🔍 02 — Competitive Intelligence
Section Purpose: Deep research and analysis of competitor platforms — primarily Wego and Skyscanner — covering their product design, business models, technology stacks, and strategies that can inform our platform build.
Documents in This Section
| # | Document | Description | Read Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | wego-skyscanner-mechanics.md | End-to-end analysis of how Wego and Skyscanner work as flight meta-search platforms — data sources, aggregation, tracking | ~10 min |
| 2 | wego-intelligence-report.md | Deep competitive intelligence on Wego — product surface, supply side, monetization, SEO, traffic data, tech stack | ~15 min |
| 3 | wego-metasearch-blueprint.md | Condensed blueprint summarizing competitive parity, architecture, unit economics, risks, and phases | ~3 min |
| 4 | wego-build-blueprint.md | Comprehensive “what to build” plan derived from Wego intelligence — positioning, architecture, economics, moats, capital needs | ~15 min |
Suggested Reading Order
flowchart TD
A["1. Wego Intelligence Report\n(Raw Evidence)"] --> B["2. Wego/Skyscanner Mechanics\n(Industry Patterns)"]
B --> C["3. MetaSearch Blueprint\n(Quick Reference)"]
C --> D["4. Build Blueprint\n(Actionable Plan)"]
- Start with wego-intelligence-report.md — the deepest raw evidence on Wego
- Compare patterns in wego-skyscanner-mechanics.md — what’s common across both platforms
- Quick summary via wego-metasearch-blueprint.md — condensed reference
- Action plan in wego-build-blueprint.md — converts intelligence into strategy
Key Insights Summary
Wego Profile
[!NOTE]
- ~4.7M monthly web visits, 40% from Saudi Arabia
- #1 travel app in MENA — 196K GCC downloads (May 2025), 2.6M MAU
- Hybrid model: meta-search + “Book on Wego” on-platform checkout
- 170+ partners across the GCC, covers Emirates/Etihad/Qatar/IndiGo
- Tech: Postgres, Debezium CDC, Redpanda, Kong, AWS, Java/Go microservices
Skyscanner Profile
[!NOTE]
- Searches 1,200+ travel providers
- Uses create/poll progressive loading pattern
- Impact for affiliate tracking and commission settlement
- Quality Rating Score from user surveys (91-day rolling window)
- Sells Travel Insight data products from search + redirect logs
Common Patterns (Non-Negotiable for Any Meta-Search)
[!IMPORTANT]
- Async search sessions with progressive result loading
- Strict deeplink discipline for monetization
- Closed-loop click tracking (click ID → conversion → reconciliation)
- Price accuracy management as a core product quality metric
- Programmatic SEO with route-specific landing pages
Quick Flashcards
What is Wego's primary regional moat?
Traffic concentration in Saudi Arabia (40%) and strong GCC adoption.
What is Skyscanner's Two-Deadline model?
A progressive loading pattern using create/poll to return an initial fast subset and then continuously update results.
What is "Book on Wego"?
An on-site/in-app checkout feature that acts as a hybrid OTA layer within the Wego metasearch platform.
Related Sections
- 📦 01 — Supply Strategy — How supply models map to competitor implementations
- 💰 03 — Feature & ROI Analysis — Feature prioritization informed by competitive research
- ✅ 04 — Competitive Parity — Feature gap checklist derived from competitor analysis