A tool to alert management to early warning of both threats and opportunities. A crystal ball. There is no such thing as a true forecasting tool. It does not predict the future. A means to deliver reasonable assessments.
Competitive intelligence offers approximations and best views of the market and the competition.
It is not a peek at the rival's financial books. Reasonable assessments are what modern entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson, Bill Gates, and Michael Dell need, want, and use on a regular basis. They don't expect every detail, just the best assessment at the time. Of course it is wonderful to have these remarkable tools. Nevertheless, databases do not massage or analyze the data.