Every investigator has been there: dozens of open tabs, multiple search tools, and critical data scattered across different systems. The volume of public data is growing, but so is the complexity of navigating it. As online investigations become more demanding, investigative teams increasingly seek ways to increase the efficiency of their processes, ensuring no key detail is overlooked while saving on costs. One approach gaining traction across industries is the “platform approach,” which consolidates tools and workflows into a single, efficient environment.
The platform approach is a simple yet powerful concept: it consolidates the tools and workflows needed for a worker—in our case, an internet investigator—into one unified environment. Instead of toggling between search engines, social platforms, notepads, and countless analytical tools, with the platform approach, everything is accessible in one place.
Consider this scenario:
An SIU investigator working on an auto fraud case needs to verify a claimant’s reported injuries. They start by manually searching social media, switching between different platforms to find photos, videos, or other relevant data. Then, they log into a separate service to surface additional data and confirm their findings. Next, they use a separate link analysis tool to map out connections between the claimant and possible associates. By the time they compile all their findings, hours have been lost—and key connections could still be missed.
Now, imagine that same investigator using a platform approach. With a single query, they instantly see entity-based digital records mapped together in real time. Instead of spending time on manual searches and data entry, they can focus on analyzing key insights and accelerating response.
But why bother? How much time and money does application toggling actually cost? The answer is: more than you might think. According to a 2022 Harvard Business Review article, professionals waste nearly four hours each week toggling between applications, an activity that not only wastes time and resources but also causes fatigue and disrupts deep focus. For investigative teams, that means delayed decision-making, overlooked connections, and wasted budgets.
A centralized platform removes that friction. With such tools, investigators can pivot seamlessly from entity research to link analysis to reporting, all without switching tabs or exporting data across tools. This reduces errors, streamlines workflows, and increases the overall efficiency of investigative teams.
When applied to open-source investigations, the platform approach addresses some of the field's most persistent challenges: data overload, tool sprawl, and inconsistent results.
A mature OSINT platform should support:
Each of these functions should not operate as separate modules with separate logins. The power comes from how they talk to each other, like how a public record uncovered in a people search automatically informs a network chart, or how digital behaviors flagged by a situational awareness tool can drive deeper investigation workflows in an entity investigation solution.
Consolidating tools allow investigators to work more fluidly and with greater confidence in their findings, while reducing the risk of missing key details hidden in disconnected systems.
Why It’s Essential as OSINT Evolves
The need for a platform-based approach has become even more urgent as the volume and complexity of public data explodes. Investigators now need to surface actionable insights from sprawling digital footprints—often under tight time constraints. Siloed tools simply can’t keep up.
Skopenow’s product research reveals that investigative software must now handle:
A platform approach directly addresses all three. It ensures cost-effective scalability as teams grow or case volumes increase. It standardizes processes across investigations, supporting quality and consistency. Finally, it ensures transparency so every action taken and data point found is documented and repeatable.
Platforms like Skopenow are designed from the ground up for these needs. Investigators can query thousands of data sources, generate visual link analysis, and export findings in seconds, all without leaving a single interface.
In the modern investigative landscape, traditional workflows that require jumping between disparate tools are unsustainable. The more fragmented the process, the greater the risk of missing critical connections and the less efficient the process.
A platform-based approach to OSINT offers a path forward. By unifying essential investigative functions, including real-time threat detection, entity investigations, and link analysis, organizations can reduce inefficiencies, improve accuracy, and adapt to emerging threats faster.
As more industries adopt this model, the question is how quickly their OSINT practitioners can implement one. Forward-thinking teams are already shifting, recognizing that a unified investigative workflow is necessary for any organization conducting public data investigations. As expectations for thoroughness and speed grow, so does the need for unified, purpose-built tools that reduce complexity, not add to it.
Join over 1,500 organizations, including 20% of the Fortune 500 and numerous large government agencies, that rely on Skopenow's automated OSINT platform to automatically collect and process relevant publicly available information and make better decisions. Learn more and schedule a personalized demo today at www.skopenow.com/try.