International Company Rankings

Get key business intelligence for strategic planning from international company rankings
By Mike Tracy You can't help but think of major energy companies and large financial institutions when thinking about the top 50 international companies. Lists of the top international businesses are easy to find. Trade and professional associations, popular and business magazines and business-focused websites provide company rankings. Profiles of these companies can be especially useful in strategic planning.

Knowing who's on the list of the best international companies is key business intelligence. The data on the top international companies tells you who’s on top and why in international business. Company profiles for the top 10 international companies, top 100 international companies or even the top 500 international companies can provide key tips on how learn to build a better business. Among the things to keep in mind are:

1. International company rank provides clues to best and worst business practices.

2. Information on the top international companies offers useful market intelligence.

3. International company rankings can help you find new partners, customers or other business relationships.

Locate sources of international company ranking

There are many publications and agencies for ranking international companies. Find out whether your company is on any of them. If it's your goal to get ranked, look at the top ten international businesses and learn their secrets to success.
Try:  At Forbes, you can find Global High Performers that stand out from peers in growth, return to investors and future potential. You can also find data on the world's 2,000 largest companies and other business categories. The free Hoover’s Index for top international businesses is based on amount of online activity. It focuses on companies that are creating a buzz in their markets. You can access by location as well as by other parameters.

Analyze the rankings of the top international businesses for best practices

International company rankings often include detailed company profiles. Use them to strengthen business intelligence. Study the profiles and other key company information for ways you can improve your business processes.
Try:  Dun & Bradstreet offers Selectory, an online business-to-business application with detailed company profiles for international firms. You can find data about more companies from more countries in the Mergent Online databases. You can search by country or business sector.

Search international company rankings to find possible business connections

It makes good business sense to do business with the best. The perfect place to look for potential partners are lists of the best international companies. They identify the most successful business in each market sector.
Try:  FT.com, the online version of the Financial Times, cites the world's most respected companies. Innovation and staying power in a weakening economy characterize these top businesses. In addition to international business rankings in several categories, Inc.com offers information to companies looking for business partners and investors.

• Remember that international company rankings reflect the ranking institution's criteria. You might want to research the subjectivity of the ranking agency based on past listings.