithms, and can use energy more efficiently than their predecessors. 

Embrace automation on a new scale

Connected products are also more prepared to embrace automation. They have built-in processors, can pair remotely with smartphone apps where automations can be specified, and can take advantage of smart home platforms like HomeKit. 

Improve your after-sale services

Businesses can also provide better after-sale services with smart products by interacting with them remotely. You can predict when a product will need maintenance and notify the customer, troubleshoot problems more accurately, and more. 

eBook

Leveraging
Product Strategy

Read now
CTA eBook image background
airfocus eBook Leveraging Product Strategy for Product and Business Growth

airfocus can help you develop a strategy for product competition success

Here at airfocus, we offer a variety of tools and services for product-centric businesses. To learn more about our product offerings and the opportunities for your business, check out the blog — it’s jam-packed with juicy product insights and guidance!

airfocus eBook Leveraging Product Strategy for Product and Business Growth
eBook
Leveraging
Product Strategy
Read now

Read also

Testimonial Company
Product Management 20 Sep 2023
9 Product Discovery Questions Every PM Should Ask
Ensuring your product is well-prepared for success! Learn the vital questions to ask during this crucial phase, explore real user pain points, preferences, and the secrets to building a product that truly resonates with your audience.
By Sami Rehman
Testimonial Company
Testimonial Company

Create an effective
product strategy

Book a demo

Instant tour

airfocus modular platform
Top rated
on major review platforms
g2 badge users love us
g2 badge momentum leader
GetApp badge category leader
software advice badge
capterra shortlist badge
proddy badge roadmapping
crozdesk badge
Company
All rights reserved. contact@airfocus.com
ENDE