The challenge
Specialist benchmarking often contains years of accumulated methodology. Questions change, historical series matter and reports can be extensive. Replacing the underlying technology should not mean discarding that history or transferring substantive expertise to a software supplier.
When the collaboration began in 2021, the platform therefore had to accommodate existing research structures and historical data as well as future changes.
The approach
District-heating benchmarking was implemented first, followed by water benchmarking. Historical data were imported so that earlier research periods could remain part of the working environment where methodologically appropriate.
The Survey Tool was adapted to handle historical questionnaire versions. Questions can change between periods while the programme retains the structure needed to work with earlier data. Conditional fields and reporting also allow different programmes to be handled within the same study structure.
Individual reports are generated automatically. Some are highly extensive, reaching around 150 pages, which makes automation particularly valuable.
Who does what?
Rödl — Owns the benchmarking methodology, operates the research, validates submissions, determines peer groups, performs the substantive analysis and can adjust questionnaires, calculations, dashboards and reports.
Compare to Compete — Provides the Survey Tool, supports historical-data migration and the technical implementation, and supplies support when Rödl needs it.
What the programme delivers
Rödl can operate specialist benchmarking without depending on C2C for day-to-day research work. At the same time, the platform removes repeated technical work from data collection and report production.
This is a deliberately technology-led collaboration. Rödl does not outsource its benchmarking expertise to Compare to Compete. It uses Compare to Compete to make that expertise scalable.
The case is therefore especially relevant to consultants and advisors that already have a strong methodology but need infrastructure to repeat it efficiently.
Why this case matters
Rödl shows that C2C can function as infrastructure for specialist expertise rather than trying to replace that expertise.