Comparative Analysis Table
A Comparative Analysis Table makes the differences between related systems and yours visible at a glance. Required by most BSIT/BSIS programs.
Comparative Analysis Table
What this section does
Presents at-a-glance comparison between the related systems and the proposed system. Usually placed at the end of the Related Systems section as Table 2.1.
Table 2.1 - Comparative analysis of related systems
| Feature | Square | Loyverse | Odoo POS | Proposed System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMS notification | No | No | No | Yes |
| Offline mode | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Monthly cost | USD 60+ | USD 35 | Free | Free |
| Localised for PH SME | No | Partial | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | No | Yes | No |
How to choose features for comparison
Use the features that matter to YOUR scope and that the panel will question. Typical rows:
| Row category | Example |
|---|---|
| Core features | Ordering, inventory |
| Your distinctive feature | SMS notification |
| Cost / licensing model | Subscription, freemium, free |
| Deployment model | Web, desktop, mobile |
| Offline operation | Yes / No |
| Localisation / language | English-only, Filipino, multi-language |
Reading the table
The proposed system should NOT win every row. If it does, the panel will think the table is rigged. It is fine to be 'No' on some rows that are genuinely out of scope.
Caption + paragraph
After the table, add a one-paragraph summary:
Table 2.1 shows that while the proposed system shares core ordering and inventory features with commercial alternatives, it is distinguished by zero recurring cost, SMS notification, and localisation for small Philippine bakeries. The trade-off is the absence of integrated payment processing, which is out of scope for this study (see Chapter I, Section 4.2).
Panel defense checklist
- [ ] Table is numbered (Table 2.1) and captioned.
- [ ] Headings include the proposed system as a separate column.
- [ ] Rows cover the features that matter to your scope.
- [ ] Cells are Yes/No or short - no paragraphs.
- [ ] Proposed system does not win every row.
- [ ] Differences are explained in a follow-up paragraph.
- [ ] Table is referenced in the body text ('see Table 2.1').
Mentor’s tip: A 5-7 row table with related systems as columns, your features as rows. Be honest about gaps. Add one paragraph after the table explaining the trade-offs you made.
Discussion
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