Acquisitions/transactions
Accenture has acquired Byte Prophecy, an automated insights and big data analytics company based in Ahmedabad, India.
Alliances/strategic partnerships
Consumer research and analytics company Nepa has partnered with RealityMine, a behavioral data technology provider, to enhance its Omnichannel Path to Purchase and Nepa Digital Pulse solutions.
PossibleNOW, a provider of direct marketing compliance solutions, has partnered with Numeracle to extend measures to improve the accurate presentation of vetted and verified business calls.
Association/organization news
The Insights Association (IA) announced that the Texas Supreme Court has rejected a lower court’s order against a law firm for a supposed “push poll,” concluding that the survey respondents for the study were randomly selected. IA had filed amicus briefs in the Texas Supreme Court as well as in the lower court of appeals in 2016 in defense of research in this case. Brewer v. Lennox Hearth Products LLC et al., Case No. 18-0426, was heard in the Texas Supreme Court.
ESOMAR has partnered with TUAD and global associations to mark International Market Research Day on May 2. This year, the day involves a two-week digital observance across social media and through a number of digital events, webinars and meetings.
The Insights Association has issued guidelines for reopening for U.S. insights businesses. They cover general workplace requirements and recommendations, as well as those specific to hosting focus groups and conducting other in-person qualitative research. “In-person qualitative research is a critical tool in gathering insights, and reopening these facilities is a must for the health of our profession,” said Insights Association CEO Melanie Courtright in a statement posted on the IA website. “IA stands prepared to support the reopening of in-person research facilities any way we can.” Read more.
The Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) has partnered with Women in Research (WIRe). Through the partnership, CRIC will access the WIRe 50/50 database to help eliminate bias from speaker selection. Additionally, CRIC will promote WIRe events and as well as the WIRe Global Scholarship Fund.
The Market Research Society has released guidance for conducting face-to-face research safely and according to the U.K. government's safe working guidelines. Read more.
The Association of Market and Social Research Organisations (AMSRO) today announced that the AMSRO Polling Inquiry has released an Interim Discussion Paper recommending reforming disclosure standards for election polling.
Thanks to the generosity of individuals and organizations throughout the marketing research industry, the Marketing Research Education Foundation has made initial gifts to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada of $35,000 and $10,000, respectively. Both organizations are working to address the significant increase in people throughout North America facing hunger as a result of the pandemic.
The Insights Association has called for Congress to approve “temporary and targeted liability limitations for businesses as we slowly reopen America” and provide businesses that are making a reasonable effort to follow government and public health guidelines “a safe harbor from unwarranted COVID-19-related lawsuits." In a letter to the U.S. House and Senate, Insights Association CEO Melanie Courtright said that reopening insights businesses that have been forced to shut down in-person work is "a top priority for the insights industry." IA's guidelines for reopening insights businesses, including in-person qualitative research facilities, are a step in limiting risk to businesses, staff, clients and participants, but "adequate government-provided liability protection will still be needed for our industry to return to anything approaching prosperity." Read the full letter.
Awards/rankings
Royal Oak, Michigan-based research firm Gongos Inc. was named a “Small Giant” on Forbes’ Small Giants list, created in partnership with the Small Giants Community. This year's list highlights small companies in the U.S. that "chose greatness over growth."
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finalists for the 2020 Marketing Research and Insight Excellence Awards will not be required to attend the award ceremony to accept the awards in person. Nominations are now being accepted. The awards are open to all researchers worldwide. Learn more at quirksawards.com.
New accounts/projects
Advertising and brand research firm Phoenix Marketing International has become a gold-level sponsor of the Marketing Research Education Foundation with an $18,000 gift. The MREF is a foundation dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for children.
The Global Research Business Network has launched its revised Participant Engagement Handbook, ENGAGE 2.0 – 30 tips to improve the research participant user experience.
Confirmit announced that its Confirmit Horizons platform has been selected by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants for customer insights.
Quirk’s Media has launched the Quirk’s Event Virtual, an online version of the Quirk’s Event that will take place on July 14-16, 2020. Additionally, the Quirk’s Event Chicago has been postponed until June 2-3, 2021.
The Certification Institute for Research Quality has awarded recertification to Fort Washington, Pa.-based M3 Global Research for compliance to ISO 20252:2019, a standard for market, opinion and social research, including insights and data analytics.
London-based Firefish Group has joined the Mindful Business Charter, a movement of organizations collaborating to foster better working practices for mental health and well-being.
Data collection firm GDCC has consolidated its U.S.-based call centers into an entirely work-from-home enterprise. As of April, all 300 interviewing stations are staffed by interviewers that are dialing from remote locations. Separately, the company announced that Lisa Mancini has been promoted to vice president of operations, North America.
New companies/new divisions/relocations/expansions
Audient Company, a consumer data mining and marketing company, has now launched.
The Australian Market and Social Research Society has rebranded to The Research Society. The organization will keep its former name in its constitution but will operate with The Research Society as the new trading name.
Online survey software company IntelliSurvey has launched its Agency Solutions Group, a business unit serving research agencies.
DoubleVerify, a software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics, has opened an office in Japan and has appointed Takashi Takeda to launch and lead business operations in the new location.
Research company earnings/financial news
Marcom group WPP reported a 4.9% decrease in first quarter revenue due to the pandemic, with a 3.8% decrease in like-for-like revenue.
AI-driven customer service startup ASAPP Inc. has completed $185 million in a Series B funding round, bringing the company’s total funding to $260 million. The latest round included participation from investors John Doerr, John Chambers, Dave Strohm and Joe Tucci, along with Emergence Capital, March Capital Partners, Euclidean Capital, Telstra Ventures, HOF Capital and Vast Ventures.
Measurement firm Nielsen reported that revenue for the first quarter of 2020 decreased 0.3% on a reported basis and increased 1.5% on a constant currency basis.
Media measurement company Comscore reported revenue of $89.5 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $102.3 million in the prior-year quarter. The company reported a GAAP net loss of $13.2 million, which includes a $4.7 million non-cash impairment charge on certain property leases, compared to a net loss of $27.5 million in the prior-year quarter.
SVMK Inc., parent company of SurveyMonkey, reported revenue for the first quarter of 2020 at $88.3 million, an increase of 29% year-over-year.
Forrester Research Inc. announced its 2020 first-quarter financial results, reporting total revenue of $106.3 million, compared with $100.6 million for the first quarter of 2019.
According to a survey by ESOMAR, insights professionals forecast a reduction in turnover for 2020 of up to 22% for all research-related businesses and of 11% for research users or clients, bringing the predicted loss of value for the sector to $18.7 billion in one year.
Otonomo, an automotive data services platform, has completed a $46 million Series C funding round led by SK Holdings, Avis Budget Group and Alliance Ventures with participation from existing investor Bessemer Venture Partners.