Our client was advising a mining company on strategic investment options in the metallurgical coal industry. The Smart Cube was retained to provide industry perspective in North America and specific company insights. The study, encompassing both primary and secondary research, analyzed the global demand and supply for the commodity, market structure (players, size, market share etc.), pricing movement and product substitution. We also forecasted ten year implications of changes in coking technology, outbound logistics, and the role of Asian demand/supply.

Our client was advising a global top five bank on regional growth strategies. The Smart Cube was engaged to assess banking trends and key success factors across regions and segments of the global banking industry. The qualitative phase of the assignment focused on macroeconomic/demographic trends, regulatory issues, technological changes, customer behavior and competitive trends across various sub-segments of the banking industry. The quantitative phase required us to model the historical profitability of various banking segments using financial/operating parameters and making assumptions to normalize the reporting formats of regional banks. The two-pronged approach helped the client benchmark the performance of various banking sectors in different regions, a critical input into their final recommendation to the bank.

Do celebrity endorsements work? How can their effectiveness be measured in tangible terms? What should be the fee structure for such deals? A consulting firm engaged us to provide insights on these questions and some more, specifically in the US health and wellness category. We adopted a case-study approach and studied details of nearly 30 deals, ensuring adequate representation of A-list, B-list and non-celebrity deals. We looked at success stories and failures to understand what should be the key drivers for celebrity selection (emotional connect, credibility, fame quotient, public image). We provided a framework for calculating ROI on celebrity deals and also evaluated the financial impact of some high-profile deals on their respective brands. It was a structured view on a topic that is rarely, if ever, subject to such detailed scrutiny.

An accounting and consulting company wanted to understand the global fuel cells market with specific focus on the US and Europe. The Smart Cube was engaged to explore the fuel cells market and evaluate penetration levels in key market segments - sail boats, motor homes, caravans, material handling vehicles and truck manufacturers. We established contact with key industry stakeholders to understand their perspective on the fuel cells market and conducted structured interviews with a select list of members in the market segments defined by the client. The data gathered through the interviews was then analyzed to derive key industry trends and build a perspective for the client

Our client was advising a North American conglomerate on investment opportunities in the North American bio-diesel industry. The Smart Cube was engaged to develop an industry understanding focusing on the existing value chain, competitive landscape and the regulatory environment. This included a detailed analysis to determine economic feasibility of bio-diesel using sensitivity analysis of feedstock and crude oil prices. Key findings of the study included a 2010 outlook based on expected changes in the competitive landscape, global demand-supply balance, feedstock availability and the dynamic regulatory environment.

Our client wanted to evaluate acquisition opportunities in the global fiber, textile and leather chemicals market. The Smart Cube was engaged to estimate market size, growth, and identify key trends and drivers. We were also required to analyze research and development trends and benchmark key players. In a parallel stream of work, the target company was also studied in detail to help understand its strategic focus, product offering, financial strength and culture. The study was almost entirely based on primary research.

Our client has outsourced its annual M&A report that covers the consultancy market. This report is the main marketing tool that the firm uses to reach out to current and prospective clients. It analyzes the underlying trends in M&A activity in the European consulting market. We de-spiked the data set, calculated and analyzed multiples, categorized deals and deal drivers, identified "hot" niche sub-sectors within the industry, and most importantly, gleaned the "whys" behind the trends.

The Smart Cube has been providing outsourced research services to a European procurement consulting firm where a team of analysts support consultants on a weekly basis. Majority of the work is to assist the consultants analyze and understand complex, unstructured supply markets. We work in parallel with the client's project team to provide them a head start and validate their hypothesis. In addition to supply market analyses we undertake spend tree analysis, supplier search and identification, detailed supplier profiles, financial diligence of suppliers, sourcing trends analysis, and support for business development initiatives.

Our client asked us to undertake an evaluation of the bargaining power of advertisers in Russia. We analyzed four major media categories - TV, Outdoor, Print and Radio. Each category overview included market size and growth, value chain and key players, and trends that had the potential to impact bargaining power (regulations, structural changes, capacity utilization, pricing and consolidation activity). A directional input on bargaining power of advertisers vs. media-owners was useful for the end-client to prepare their case for media buying in the different categories.

Our client wanted to study the janitorial and trash collection services market in the US. The Smart Cube was engaged to assess market dynamics and develop sourcing implications for buyers of this category. We studied and analyzed the markets from the supply side based on secondary research and primary interviews. The study involved identifying the service offerings by large and small industry players, typical go-to-market models, cost structure of janitorial service suppliers, and typical pricing models for waste collection and disposal services. We also modeled the economics of waste collection and disposal services in the US and developed implications for government buyers of janitorial and trash collection services.