An industry analyst is a researcher employed by a firm such as Gartner, Forrester or IDC who studies a technology or services market and advises buyers within it, typically under a subscription model.
Analysts publish written research, take inquiry calls with subscribing clients, speak at their firm's events, and in many cases author the comparative evaluations that shape shortlists in their markets. Their remit is defined by coverage — the specific markets and vendor sets they are responsible for.
Industry analyst vs. financial analyst
The two share a job title and almost nothing else.
A financial or equity analyst assesses a company as an investment and serves shareholders. An industry analyst assesses a company as a supplier and serves buyers. A vendor can be an excellent investment and a poor shortlist candidate, and the two analyst types will say so independently without contradicting each other.
Why it matters
The industry analyst is paid by your buyer, not by you. Every interaction in analyst relations runs on that asymmetry, and most of the mistakes in the discipline come from forgetting it.
It explains why briefings are free and advice is not. It explains why an analyst will take your call and then decline to tell you what they think. And it explains why the relationship cannot be bought — the thing being sold is independence, and a firm that traded it would have nothing left to sell.
Related: Analyst relations · Coverage · Inquiry · Client-side vs. vendor-side analyst
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