As a business, you want to stay competitive. In order to do this, you need to constantly analyze the existing market for any relevant changes. As a business owner, the information you find and interpret is essential to your survival. In order for you to be successful, you need to adapt to any changes in the market or else you could lose money.
While there are many interpretations of the term "competitive intelligence," it is useful to view it as defined by the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) in first place.