Research Monitor, produced by Euromonitor International, is an entry-level database of industry, country and consumer-related information. The easy-to-use interface will appeal to its targeted user groups; public libraries, small businesses and colleges and undergraduate programmes. This database comprises 5,000 industry and country reports with geographic coverage for 80 countries augmented by related articles and opinion pieces written by Euromonitor staffers. All items are available in PDF format. This product is updated daily. Information on the research methodology behind the reports is available online at Euromonitor International's main website www.euromonitor.com/research-methodology
The interface is a simple, plain design with straightforward functionality which can be easily mastered by the novice user. Contents can be accessed through the search function or by browsing through the use of drop-down menus. The search function provides full-text keyword searching of items to produce results. For users with a specific topic in mind, this is the fastest way to find appropriate results. The browsing function provides selection of topics through a series of drop-down menus. The subject tab allows users to select areas of interest by clicking on any of the six categories or their subsequent sub-categories: Consumer Products (20 sub-categories), Services (four sub-categories), Supply (two sub-categories), Industrial (17 sub-categories), Countries (four sub-categories) or Consumers (three sub-categories). Once the subject areas have been selected, the bottom menu bar allows geographical limiting of results. Geographic selections are available by region or by individual countries within the regions. Multiple selections can be made in each of the categories. Clicking off an item will de-select it.
Separate reports are returned for each topic and chosen geographic area. These reports are presented in a succinct, consistent format with standard information provided for each geographic area selected. Results can be sorted, in ascending or descending order, by relevance (default) or by date. They can be further limited by subject, and date options (more than one year, last year, last three months, last one month), geography or analysis (article, industry overview, opinion).
Results include industry overviews, opinions, articles, industrial snapshots, country briefings or country snapshots. Each report is a discrete item. Reports may include company-level market information related to market share. There are no underlying raw data files available for cross-tabulation or to produce on-the-fly comparative tables. Most reports are available in multiple languages (up to seven), accessed through a left menu bar. Reports can be saved to personal accounts, printed or downloaded using the print to file option.
Industry overviews are the most detailed reports and include an executive summary, key trends and developments, market data, definitions and sources. These reports provide broad sector analyses which often include information on activities of major competitors. Categories such as market data contain multiple tables providing overview statistics related to recent sector and company market share distribution with projections up to five years. Some reports contain brief SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analyses (e.g. see Travel & Tourism Industry overview for Guatemala). Reports for all countries are not always available for each industry. As an example, for the personal goods industry, only a report for Saudi Arabia was available for the Middle East and Africa. Industrial snapshot reports provide very brief overviews of industries by two-, three- and four-digit ISIC categories (International Standard Industrial Classification).
Country profiles provide a brief overview of the socio-economic and political climate of each country. Basic facts regarding the makeup of the country, size, population and political structure are presented along with an overview of the current economic outlook including main economic indicators. Country briefings provide a synopsis of the economic situation and outlook for the country. They provide a summary of the current situation and outline risks to the economy, whether socio-political or through external pressures from other markets. Ease of doing business is a category which provides an overview of government regulatory structure including taxes and trade agreements which may affect business startup. Government finance and financial stability are highlighted along with major market sectors for the country. Numerous tables and charts augment the text.
Reports are current and well-written in clear, easy-to-understand language. The format for each type of report is also consistent, allowing users to make cross-comparisons. Basic economic terminology is used throughout the product; however, more complex concepts are usually accompanied by a definitions section to assist the user. Unfortunately, there is a lack of consistency in defining acronyms used in tables and text; forcing the user to turn to other sources for explanation (e.g. CAGR – compound annual growth rate is used in many reports without an accompanying definition). This product would benefit from the addition of a menu bar definitions tab where standard terminology could be accessed without leaving the site. Future demographics reports comprise slideshows with murky graphics and are not available for download.
The cost of the subscription varies by type of institution. Institutional subscriptions allow access to an unlimited number of simultaneous users. Access is restricted by IP. Number of downloads and printing options vary by subscription type.
Euromonitor International describes this database as an introduction to their industry and country research, and it fulfills this function very well. They understand the market they are pursuing and have catered to their targeted audience. This product provides the right level of information in an appropriate format to appeal to public libraries, small businesses and colleges. This database will also appeal to undergraduate-level institutions particularly for classroom use. Researchers and businesses requiring more in-depth analyses and the ability to do comparative research using on-the-fly data extraction will be better served by more advanced products such as those available through Euromonitor Passport.
