What to set up first
Competitive research automation works best when you define these four things before adding more tools:
- monitoring targets
- research instructions
- notification destinations
- sharing format
Monitoring targets
Start with 3–5 themes to keep the workflow manageable. It is easier to compare changes when the source list stays stable instead of shifting every cycle. Seed URLs: Usage and Examples is the practical guide for locking that list.
Research instructions
Templates help keep research quality stable. Define what you want to know and the time range to check. For the exact wording pattern, How to Write Effective Research Instructions is the best reference.
Notifications
Use Slack / Teams or another destination your team already uses. The practical rule is to reserve instant alerts for only the changes that actually need fast review. How to set up Webhooks (Slack, Teams, generic) covers the delivery setup.
Sharing format
Choose a format that fits the team: PDF, Word, TXT, or API output. If the results need to feed dashboards or internal tooling, the API Reference will help you define the integration boundary early.