Catapult launches new survey tool
Catapult Systems Corp., Austin, Texas, has introduced Inquisite, a survey tool that allows users to createelectronic surveys and distribute them via the Internet, E-mail, corporate network or reply-by-mail diskette. When a survey is complete, responses are automatically collected and inserted into an open relational database, allowing users to analyze the results using built-in statistical and drilldown reports. The progam helps beginning users develop new questionnaires with a built-in survey wizard, pre-defined survey templates and a variety of sample questions and surveys. Advanced users can develop surveys using skip logic, branching, and data validation features.
New features for TimeTrends
A Forecast Warehouse Module has been added to TimeTrends, a forecasting system for Windows, by ALT-C Systems, Inc., Montreal. Geared to companies moving towards an Open Data Systems standard, as well as those seeking Year 2000 compliance in their forecast application, the Forecast Warehouse Module provides an ODBC-compliant, Internet-enabled data storage and administration environment. Utilizing 32-bit code written in Visual C++, this multi-user capablemodule utilizes the MS-Access (.MDB) data format as the database. The forecasting database can be created electronically by querying any ODBC-compliant corporate or external database, whether it be an enterprise system ERP), MRP system,data warehouse or other, using databaseenvironments such as Oracle, SQL Server, and others.
Designed as a relational database system supporting multi-dimensional queries, the Forecast Warehouse can store individual item histories, forecasts, overrides, promotional information, annotations and different versions of the same, along with accuracy calculations and user-defined fields containing data replicated from the host system. Users can execute pre-defined or ad-hoc SQL queries into the database to create custom views of the data, as well as create their own calculations such as day’s supply, inventory stockturns, standard cost of forecast error, pro-forma revenue change and more.
Database navigation functionality includes "drag and drop" hierarchical roll-up structures and gaphics. Data processing functionality such as batch processing of forecasts is included. Users may also create aggegate or summary level tables as needed, to combine bottom-up and top-down forecasting.
Non-specialized users or remote users may choose to use data entry forms to supply forecast-related informarion to the TimeTrends database. These forms can be customized using MS-Access or Lotus Notes. Designed to run under W’mdows 95 or Windows NT, the software is network-compatible.
Shareware edition of survey package available
A shareware edition of E-Form Version 1.0, a data collection progam from Beach Tech that allows users to collect information such as survey and retistration forms via E-mail, is now available for downloading. The shareware version displays a promotional message in E-mail forms and is limited to 50 participants. When you purchase E-Form you receive a key that unlocks all features and removes the promotional message.
Saja Software intros Email module
Saja Software, Inc., Longmont, Colo., is now shipping Survey Select Web/E-mail Module 1.0, a new product that allows users to conduct electronic surveys from Web sites and via E-mail. Survey Select Web/E-mail works together with the company’s Survey Select software progam, allowing users to incorporate survey capabifities within Web sites and conduct surveys with recipients around the world through E-mail.
After a survey is designed, Survey Select Web/E-mail allows the survey to be generated into an HTML format thatcan be placed on the Web site. The survey administrator can perform formatring changes or export the survey to a more sophisticated progam for customized formats. Once a respondent has completed a survey on the Web site or through E-mail, they click the "submit" button and the survey will be sent back to the survey administrator. The survey answers can then be imported directly into Survey Select for analysis with no data entry.
KD1 debuts Retail Discovery Suite
Knowledge Discovery One (KD1), Inc., Austin, Texas, has released its Retail Discovery Suite of client/server decision support applications. The Retail Discovery Suite provides retailers a detailed understanding of their advertising, merchandising, assortment, inventory, promotion, and vendor performance issues. The Retail Discovery Suite is made up of application modules that share a common architecture and intuitive user interface. KD1’s applications are capable of supporting thousands of users and large volumes of data through a parallel design.
KD1’s Retail Discovery Suite consists of:
BASKETdynamics - A full-function transaction analysis system for measuring performance at the store/ transaction level and above. Market basket profit, revenue, margin, and product affinities are among the more than 170 different measurements displayed through an intuitive application user interface. Basic and advanced decision support functionality is organized by major reporting categories such as advertising effectiveness, inventory, basket performance, vendor performance, assortment profiling, etc. Custom categories, measurements and reports can be easily added.
PROMOTIONdynamics - A promotional forecasting and what-if analysis application for understanding how promotional items behave at the store level. Through a detailed understanding of historical performance, PROMOTIONdynamics allows the user to optimize the factors that affect the promotion, and see how different promotion strategies will affect sales at the store level. Promotional forecast output files can be generated for integration with installed inventory replenishment systems.
BEHAVIORdynamics - A customer profiling and target marketing application. Where the customer identity is known, this application provides profiling, loyalty, and segmentation models and measurements.
BASKETdynamics and PROMOTIONdynamics are available now. BEHAVIORdynamics will be available
during the second quarter of 1998.
New Web site evaluation tool
Griggs-Anderson Research, Portland, Ore., has introduced WebMetrics, a Web site evaluation tool designed to gather information on site visitor interest, ease of use, and satisfaction. It also profiles visitors to determine whether the site is attracting its target demographic. The product uses Griggs-Anderson’s Internet data collection tool, NetReturu, for capturing information from site visitors. Through NetReturn, a link is programmed onto the site to allow for random exposure to the survey. Once the link is established, the survey will be site activated for a set period of time. Reactivation of that survey can be accomplished with very little notice.
North American youth study from Angus Reid
Toronto-based Angus Reid Group plans to conduct an in-depth study of youth and popular culture in North America. Titled the "popCulture report," the annual study will provide clients with insights into the latest signs, symbols and trends in pop culture. The study combines a number of different qualitative methodologies including interviews with business elite, on-site ethnogaphic research and focus goups. The first phase involves 50 business elite interviews with key North American fignares in fashion, music and media. Then, the study team will visit seven major undergound centers in North America to observe and interview patrons of clubs, bars and lounges. The final portion of the study will test the findings of the first two phases against the reality of mainstream youth via 23 focus groups across Middle America and suburban Canada.
Data Entry, AnswerTree from SPSS
SPSS Inc., Chicago, has introduced SPSS Data Entry, a data collectionproduct that allows users to design and process questionnaires. Surveys are created using "drag and drop" forms design. The progam provides online forms to speed keyboard entry. Data cleaning roles check both the logic and accuracy of the entered data while skip and fill rules guide entry through only the relevant questions. SPSS has also introduced AnswerTree, a tree classification product which finds segments, builds profiles, predicts outcomes and uncovers patterns in data. The product contains four decision tree algorithms for a total of eight decision tree methods, each working best with certain types of data so users can apply the right algorithm for each situation. With a dynamic interactive tree progarn, users can identify and examine key goups in their data.