••• tracking studies
SmartTracker integrates data sources
Third-party, customer, CRM
Research Now, Plano, Texas, has launched SmartTracker, a solution that allows users to connect tracker survey data to data sources for more relevant insights. SmartTracker maintains data consistency from existing research studies and leverages supplemental data to provide new insights without changing existing surveys. It allows new tracker studies to be designed with a more robust view of consumers, with benefits such as shorter, more-focused surveys. The types of data SmartTracker can integrate include: third-party data – such as segmentation, financial, life stage, automotive – to broaden and deepen understanding of consumers and enhance analysis; Research Now first-party profile data to supplement or replace existing survey questions; advertising exposure data to increase understanding of impact of ads on key brand metrics, read the pulse of the market regarding the impact of advertising creative and optimize and drive improvement of advertising ROI; and customer data – such as sales and CRM data – to link survey data directly with known behaviors.
••• data analysis
Firms partner on video analysis solution
Explore themes, conduct sentiment analysis
Los Angeles-based research platform Fuel Cycle has launched a new video capture and analysis capability designed to reduce the amount of time required to analyze videos. In partnership with video research firm Voxpopme, Fuel Cycle’s video solution gives brands access to transcribed and time-coded video data. Video can be captured by mobile, tablet, laptop and desktop devices from the Fuel Cycle platform, without the need to install plugins or additional mobile apps. Video analysis results include: transcription – transcribing of spoken words minutes after a response is recorded, with the ability to create word clouds to reveal key phrases; theme explorer – automated organization of content into key topics to find the best video snippets, with easily-accessed time-coded transcripts and thematic analysis; sentiment analysis – determine the attitude of respondents, creating a sortable and searchable picture of how users answered questions; advanced search and filter – explore all transcribed results and reach insights, with the ability to pass searchable additional data or add custom tags to individual videos that allow similar responses to be collated.
••• data analysis
Software uses machine learning, automation
No seats or licenses
Auckland, New Zealand, research solutions firm Infotools has introduced Infotools Harmoni, a research analysis software that uses machine learning and automation to help researchers spend less time preparing data and more time generating insights. Some features include: data agnosticism – Infotools Harmoni supports a range of data sources, including live connections and APIs into data collection tools such as Decipher, Dimensions and SQL, allowing users to adopt the platform with their existing data collection tools; data integration – the platform harmonizes data from multiple sources into one data set, reducing the amount of time spent preparing sources; machine learning – the software learns preferences, naming conventions, data structures and more and applies these to existing and new data sets through its machine learning capabilities to ensure researchers can focus on strategic value-add; real-time insights – the software shares knowledge and information through visualizations and analysis that can be updated whenever new data is available, creating real-time stories and dashboards; a new pricing model – users don’t pay for seats or licenses but instead pay only for their actual use.
••• qualitative research
20|20 Research enhances QualBoard
Version 4.0 includes diary and journaling tools
20|20 Research, Nashville, Tenn., has launched the first phase of QualBoard version 4.0. QualBoard is the company’s digital platform for asynchronous qualitative discussions and activities. The first set of capabilities available in the enhanced platform is a tool for ethnographies, diaries and journals. These individual activities were designed with a streamlined interface, making it simpler for the researcher to design the questions and more intuitive for the participant to respond. The tool also includes options for more question types, as well as enhanced logic and skip patterns, including those based on keywords in open-ended text. Additionally, the design means diary and journal entries can be more easily managed on any device without the need to download a mobile app. And, by using the analytics engine within the platform, researchers can take advantage of concept and keyword extraction, as well as sentiment analysis, to assist with reporting.
••• research software
New tools for academic researchers
The Mesearchr suite
Technology company iPug, San Francisco, now offers Mesearchr, a software platform designed for academic researchers. The suite of research and project management tools allows researchers to gather data, organize information, communicate and collaborate from one central work space. A secure and HIPAA-compliant online form builder is designed to enable efficient data collection and surveys on any device. Data can be stored in Mesearchr or exported to statistical packages, including SPSS. Organization tools for managing work from anywhere replace analog forms and offer a way to plan projects, tasks, campaigns and interventions. Further, collaboration features enable researchers to build projects and surveys with team members, add team members, industry partners or supervisors, assign tasks, share reports and work together in one central workspace. And the Mesearchr platform enables instant communication no matter where team members are located, with a secure channel to comment and discuss specific tasks or data points to keep conversations relevant and focused.
••• Briefly
Shelton, Conn., researcher SSI has launched its Survey Capabilities Demo, allowing those who need survey design and programming to test the company’s capabilities without going through a linear survey or speaking with a sales person.
Data science firm 0ptimus will match Reston, Va., firm comScore’s television ratings and digital measurement with 0ptimus’ custom modeled audiences, allowing 0ptimus more in-depth political targeting on an individual basis across all marketing channels, including TV and digital.
Plano, Texas, firm Research Now has released an enhanced version of its DIY platform Samplify. Enhancements include a survey authoring tool designed to be used without special research expertise, while the drag-and-drop interface to author surveys allows marketers to reach consumers 24/7.
Auburn Hills, Mich., researcher Gongos Inc. initiated a partnership with GDS Group to roll out its Decision Intelligence Customer Experience (DICE) Assessment at GDS’ CMO Insight Summit. The exercise was designed to help executives assess how their organizations perform on 11 measures related to operationalizing customer centricity. Gongos is currently working on rolling out its DICE Assessment tool more universally to clients and executives.
Plano, Texas, firm Research Now has launched a Hispanic panel and has formed a partnership with mobile membership platform SABEResPODER (SEP), a division of URWelcome Technologies. Through the partnership, Research Now and SEP will provide access to Hispanic consumers across 50 U.S. markets. The Hispanic panel will be segmented across a variety of demographic, psychographic, attitudinal and acculturation variables.
Nielsen, New York, will begin using real-time smart TV data from Gracenote to enhance the audience-targeting, consumer analytics and measurement capabilities of Nielsen Marketing Cloud’s Data Management Platform (DMP). The Nielsen DMP connects Gracenote viewership data to Nielsen, first- and third-party consumer data for person-level consumer insights, as well as integrated paid and owned media platforms for marketing activation.
Franklin, Tenn., firm Harpeth Marketing has launched the Cup of Coffee Tip Sheets, a new series of marketing resources. Each one-page sheet includes information on a marketing or sales topic.
Wilton, Conn., researcher Toluna has launched PowerPack, a do-it-yourself tool that provides marketers with feedback on package design concepts directly from the consumers most relevant to their brand.
YouXtools, a new venture start-up of San Jose, Calif., research consultancy UEGroup, has introduced the youXtools platform. The platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to allow product teams to visualize and analyze real-time customer interactions and move to action.
Los Angeles research firm Alter Agents has published a new e-book, It’s Not You, It’s Me: Shopper Promiscuity in Context, available on the firm’s Web site.
India-based research company Borderless Access has launched proprietary panels in Egypt, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S. The panels range from demographics to special attributes like mobile, auto ownership, IT, B2B and travel as well as social media behavior, mobile devices and other digital parameters.
Wilton, Conn., researcher Toluna has introduced Insights on Demand, a business concept and market category. As part of the Insights on Demand initiative, Toluna will be collaborating with industry thought leaders and creating additional educational resources.
Chicago-based research and consulting firm Technomic Inc. has launched Transaction Insights, a platform that provides the restaurant and food service industries with business performance metrics across the top 200 restaurant chains. The platform includes consumer-level purchase data from a longitudinal panel of over 3 million consumers, representing up to 18 million food service visits per month.
Nielsen, New York, has launched Marketing Budget Explorer, a media budget forecasting solution. The Web-based simulation tool allows brand marketers to evaluate combinations of marketing allocations and budget options to make more informed media planning decisions.
In London, Harris Interactive has launched PackTest Express, a solution that allows clients to better test the impact and design of new packaging. Clients can improve features, messaging, claims and price to maximize sales on launch and to better understand the overall strengths and weaknesses of their packaging concepts.
VICE Voices, the Millennial insights panel created by research company Lightspeed and VICE Media, is now available in the U.K. The platform will be extended to Australia in the coming months, with additional markets to be added across 2018.
The innovations team at U.K. research company Join the Dots now offers Caption, a Snapchat-inspired photo augmentation tool that uses a selfie and comment format. Caption expands Join the Dots’ social media-inspired tool kit, which also features a range of qualitative and quantitative emoji-based tools.
Chicago-based researcher IRI has enhanced its E-Market Insights measurement and insights solution. The enhanced solution includes insight into sales performance and trends across online platforms at the domain (.com) level, allowing for analysis across e-commerce retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Staples.
Aragon Research Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., has introduced Visual Research, a new offering that combines traditional text-based research documents with videos that explain key concepts, technology trends and insights for faster learning, reinforcement and stronger knowledge retention.
Canada-based company TechSci Research has launched Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Surveys & Research Services to help businesses measure customer satisfaction levels.
Provo, Utah, software firm Qualtrics has introduced new solution-level packaging based on experience program maturity and corresponding feature levels. The solution levels include best practices and recommendations learned in implementations to help organizations develop their experience management programs. Each level outlines the features and capabilities needed at each stage of program maturity so customers can find the best match for their needs and scale or adjust the program in the future.