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FAQ GIA Germany

Want to get to know us better? We're pleased to address some common questions here, openly and truthfully.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about GIA Germany:

1. What is the history of GIA’s office in the Germany?

2. How does GIA Germany compare with your competitors?

3. Who are some of your local clients in Germany?

4. Describe some of your recent client work for clients in Germany, Switzerland and Austria

5. Who heads up the Global Intelligence Alliance operations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria?

6. How can I contact GIA in Germany?

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1. What is the history of GIA’s office in the Germany?

Global Intelligence Alliance’s representation in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. began as Gayer Consulting, which was set up by Carsten Gayer in Essen and Bonn back in 1995. The company served clients such as Siemens, Bosch, Bayer and 3M Deutschland, as well as public institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Economy and the Federal Environment Agency. Gayer Consulting became a GIA Member company in 2004 and eventually officially merged with Global Intelligence Alliance Group in January 2009.

The newly established subsidiary was renamed Global Intelligence Alliance Germany GmbH and GIA officially launched its German language website for the benefit of local customers and interest groups in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

GIA Germany combines proven local expertise, in terms of sources, methodologies and markets, with the high end structures and processes of an expanding and truly global company. Clients in Germany, Switzerland and Austria immediately received access to a ‘one-stop service’ for their market intelligence needs, ranging from market monitoring services and software to strategic analysis and rapid response research.

Specifically, this covers market entry studies, market sizing and segmentation, market forecasting, opportunity analysis, investment feasibility studies, market database creation, competitive intelligence, competitor profiling, voice-of-the-customer research, M&A evaluation, business expansion strategy, supply chain analysis, value chain analysis and marketing strategy.

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2. How does GIA Germany compare with your competitors?

GIA Germany truly lives up to the word Global in the company name. Our global network enables clients to assess markets from Brazil to China or Vietnam.

We are often called upon to advise strategic research and planning projects on Germany, Switzerland or Austria and international markets, focusing on market entry, market sizing and forecasting, competitive intelligence, competitive landscape analysis, competitor profiling, partner analysis, pricing and positioning, branding as well as supply chain analysis.

In addition, GIA also helps clients set up and run all the different aspects of their market intelligence and strategic analysis operations – in ways that maximize the value clients invest in the operations while minimizing the hassle related to managing them.

This is something no other company can do for clients to the extent that GIA does.

Clients benefit from our experience working together with large companies around the globe, as illustrated in our case studies. In addition, clients can access over 1,000 industry experts through GIA’s global network, which spans over entire value chains in 11 industries:

Automotive
Chemicals
Construction & Property Development
Consumer & Retail
Energy, Resources & Environment
Financial services
Logistics & Transportation
Manufacturing & Industrial
Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
Private Equity
Telecommunication, Technology & Media

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3. Who are some of your local clients in Germany?

We have done work for 3M Deutschland, H.C. Starck or Demag Cranes. We serve companies such as Bosch and Philips on an ongoing basis.

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4. Describe some of your recent client work for clients in Germany, Switzerland and Austria?

A British retailer planned a market entry to Germany by acquiring a DIY superstore in Germany and needed to understand the local market leaders’ policies of pricing and range of goods.

GIA helped to conduct store checks in three selected branches of each of three market leaders chosen, based on market size, location and selected product groups. Utilizing thorough briefing and pre-defined elicitation templates, GIA was able to provide rapid benchmarking of the most recent assortment selection decisions and marketing parameters of the acquisition target and its local competitors. Service availability analyses, store pictures and layout diagrams were delivered to give the customer a comprehensive understanding on the target company and its competitors.

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5. Who heads up the Global Intelligence Alliance operations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria?

Carsten Gayer, Business Management Director and Business Unit Director (Essen) oversees GIA Germany, covering also Switzerland and Austria.

For over 20 years, Carsten has worked with global clients and world-leading management consulting firms, providing research, strategic analysis and consulting services. He ranks among the pioneers in Germany in utilizing both secondary and primary research methodologies in market intelligence.

Carsten began his career at McKinsey & Company’s Research and Information Division, before he established his own Research and Consulting Company in 1995 (Gayer Consulting). Gayer Consulting later went on to become one of the founding members of the GIA network in 2004.

In addition to his work for major industries such as engineering, automotive and chemicals, Carsten has also advised on the development and implementation of Strategic Marketing Concepts in public institutions in Germany.

Carsten is also the author of several publications on Market Intelligence; Market Research Methodologies and Marketing Strategy. Carsten speaks fluent German and English and intermediate French.

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