Implementing a surveillance and intelligence system is not just a matter of ‘putting a radar’ into operation.

It involves transforming scattered information into concrete decisions that help your organisation innovate, anticipate and compete better.

However, in practice we see something very common:

Systems that are set up with great enthusiasm… and after a few months are hardly used, generate noise instead of useful information, or fail to reach those who actually make decisions.

Why does this happen?

In many cases, it is not a problem of tools, but of approach.

Unclear objectives, poorly defined filters, lack of review, or a total disconnect between surveillance and the organisation’s strategy.

We have compiled the four most common mistakes when implementing a surveillance system, explained in simple terms to help you avoid them from the outset.

This can be the starting point for turning your monitoring system into a truly strategic tool, rather than just another half-finished project.

Without a specific purpose, monitoring becomes a meaningless accumulation of information.

Before you start, you need to answer the following questions: Why are we monitoring? What do we want to monitor? What decisions do we want to improve with this information?

Here are the four most common mistakes we see when implementing it:

Not defining clear objectives

Without a specific purpose, monitoring becomes a meaningless accumulation of information. Before you start, you need to answer the following questions: Why are we monitoring? What do we want to monitor? What decisions do we want to improve with this information?

Do not filter or validate information.

Collecting data is not enough. Without filters or validation, information loses credibility. This is where the analyst plays an essential role, establishing filters tailored to your needs and identifying information that is strategic for the organisation.

Failure to perform regular maintenance on sources and keywords

A monitoring system is not something you set up once and leave to run. The environment changes, new information sources appear and others disappear, and key terms evolve along with the market. Failure to regularly review and update sources and keywords causes the system to become obsolete and fail to pick up relevant signals. Keeping it alive and adapted is what ensures that it remains a useful and strategic tool.

Not sharing results with those who need them
A great system is useless if the information does not reach those who need to use it. Distribution and communication are the final link in the chain and the ones that truly convert information into useful knowledge.

Conclusion:

A successful surveillance system is not built solely on technology, but on method, purpose and collaboration. Because surveillance is not just about watching: it is about knowing how to interpret what you see.