Better "capture management" is another way that a data subscription can help any company's employees use their time more wisely. Knowing who won specific government contracts helps you avoid deals you didn't really have a chance to win, so you can focus on opportunities that are a good fit for your company.

Conclusion
Tracking your competitors is always worthwhile, though never easy. Doing it consistently takes effort and discipline, while online data services eliminate much of the drudgery and can pay for themselves with one or two contract awards. Think of quality competitive analysis as an investment that pays off in ensuring your business success - especially in uncertain times.

Irvine Alpert is executive vice president at Onvia (www.onvia.com), which helps construction industry businesses achieve a competitive advantage by delivering timely and actionable sales opportunities and information.  He is the founder of Onvia Guide and leads business development efforts for the company.  Previously, Alpert was CEO of ProjectGuides, a customized information service that delivered leads to the architecture engineering and construction (AEC) community.