9 Best AI Tools for Instagram Competitor Analysis
Explore AI tools for Instagram competitor analysis that provide real-time insights, audience intelligence, and content performance metrics.
Tracking your competitors manually is time-consuming and often inaccurate. AI-powered tools simplify the process by analyzing metrics like follower growth, engagement rates, and audience sentiment in real time. The result? Actionable insights to refine your strategy and stay ahead.
Here’s a quick overview of what these tools offer:
- Real-time analytics: Monitor competitor performance instantly.
- Content analysis: Learn what works for your competitors (and for you).
- Audience insights: Understand demographics and engagement patterns.
- Trend detection: Spot emerging opportunities early.
- Automated reports: Save time with easy-to-digest summaries.
Quick Comparison of Top Tools
| Tool | Starting Price | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| UpGrow | $39/month | Real-time analytics, AI targeting | Organic growth tracking |
| Sprout Social | Custom pricing | Cross-platform insights, sentiment | Enterprise-level analysis |
| Iconosquare | $49/month | Competitor benchmarking, dashboards | Mid-sized businesses |
| Hootsuite | $15,000/year | Trend analysis, content performance | Enterprise solutions |
| Keyhole | $179/month | Social listening, sentiment analysis | Campaign tracking |
| Brandwatch | $800/month | Historical data, AI trend detection | Long-term insights |
| Rival IQ | $239/month | Engagement metrics, ad monitoring | Detailed competitor analysis |
| Synthesio | Custom pricing | Share of voice, topic modeling | Advanced social intelligence |
| Emplifi | $200/month | Audience data, daily updates | Social commerce teams |
These tools cater to various budgets and business sizes, from startups to enterprises. Dive into the full article to find the perfect fit for your Instagram strategy.
Instagram Competitor Analysis Tool: Find Top Accounts With Ingramer
Must-Have Features in Instagram Analysis Tools
When choosing an AI tool for Instagram, look for features that provide real-time insights and help refine your strategy effectively.
Real-Time Data Tracking
Your tool should monitor key metrics like follower growth, engagement rates, profile interactions, and the performance of stories and Reels. These insights allow you to stay updated on how your content is performing.
Content Performance Analysis
Understanding what works is essential. Analyze which content types perform best, figure out the best times to post, evaluate the success of your hashtags, and examine patterns in audience responses. These details can help you fine-tune your content strategy.
Advanced AI Features
AI capabilities can take your analysis to the next level. Here are a few key features to look for:
| Feature | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Sentiment Analysis | Categorizes audience feedback into positive, negative, or neutral tones. |
| Trend Detection | Spots new patterns and highlights potential content opportunities. |
| Automated Reporting | Creates in-depth performance summaries for easy benchmarking. |
Cross-Platform Integration
A good tool doesn't stop at Instagram. It should offer a unified dashboard that consolidates data from multiple platforms. Look for features like competitor monitoring, cross-platform data merging, custom metric tracking, and efficient report exporting.
Strategic Insights
To refine your overall approach, compare performance indicators. Identify areas where you can improve, such as content formats, posting schedules, and engagement tactics that yield the best results.
Audience Intelligence
Dive deep into demographic details, engagement trends, and content preferences - not just for your audience but also for your competitors. Use this information to tweak your strategy as needed.
1. UpGrow
UpGrow stands out as a powerful AI tool for Instagram competitor analysis, offering a smarter alternative to manual tracking. Recognized as the Best Instagram Growth Service 2025 by Social Media Today, it combines advanced analytics with strategic insights to help you stay ahead.
Key Features
Here’s what makes UpGrow a standout tool:
| Feature | What It Does | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Story Viewer | Lets you view and download competitors' stories anonymously | Monitor competitor strategies without being noticed |
| Viral Content Library | Provides an AI-curated database of trending content | Spot winning content ideas in your niche |
| Real-time Analytics | Offers a live dashboard with performance metrics | Compare your performance directly with competitors |
| AI Targeting Analysis | Tracks demographics and engagement data | Understand your competitors' audience profiles |
Advanced AI Tools
UpGrow’s AI capabilities go beyond the basics to deliver deeper insights:
- Smart Demographic Analysis: Breaks down target audiences by location, age, gender, language, and interests.
- Performance Tracking: Generates detailed PDF reports for benchmarking, making it easy to track your progress.
- Content Strategy Insights: Offers AI-driven suggestions to optimize your Instagram profile and content strategy.
These tools make it easier to analyze competitors and refine your approach for better results.
Proven Success
UpGrow’s impact is clear:
- Trusted by over 85,000 brands, influencers, and celebrities.
- Maintains a 5/5-star rating from more than 1,000 reviews.
- Beta users reported a 275% increase in monthly followers with its Boost feature.
"UpGrow provides customers with a growth solution that not only meets but exceeds their expectations by combining the power of AI with the knowledge and experience of real humans and a commitment to Instagram's policies and guidelines." - TGDaily
Safe and Compliant
UpGrow emphasizes ethical practices, ensuring all activities align with Instagram’s policies. With over 58,000 accounts served without compliance issues, it’s a reliable choice for professional competitor analysis.
2. Sprout Social
Sprout Social provides Instagram competitor analysis powered by AI, offering detailed insights through an easy-to-use platform.
AI-Powered Analytics
Sprout Social uses AI to transform competitor data into actionable insights:
| Feature | What It Does | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Competitor Reports | Tracks follower growth, engagement rates, and content success | Compare performance across multiple competitors |
| Advanced Listening | Monitors trends, hashtags, and audience sentiment | Spot new opportunities and address potential threats |
| Cross-Network Analysis | Analyzes competitor activity across platforms | Understand multi-channel strategies |
Performance Tracking Capabilities
The Instagram Competitors Report gives you a clearer picture of your market position with these tools:
- Audience Growth Analysis: See how competitors are growing their followers and uncover what’s driving their success.
- Content Performance Metrics: Compare engagement rates and identify which posts perform best.
- Publishing Behavior Insights: Learn the best posting times and frequencies based on competitor data.
Real-World Impact
Users have shared how Sprout Social’s AI tools have streamlined their workflows. Erica Bufford from Tesco shared:
"AI Assist revolutionized our analysis workflow, turning hours of manual trend identification, performance measurement, and insights generation into minutes."
Market Intelligence
Sprout Social also delivers key insights about Instagram’s landscape:
- 90% of Instagram users follow business accounts.
- 51% use Instagram to track trends.
- Analysis includes data from 200 million business accounts.
Advanced Features
Sprout Social goes beyond the basics with advanced tools:
- Sentiment Analysis: Compare how audiences feel about competitors.
- Share of Voice Tracking: Measure your brand’s visibility against others.
- Custom Report Generation: Build tailored reports for competitive analysis.
As one user explained:
"Listening not only helps us better understand what the conversations are about our brand in the digital space, it lets us make sure we're dominating share of voice in our industry in a relevant, impactful and positive way."
Industry Recognition
On G2, Sprout Social earned a strong 8.0 rating for competitor analysis in Social Analytics, ranking above many other tools in the market.
Up next, discover another powerful tool reshaping Instagram marketing strategies.
3. Hootsuite Insights
Hootsuite Insights blends AI-powered analytics with comprehensive tracking tools to provide actionable insights for Instagram strategies.
AI-Driven Analysis Features
Hootsuite Insights, powered by Brandwatch, transforms competitor data into meaningful takeaways. It identifies trends in engagement, market dynamics, and audience preferences for Instagram Business accounts.
| Feature Type | Capabilities | Competitor Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | Full analytics suite | Up to 20 accounts |
| Business/Advanced | Core tracking features | Up to 5 accounts |
| Standard/Team | Basic monitoring | Up to 2 accounts |
Performance Monitoring Tools
Hootsuite Insights equips users with essential tools for analyzing competitors:
Content Analysis
- Tracks high-performing content by format and engagement levels.
- Creates word clouds from competitors' top posts.
- Pinpoints ideal post lengths and effective hashtag strategies.
Data Depth and Coverage
Hootsuite Insights offers both real-time tracking and historical data to enhance competitive analysis:
- Automatically pulls 30 days of competitor data.
- Estimates engagement through likes and comments.
Advanced Metrics Dashboard
The platform delivers targeted metrics to support data-driven decisions in Instagram competitor analysis:
| Metric Category | What It Measures | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Audience Growth | Follower gain/loss percentage | Tracks shifts in market share. |
| Engagement Rates | Average interaction per post | Assesses content impact. |
| Publishing Patterns | Posting frequency analysis | Refines posting strategies. |
Enterprise Solutions
The Enterprise plan, starting at $15,000, includes advanced social listening, custom reporting, detailed analytics, and extended competitor tracking capabilities.
A verified G2 reviewer shared their perspective on the pricing:
"Although I do have a lot of positives to say about Hootsuite, the one pretty negative downside is the pricing tiers for the service. It is pretty expensive and might be a barrier for any company who is looking to use a management tool over using the platform provided options. If I was working independently or for a small business, I would have to use a different platform or service simply because $400 a month for 3 users is a bit much in my eyes."
- Adewale O., Verified G2 Review
Strategic Implementation
Hootsuite Insights helps brands address key competitive questions:
- What are competitors' publishing strategies, and how effective are they?
- Which content types drive the most engagement?
- What is the best posting frequency?
- How do content performance metrics compare across competitors?
These detailed metrics pave the way for exploring another tool designed for competitor analysis.
4. Iconosquare
Iconosquare is an Instagram analytics platform powered by AI, trusted by over 10,000 brands and agencies. With a 98% customer satisfaction rate, it provides tools to help businesses understand and improve their Instagram performance.
Competitor Insights with AI
Iconosquare uses AI to deliver in-depth competitor analysis. It tracks key performance metrics across several categories:
| Metric Category | Tracked Data Points |
|---|---|
| Content Performance | Total media published, average likes, average comments |
| Audience Metrics | Total followers, follower growth |
| Posting Strategy | Post history, posting habits, post density |
| Engagement Analysis | Most engaging media, tag usage |
Benchmarking Against Competitors
The "Competitors Overview" feature provides a side-by-side comparison of organic performance metrics, helping businesses evaluate their standing against competitors.
AI Content Suggestions
Iconosquare’s AI analyzes high-performing content from competitors to offer actionable recommendations. These suggestions help brands identify trending themes and formats in their industry, making it easier to create content that resonates with their audience.
Pricing Options
Iconosquare has several pricing plans to suit different needs:
| Plan | Monthly Cost (Annual Billing) | Competitor Analysis Features |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | $33 | Track 1 competitor per social profile |
| Scale | $69 | Unlimited competitor benchmarking |
| Excel | $116 | Advanced analytics + unlimited tracking |
| Agency | Custom pricing | Enterprise-level solutions |
Advanced Tracking Features
The platform’s AI tools monitor critical areas like posting frequency, tag usage, and engagement rates (excluding saves). These insights allow businesses to make informed decisions and maintain a competitive advantage in their market.
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5. Keyhole
Keyhole is an AI-driven tool designed to help businesses track and compare Instagram competitors effectively. With a 4.4 out of 5-star rating, it turns competitor data into practical insights.
AI-Powered Competitive Intelligence
Keyhole uses its AI capabilities to analyze competitors through several core features:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Social Listening | Tracks mentions, hashtags, and campaign results |
| Sentiment Analysis | Evaluates audience opinions about competitor brands |
| Performance Metrics | Monitors post frequency, engagement rates, and follower growth |
| Campaign Tracking | Measures competitor campaign success and ROI |
These tools are brought together in a clear analytics dashboard, making it easier to act on the data.
Advanced Analytics Dashboard
Keyhole’s dashboard provides visual reports that let brands compare their performance to industry leaders. It offers detailed tracking of engagement trends, content impact, and brand reputation.
Client Success Stories
"Keyhole.co is an invaluable tool for competitive benchmarking and seeing where we stack up in the space", says Qianna Smith-Brunneteau, Director of Social Media & Strategy at US Open, USTA.
Pricing Options
Keyhole offers flexible pricing plans to suit businesses of different sizes:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | $179 | Small to medium businesses |
| Corporate | $539 | Larger organizations |
| Enterprise | $999 | Enterprise-level needs |
Strengths and Areas for Improvement
Strengths: The platform stands out for its detailed dashboards, user-friendly design, flexible pricing, and real-time tracking.
Limitations: Some downsides include limited PDF export options, slower customer support responses, and basic plans with fewer tracking features.
"When sharing post-campaign metrics with the executive team and client partners, I can easily track the success of our marketing efforts with hard numbers, 'we touched this many people, this is how much engagement we drove,' thanks to Keyhole", says Katherine Shaoul, Billboard.
6. Socialbakers (Emplifi)
Emplifi, previously known as Socialbakers, delivers AI-driven Instagram competitor analysis and is trusted by over 20,000 brands. It simplifies complex data into actionable insights, helping businesses make smarter decisions.
Key Features for Competitive Analysis
Emplifi’s platform offers several tools to analyze competitors effectively:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Comparisons | Compare up to 10 Instagram profiles to see how you stack up |
| Audience Data | Dive into demographics like age, gender, and city |
| Content Insights | Track top-performing posts and ad spending |
| Benchmarking | Quickly set up benchmarks across multiple competitors |
| Monitoring | Get daily updates on key metrics |
All these features are integrated into Emplifi’s dashboard, turning real-time data into practical insights.
Unified Dashboard for Performance Metrics
The dashboard allows brands to evaluate their performance against competitors by tracking KPIs across platforms and comparing them to industry averages.
Real-World Success
Brands using Emplifi see measurable results. For instance, Bath & Body Works achieved a 25% increase in community growth, reduced response times by 38%, and boosted conversions by 46%.
Pricing Options
| Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
| Essential | $200/month |
| Smart | Custom pricing available |
| Scale | Custom pricing available |
| Integrated 360 | Custom pricing available |
Expert Perspective
"Without knowing content resonance, marketers risk misdirecting their investments. Socialbakers is providing marketers with smart, data-driven recommendations to help them maximize their business impact on Instagram." - Yuval Ben-Itzhak, CEO, Socialbakers
Driving Business Results
With Emplifi’s insights, social commerce teams can double their efficiency and generate four times more revenue. This is achieved by tailoring content strategies to audience data, ensuring every post resonates.
7. Brandwatch
Brandwatch stands out from other tools by offering long-term historical insights and its AI assistant, Iris. This platform uses social data to deliver clear, actionable insights. With features like Iris, it takes competitor analysis to the next level.
AI-Powered Competitive Intelligence
Brandwatch includes several advanced features:
| Feature | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Historical Analysis | Combines past and real-time data to predict trends |
| Sentiment Analysis | Uses AI to classify social conversations as positive, negative, or neutral |
| Trend Detection | Spots emerging patterns in competitor strategies |
| Audience Segmentation | Groups audiences by demographics and engagement |
| Content Analysis | Automates insights into competitor strategies |
Advanced Benchmarking Capabilities
Brandwatch also excels in benchmarking, using data from over 300,000 brands across major social platforms. This helps businesses see where they stand in the market and uncover growth opportunities.
Iris AI Assistant
Iris, Brandwatch's AI assistant, supports users by providing recommendations for content strategies, analyzing competitors, and tracking hashtags.
Real-World Impact
"Brandwatch provides us with billions of different customer views that we can use across a number of different products and propositions and strategies and anything else that we want to work with."
– Adam Mills, B2B Brand Strategy and Insight, BT Group
Business Solutions
Brandwatch offers flexible plans to suit different business needs. Pro plans start at $800 per month, while Enterprise solutions begin at $3,000.
Long-Term Insights
With access to a decade of social media data, Brandwatch provides a deep understanding of industry trends and competitive patterns.
Hilton's experience highlights the platform's user-friendly design and effectiveness:
"For us at Hilton, one of the key differentiators of Brandwatch is ease of use. Iris Conversation Insights is another example of an innovative new feature that is clean, simple but effective, helping us to gain insight into conversation faster."
– Alejandro Garcia De Leon, Senior Manager, Social Intelligence, Hilton
8. Rival IQ
Rival IQ provides Instagram competitor analysis tools that help marketers measure their performance against others in their industry.
Core Analytics Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Performance Tracking | Tracks likes, comments, Stories, IGTV, and posts |
| Engagement Metrics | Measures profile link clicks, Story performance, and follower trends |
| Competitive Analysis | Delivers automated insights and competitive rankings |
| Campaign Monitoring | Evaluates Instagram ad performance and demographic data |
Benchmarking and Reporting
One of Rival IQ's standout features is its ability to study competitor strategies in detail. It includes customizable dashboards and scheduled exports to simplify reporting. Teams can keep an eye on competitors’ posts and profiles in real-time, ensuring they stay updated on market trends.
This functionality is supported by pricing options designed to meet a range of needs.
Pricing Plans
Rival IQ offers three pricing tiers, with discounts for annual subscriptions:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | $239 | Track 10 companies, access 6 months of history, 1 user |
| Engage | $349 | Track 20 companies, access 12 months of history, 2 users |
| Engage Pro | $559 | Track 40 companies, access 24 months of history, 5 users |
Integration Options
Rival IQ works with tools like Buffer and Hootsuite, enabling users to publish content directly from the platform. Its Social Insights API allows businesses to integrate social metrics into existing applications. These features help users make the most of their data and streamline their workflows.
User Feedback and Impact
Rival IQ's tools have earned praise for their practical benefits. One user shares:
"Rival IQ is a game-changer. Incredibly useful intelligence about the digital activities and successes of your competitors, delivered quick, easy and smart."
Ease of Use
The platform is designed with user experience in mind. Drew B., a Director of Marketing, highlights its efficiency:
"Rival IQ has built-in some amazing integrations with social platforms. It's been tremendous to compare multiple accounts in aggregate and against competitors."
9. Synthesio
Synthesio stands out in Instagram competitor analysis with its AI-powered tools for social intelligence and competitor tracking.
Key Analytics Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Topic Modeling | Tracks conversations using AI, going beyond simple keywords |
| Real-time Monitoring | Keeps tabs on competitor actions and audience perceptions |
| Share of Voice Analysis | Compares your brand's presence to competitors |
| Sentiment Analysis | Analyzes audience reactions and feedback |
| Content Performance | Tracks engagement using Synthesio Beam |
Advanced AI Tools
Synthesio uses AI to process data from both online and offline sources. Its Topic Modeling tool digs deeper than basic keyword tracking, offering insights into market trends and competitor strategies.
Global Reach and Market Presence
As of 2025, Synthesio supports over 174 companies worldwide. Here's a snapshot of its market share in major regions:
| Region | Market Share |
|---|---|
| United States | 48.37% |
| United Kingdom | 16.34% |
| France | 15.69% |
Industry Ratings
Synthesio has received high marks from industry review platforms:
| Platform | Rating |
|---|---|
| G2 | 4.3/5 |
| Capterra | 4.6/5 |
| PCMag | 4.5/5 |
| TrustRadius | 8.8/10 |
Proven Results
Synthesio's capabilities have delivered measurable outcomes. For example, Delta Airlines secured a 50.48% Share of Voice compared to its top five competitors using Synthesio's analytics.
User Feedback
Users appreciate Synthesio's robust analytics and flexible visualizations, though some mention a learning curve. Charles Besson, L'Oréal's Global Insights & AI Director, shared his experience:
"Ipsos Synthesio saves marketers time with actionable insights and faster access to data."
Integration Options
Synthesio integrates with third-party apps via public APIs, making it easy to fit into existing workflows. Workato integration adds automated tasks and pre-built templates for enhanced functionality.
Competitive Advantages
Synthesio empowers brands to:
- Monitor competitor product launches and market responses
- Address negative press about competitors
- Spot market opportunities
- Make informed strategic decisions
These features position Synthesio as a powerful tool for Instagram competitor analysis, offering brands the insights they need to stay ahead.
Tool Comparison Chart
Here's a detailed comparison of top AI-powered Instagram competitor analysis tools. Use the tables below to evaluate their key features, pricing, and specialties side by side.
Core Features Comparison
| Tool | Core Data Points | Unique Capabilities | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| UpGrow | • AI-driven growth tracking • Real-time analytics • Smart targeting |
Live dashboard with 24/7 monitoring | Organic growth & follower analysis |
| Sprout Social | • Performance analysis • Unified analytics |
Combines organic and paid data insights | Enterprise & large teams |
| Iconosquare | • Customizable dashboards • Multi-network analytics |
Intuitive interface with flexible reporting | Mid-sized businesses |
| Social Status | • Industry benchmarks • Competitor insights |
Focuses on data-driven marketing | Data-driven marketers |
| Metricool | • Post analytics • Competitor benchmarking |
Integration with Looker Studio | Budget-friendly option |
| ContentStudio | • Multi-channel analytics • Content curation |
Influencer outreach tools | Comprehensive analytics |
| Agorapulse | • Engagement tracking • ROI metrics |
Google Analytics integration | Social media managers |
| Brand24 | • Web mention monitoring • Sentiment analysis |
Tracks over 25+ million sources | Reputation monitoring |
| Vista Social | • Instagram analytics • Publishing tools |
White-label reporting | Team collaboration |
Now let’s break down the pricing details to see which tool aligns with your budget.
Pricing Structure (as of March 2025)
| Tool | Starting Price | Free Trial | Notable Package Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| UpGrow | $39/month | Yes | Growth guarantee |
| Sprout Social | Custom pricing | 30 days | Enterprise-level features |
| Iconosquare | $49/month | Short trial | Customizable dashboards |
| Social Status | $29/month | Yes | Basic analytics tools |
| Metricool | $12/month | Yes | Essential features |
| ContentStudio | $49/month | 14 days | Multi-channel management tools |
| Agorapulse | $99/month | Short trial | ROI tracking capabilities |
| Brand24 | $79/month | Yes | Comprehensive web monitoring |
| Vista Social | $19/month | Yes | Collaboration-focused features |
Finally, review how well these tools cover specific performance metrics.
Performance Metrics Coverage
| Analysis Type | Number of Tools Supporting | Top Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Competitor Analysis | 9/9 | Social Status |
| Real-time Monitoring | 7/9 | UpGrow |
| Hashtag Tracking | 8/9 | Metricool |
| Content Performance | 9/9 | Iconosquare |
| Audience Insights | 8/9 | Sprout Social |
| ROI Tracking | 6/9 | Agorapulse |
Each tool excels in different areas. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
- Analytics & Competitor Insights: Go with Social Status or Iconosquare.
- Content Management: ContentStudio is great for multi-channel needs.
- Budget-Friendly Options: Metricool and Vista Social offer affordable plans.
- Enterprise Features: Sprout Social is ideal for large-scale analysis.
- Growth Tracking: UpGrow provides real-time monitoring.
- ROI Focus: Agorapulse specializes in ROI tracking.
- Brand Monitoring: Brand24 is perfect for reputation tracking.
Pricing and feature details are accurate as of March 2025 and may change over time.
Summary and Recommendations
Based on the analysis, here’s a breakdown of tools suited for different business needs:
- For Small Businesses & Startups: UpGrow is a budget-friendly option starting at $39/month, with an impressive 4.98/5 rating from over 58,000 reviews. Its real-time monitoring and smart targeting features make it a solid choice for those focusing on organic growth.
- For Mid-Size Companies: Iconosquare stands out with its ability to deliver detailed insights into competitor strategies, making it ideal for businesses looking to expand their analytical capabilities.
- For Enterprise & Agencies: Sprout Social offers in-depth, cross-platform insights, perfect for enterprise-level competitive intelligence and broader strategic needs.
These recommendations ensure businesses of all sizes can access tools tailored to their goals.
What to Consider When Choosing a Tool
When selecting the right tool, keep these factors in mind:
- Budget & Trial Options: Look for tools that fit your budget and offer trial periods or guarantees. For instance, UpGrow’s $39/month plan with a money-back guarantee is a low-risk starting point.
- Key Features: Identify your priorities - whether it’s real-time tracking, content performance analysis, or competitor benchmarking - and choose tools that excel in those areas.
- Integration: Opt for tools that easily integrate into your existing workflow and consolidate analytics for smoother operations.
Stay focused on performance metrics that lead to actionable insights. As Instagram evolves, pick tools that regularly update their features to align with platform changes and keep you ahead of the competition.
