How to Run a Competitor Analysis in Assist 2.0

Overview

This guide walks you through generating a comprehensive competitor analysis report in Assist 2.0 using the Research Agent. While Assist 2.0 can search the web natively in any chat, the Research Agent is purpose-built for work like this — it automatically returns full citations for every data point, every time.

When to Use the Research Agent vs. Just Talking to Assist

Use the Research Agent when citations matter — competitor analysis, market research, anything you'll share with stakeholders or use in strategic decisions.
Just talk to Assist directly when you want quick, conversational answers and don't need every claim sourced.

For a competitor analysis, the Research Agent is the right call.

What You'll Create

A complete competitor analysis report including:

Market size and industry overview
Competitor financials and market share
Product, pricing, and positioning comparisons
Target audience analysis
Social media presence breakdown
Strategic opportunities and competitive advantages
Actionable next steps
Full citations for all data points (typically 20+ sources)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open Your Workspace

Navigate to the workspace you want to work in. Everything in Assist 2.0 is scoped to the workspace — knowledge, templates, agents, and outputs all live here.

Step 2: Add Brand Context (Optional but Recommended)

To get an analysis tailored to your brand, give the Research Agent something to work with:

Option A — Upload directly in chat: Click the attachment icon and upload your brand documentation (PDF, DOCX, or TXT).
Option B — Use existing Knowledge: If your brand docs are already in the workspace's Knowledge library, the Research Agent will find and use them automatically.

Tip: Include information about your brand's positioning, target audience, product features, and unique value propositions for the best results.

Step 3: Invoke the Research Agent

In the chat, type @ResearchAgent to bring it in, then describe what you want.

Example prompt:

@ResearchAgent Do a competitor analysis for this brand. Identify key competitors in the market and compare their products, pricing, target audience, and social media presence.

Customise your prompt by adding focus areas, for example:

"Include emerging competitors and market trends"
"Focus on social media strategies and engagement metrics"
"Analyse pricing strategies and promotional tactics"
"Compare product features and innovation approaches"
"Focus on competitors in the European market"

You don't need to ask for citations — the Research Agent includes them automatically.

Step 4: Review the Plan (If Prompted)

If Plan Mode is enabled, the Research Agent will propose a plan before executing — outlining which sources it will search, what sections it will produce, and what format the output will take. You can revise the plan or accept it to proceed.

If you're in Execute Mode, it'll get straight to work.

Step 5: Watch the Analysis Generate

The Research Agent will:

Search the web for real-time data
Analyse competitor information
Structure the findings into a comprehensive report
Stream the analysis into the chat in real time, with citations attached as it goes

You'll see tool activity and thinking steps while it works. Once the response is finalised, these collapse behind an expander so the final output stays clean.

What to expect:

Market size and growth statistics
Detailed competitor profiles (major and emerging players)
Comparative analysis tables
Strategic insights and opportunities
Full citations for every data source (typically 20+)

Step 6: Generate the Document

Once you're happy with the analysis in chat, ask Assist to turn it into a document:

Turn this into a document.

Assist 2.0 can generate the output in multiple formats in parallel — for example, a formatted HTML doc, a PowerPoint deck, and an Excel comparison table — depending on what you ask for. Citations carry through into the document.

[SCREENSHOT: Generated competitor analysis document open in the output editor]

Step 7: Review, Edit, and Export

Your document is now saved in the workspace. You can:

Edit any sections for additional context
Add your own insights or commentary
Adjust formatting to match your brand guidelines
Remove or expand specific sections as needed

To export, use the export option in the document menu and choose your preferred format (PDF, DOCX, or Markdown).

Reusing This Workflow

Once you've run a competitor analysis you're happy with, Assist 2.0 can save it as a template so you (or your team) can run it again without starting from scratch.

Templates you create live in the Library → Templates tab, scoped to your workspace.
The Research Agent lives in Library → Agents.
Next time you ask for a competitor analysis, Assist will find and reuse the existing template rather than building a new one.

Heads-up: Before creating a new template, check the Library to see if a suitable one already exists — this keeps things curated and avoids duplicates piling up.

Sample Analysis Structure

Your completed competitor analysis will typically include:

Executive Summary — High-level overview of the competitive landscape and key findings
Market Overview — Market size, valuation, growth trends, industry dynamics
Major Competitors — Detailed profiles of established market leaders (revenue, market share, brand value, product portfolio, pricing)
Emerging & Niche Competitors — Up-and-coming brands and specialised players
Competitive Comparison Table — Side-by-side comparison across all competitors
Strategic Opportunities — Identified gaps and opportunities for your brand
Competitive Advantages — Your brand's unique strengths
Competitive Gaps to Fill — Underserved segments or unmet customer needs
Competitive Threats & Mitigation — Potential challenges and recommended responses
Recommended Next Steps — Actionable strategies based on the analysis
Citations — Full source list (typically 20+ sources)

Best Practices

Provide Comprehensive Brand Context

Include detailed brand documentation
Specify your target market and positioning
Mention any unique product features or advantages

Be Specific in Your Prompts

Clearly state which competitors to analyse
Specify the aspects you want to compare (pricing, features, marketing, etc.)
Mention any particular markets or regions of interest

Verify and Supplement

Review the citations provided
Add any proprietary insights or internal data
Cross-reference key statistics with your own research

Customise the Output

Adjust the analysis to match your specific needs
Add company-specific context or strategic priorities
Format the document according to your presentation standards

Use Cases

This workflow is perfect for:

Marketing Teams: Regular market research and competitive monitoring
Brand Managers: Understanding positioning and market dynamics
Startups: Entering new markets and identifying opportunities
Business Strategists: Planning campaigns and go-to-market strategies
Product Teams: Benchmarking features and pricing
Sales Teams: Understanding competitive advantages for pitches
Executives: Making informed strategic decisions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why use the Research Agent if Assist can already search the web?

A: The Research Agent automatically includes full citations for every data point. If you need sourced, verifiable output — which you do for competitor analysis — it's the right tool. For casual questions where citations aren't needed, you can just talk to Assist directly.

Q: How current is the data in the analysis?

A: The Research Agent pulls real-time data from the web, ensuring you get the most up-to-date information available.

Q: Can I analyse competitors in specific geographic markets?

A: Yes — just specify the region or market in your prompt (e.g., "competitors in the European market").

Q: How many competitors can I analyse at once?

A: As many as you need. For very large competitor sets, consider breaking the analysis into segments (e.g., major players vs. emerging brands).

Q: Can I save and reuse this analysis?

A: Yes. The document is automatically saved in your workspace, and you can save the workflow itself as a template in the Library for future reuse.

Q: What if I need to update the analysis later?

A: Start a new chat in the same workspace, upload refreshed brand docs if needed, and call @ResearchAgent for a refreshed analysis.

Q: Are the citations reliable?

A: The Research Agent sources data from reputable business publications, company reports, and industry databases. Always review citations against your own requirements.

Q: Will the Research Agent see knowledge from other workspaces?

A: No. Assist 2.0 respects workspace boundaries — the agent only has access to knowledge in the workspace you're working in.

Tips for Success

Update Regularly: Market conditions change quickly. Run a fresh analysis quarterly or before major strategic decisions.
Combine with Internal Data: Supplement the AI-generated analysis with your own customer insights, sales data, and market intelligence.
Share Widely: Export and distribute the analysis to relevant stakeholders.
Track Changes: Save versions over time to see how the competitive landscape evolves.
Act on Insights: Use the "Recommended Next Steps" as a starting point for strategic planning.

Need Help?

If you run into any issues or have questions about using the Research Agent, contact your account manager or check our additional documentation.

Related Articles:

Getting Started with Assist 2.0
Web Search vs. the Research Agent: When to Use Which
Using Knowledge in Your Workspace
Saving and Reusing Templates
Exporting and Sharing Documents