Global trade data provides one of the most straightforward ways to understand your competitors and their buyers. It reveals product categories being shipped, departure and arrival ports, shipment volumes, and even the names of foreign purchasers. Once you know the company name and confirm they are indeed buyers, the next steps in outreach become much simpler.

In addition, global trade data allows you to track and analyze your existing customers' activity—covering past purchase frequency, order volumes, and transaction prices. For example, if the data shows that a customer typically receives shipments every February, you can work backwards by factoring in production cycles, customs clearance, and shipping times (roughly 20 days for Southeast Asia or the U.S. West Coast, and around 40 days for many other regions). This insight suggests that September–October is likely their peak ordering season—an ideal time to promote new products or special offers.

Of course, identifying target customers is only the first step. To accelerate negotiations, you need to reach the right decision-makers. Many basic trade data providers don't include contact details, leaving you to search manually on Google. More advanced platforms, however, integrate executive-level contact information—emails, LinkedIn profiles, and more—directly into their databases, saving time and improving efficiency.

Before reaching out, conducting background research on prospects is essential. By leveraging trade data, you can understand their needs, product focus, and buying behavior. When you reference specifics about their company and shipments during a call, it demonstrates genuine preparation and interest, significantly increasing the chances of building trust.

Take WORLD MEDICINE ILAC SAN VETIC A S as an example: using the Tendata global trade data platform, you can immediately view its major import products, volumes, order values, suppliers, and shipping trends. This helps assess their purchasing power and long-term potential, while trade trend analysis guides the best timing and approach for outreach—making initial conversations much smoother.

MIGHTY JAXX offers another case: Tendata allows continuous monitoring of competitors' transactions, helping you track their buyers and evaluate trade dynamics in real time. This enables businesses to spot opportunities early, mitigate risks, and gain a competitive edge in customer acquisition.