www.showvoc.op.europa.eu

                                                                   

Platform URL: https://showvoc.op.europa.eu/ 1

The COCOO-ShowVoc Doctrine: A Strategic Model for Sectoral Classification and Market Definition

This doctrine establishes the protocol for interrogating ShowVoc, the EU’s official platform for browsing and understanding statistical classifications. This is not a database of companies; it is the master key that unlocks precise, data-driven sectoral analysis across our entire intelligence arsenal. We will weaponize this platform to define our battlefields with surgical precision, ensuring that every search on every other platform is perfectly targeted. This platform is the mandatory starting point for all our Benchmarking, StealthConsolid, and FOC DAM strategies, providing the official language of market definition used by EU and UK regulators.

1. Core Principles of Interrogation

Our use of ShowVoc is governed by the most foundational principles of the COCOO framework. We are not just looking up codes; we are defining the market to dominate it.

  • Precision as a Weapon: In competition law and market analysis, the definition of the relevant market is everything. ShowVoc provides us with the official, harmonized NACE codes (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community) used by Eurostat, DG COMP, and national statistical offices. 1 Using the correct code is the difference between a vague, easily dismissed complaint and a surgical, evidence-based attack.
  • The Benchmarking Blueprint: The mind maps demand deep Benchmarking and Porter analysis. 1 ShowVoc provides the blueprint. By identifying the precise NACE code for an industry (e.g., C29.10 – Manufacture of motor vehicles), we can then use that code on platforms like Eurostat to pull the exact financial and operational benchmarks for that entire sector across the EU.
  • The StealthConsolid Hunting Licence: To hunt for StealthConsolid operations in highly segmented markets, we must first define the hunting ground. 1 ShowVoc allows us to drill down to the most granular 5-digit NACE codes (e.g., G47.76 – Retail sale of flowers, plants, seeds, fertilisers, pet animals and pet food in specialised stores) to precisely define a niche market. This code then becomes our primary search key on other platforms to identify all players and detect hidden consolidation.
  • The Cross-Platform Intelligence Bridge: ShowVoc is the Rosetta Stone that connects our intelligence platforms. A NACE code identified here is the key that unlocks sectoral searches on the EC Competition Cases database, Eurostat, and can be mapped to national SIC codes for use on the UK’s Companies House. It allows us to build a 360-degree view of an entire industry.

2. Weaponizing the Platform’s Arsenal: Capabilities and Search Rules

The power of ShowVoc lies in its clear, hierarchical structure and its status as the definitive source for EU classifications.

  • Official Search Rules & Functionality: The platform is a browser, not a complex search engine. The “rules” are about understanding and navigating its structure.
    • Rule 1: Hierarchical Navigation: As seen in the screenshot, the primary interface is a hierarchical tree structure. 1 Users navigate from broad sections (e.g., C - MANUFACTURING) down to specific classes. This allows us to understand the context of any given industry and identify related sectors.
    • Rule 2: Keyword Search: The platform includes a Search bar that allows for keyword searching within the classification descriptions. This is the fastest way to find a relevant code if the industry is known (e.g., searching for “pharmaceuticals” to find Section C, Division 21).
    • Rule 3: Definitive Codes: The platform provides the official, multi-level NACE Rev. 2 codes. These are the codes used in official EU statistics and regulatory filings. Understanding this structure is key:
      • Section (Letter): e.g., K - FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE ACTIVITIES
      • Division (2-digit): e.g., 64 - Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding
      • Group (3-digit): e.g., 64.1 - Monetary intermediation
      • Class (4-digit): e.g., 64.19 - Other monetary intermediation
    • Rule 4: Correspondence Tables: The platform provides correspondence tables that allow us to map NACE codes to other international and national classification systems (like the UK’s SIC codes). This is a critical function for cross-jurisdictional analysis.

3. Strategic Interrogation: The Questions We Ask

We interrogate ShowVoc to get the precise market definitions that will arm our subsequent intelligence gathering.

  • For Benchmarking & Competitor Analysis:

    • “What is the precise NACE Rev. 2 code for companies involved in ‘data processing and hosting’? This will allow us to pull accurate financial benchmarks from Eurostat.”
    • “Our target is in the ‘manufacture of plastics’. What are all the 4-digit sub-classes within this division, so we can analyze each niche separately for competitors?”
    • “How does the UK SIC code for ‘management consultancy activities’ (70229) correspond to the NACE classification system?”

  • For StealthConsolid & MATOIPO Analysis:

    • “We suspect consolidation in the private dental care market. What is the most specific NACE code for ‘dental practice activities’?”
    • “A private equity firm is acquiring software companies. What are the different NACE codes that fall under ‘Information and Communication’ (Section J) so we can track their activity across different software verticals like ‘web portals’ (63.12) versus ‘business and domestic software development’ (62.01)?”

  • For FOC DAM & Systemic Harm:

    • “A group of farmers has been harmed by the buying power of major supermarkets. What are the specific NACE codes for ‘growing of vegetables’ versus ‘growing of fruits’ so we can segment our FOC DAM campaign and gather specific evidence for each group?”
    • “A new regulation has harmed the ‘manufacture of textiles’ (Division 13). What are the sub-classes (e.g., ‘weaving of textiles’, ‘finishing of textiles’) to identify the most impacted sub-sectors?”

4. The COCOO-ShowVoc Strategic Playbook: A Model for Action

The following playbooks provide standardized workflows for using ShowVoc as the foundational layer of our intelligence operations.

Playbook A: The “Market Definition” Protocol (Mandatory First Step)

  • Objective: To establish the precise, official NACE code for any market before conducting further analysis. This is a non-negotiable first step.
  • Execution:
    1. Identify Target Industry: Start with a description of the market (e.g., “companies that make car batteries”).
    2. Keyword Search: Use the ShowVoc search bar with keywords like “battery,” “automotive,” “vehicle.”
    3. Navigate the Hierarchy: The search will point to relevant sections. Navigate the tree structure to find the most specific and accurate code. Example: C – MANUFACTURING -> 29 – Manufacture of motor vehicles -> 29.3 – Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles -> 29.31 – Manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment for motor vehicles.
    4. Log the Code: The definitive NACE code (e.g., 29.31) is now logged in the case file.
  • Strategic Outcome: This protocol ensures all subsequent sectoral analysis is built on a foundation of official, harmonized data. It eliminates ambiguity and ensures our Benchmarking and Competitor Analysis are accurate and defensible before regulators.

Playbook B: The “Cross-Platform Intelligence” Bridge

  • Objective: To use NACE codes as the master key to link intelligence across multiple platforms, creating a 360-degree view of a sector.
  • Execution:
    1. Define the Market: Use Playbook A to identify the NACE code for the target sector. Example: J62.02 – Computer consultancy activities.
    2. EU Regulatory Search: Pivot to the EC Competition Cases database. Filter by Economic activity (NACE) using code J62.02. This instantly reveals all past EU merger, antitrust, and state aid cases in that exact sector.
    3. EU Statistical Benchmarking: Pivot to Eurostat. Use the NACE_R2 filter to select J62.02. Extract data on the number of enterprises, turnover, and profitability for that sector across all EU countries.
    4. UK StealthConsolid Hunt: Use the correspondence tables to map NACE J62.02 to its UK SIC equivalent (62020). Pivot to Companies House Advanced Search and filter by this SIC code to get a complete census of all UK competitors.
  • Strategic Outcome: This playbook demonstrates the immense power of ShowVoc as a central hub. The NACE code acts as a universal key, unlocking layers of legal, financial, and corporate intelligence from multiple other platforms that would be impossible to connect otherwise.

Playbook C: The “Niche Market” Identifier

  • Objective: To identify and define hyper-specific, fragmented markets that are prime targets for StealthConsolid operations or niche USPs.
  • Execution:
    1. Identify Broad Area: Start with a broad sector known for fragmentation. Example: F – CONSTRUCTION.
    2. Drill Down: Navigate the ShowVoc hierarchy. Move from F - CONSTRUCTION -> 43 - Specialised construction activities -> 43.2 - Electrical, plumbing and other construction installation activities.
    3. Isolate the Niche: Identify a hyper-specific niche. Example: 43.22 - Plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation. This is a market often comprised of many small, local firms.
    4. Launch the Campaign: This specific NACE code is now the basis for a new intelligence campaign. We can use it to:
      • Search for all UK companies with the equivalent SIC code to see if a private equity firm is buying them up.
      • Analyze Eurostat data to see if the profitability of this sub-sector is being squeezed by large materials suppliers.
      • Develop a USP for a trade association in this sector, offering a new certification or business development framework.
  • Strategic Outcome: This playbook allows COCOO to move beyond obvious markets and identify unique, underserved niches. It provides the precision needed to detect subtle market trends and create highly targeted, high-value strategic opportunities.

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