What is a comparison matrix?

A comparison matrix is a complete workup of your competition that compares attributes or features of your competitors against your own, by organizing competitors and attributes together in a grid, or matrix.

Why would I want to build a comparison matrix?

By directly comparing your own company offerings against your competitors, you can better understand your value proposition and improve your ongoing position. The matrix can help you highlight weaknesses in your offering, or find opportunities to pursue. Also, a comparison matrix doesn't need to be limited to product comparison, and can, for instance, include categories such as service, distribution, and marketing.

What can I do with the comparison matrix?

You can currently organize features or attributes of your competitors into categories, and mark whether or not a given competitor has that feature/attribute. Alerts are automatically generated if you are missing features that your competitors have.

Who can use the matrix?

The comparison matrix can be used collaboratively by every member of your project. Comparison matrices can be valuable tools for all groups in a company, such as sales, development, and product management.

How do I start using the matrix?

The matrix is pre-populated with some sample categories and features to get you started. Begin by clicking on the name of a sample category or feature to edit it, and set values for you and your competitor for the first features or attributes you save.

How do I add a category?

Add a category by clicking the "New Category" button in the toolbar at the top of the matrix, or by hovering your mouse over the blank row at the bottom of the matrix and clicking "[add category]". Then, type in the category name and click "Add".

How do I add a feature?

Once you have added a category, you can add a feature by hovering your mouse over a category row and clicking the "[add feature]" link. A new feature row will be inserted into the category. Enter the new feature name in that row and click "Add" to save it.

How do I edit a category or feature name?

Editing a category or feature name works in the same way. Click on the name of the category or feature, enter the new name, and click "Rename".

How do I delete a category or feature?

Similar to editing, you can delete a category or feature by clicking on its name, then clicking the "[X]" link that appears in the row. You will be asked confirm this action to prevent any accidental deletions.

Can I reorder and organize the matrix?

You can reorder features within a category quickly by hovering your mouse over a category row, and clicking the "[reorder]" link. Drag and drop the features into your desired order, then click "[done ordering" to save the order. To reorder the entire matrix, including the order of categories, click the "Reorder Matrix" button in the toolbar. Drag and drop features within categories, between categories, or drag entire categories to reorder the matrix. Click the "Done Ordering" button when you are finished.