Market research has come a long way from the times of survey takers standing on street corners and going door to door with clipboards. It changed even more when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, as qualitative research and focus groups moved online. And now, it’s almost impossible to collect data successfully without the right market research technology.
The type of research you do and the industry you’re in will obviously have an effect on the types of software you need. But at the most basic level, there are three market research technology tools you should consider to eliminate manual processes and streamline your program from start to finish.
It has become commonplace for surveys to be distributed online, regardless of whether they’re collecting data on customer preferences, consumer behaviors, or political opinions. There are countless survey platforms with different user experiences, features, and price points, so there’s surely something for every researcher. Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, and Alchemer are a few favorites.
If you need ongoing feedback or are conducting more in-depth studies, an insights community can help you maintain engagement over time. It also offers the flexibility of collecting data — including qualitative data — in different ways, such as interactive conversations and online focus groups, as well as the opportunity for gamification. Again, there are many options, including those that focus on the customer or employee experience. Your choice of platform will depend on the duration, goals, audience, and budget for your research. Some popular providers include Krealinks, Tivian, Alida, and My-Take.
Whatever survey or community platform you choose, it’s useless if you don’t have enough engagement. Incentives are a tried-and-true method for increasing survey response rates and participation in insights communities, but managing them can be tedious and time-consuming for researchers. That’s where digital incentives and a rewards management platform, like BHN Rewards, come in handy. You can curate, send, and track your incentives, all in one place. For community managers, it’s important to make sure your incentives platform supports points-to-rewards, which is the preferred way to manage your budget while encouraging ongoing engagement. It’s also great for gamifying the tasks you need members to complete.
READ MORE: What else should you look for in an incentives management platform? Download our Buyer’s Guide to find out!
Each of these platforms can save you a lot of time, allowing you to focus more on your research and the valuable conclusions it produces. But to truly streamline and optimize your programs, the ideal approach is to integrate your market research technology. When you
choose survey, community, and incentives tools that work directly with each other, you can automate incentives delivery, saving you more time and hassle. Even communities with points programs can automate the awarding of points and, once a member reaches the preset threshold, the delivery of their reward. By integrating these tools, you’ll set yourself up for success with all your research programs.
Ready to upgrade your research technology? Check out all the survey, community, and other research tools that integrate with BHN Rewards.
Hannah is a reformed journalist who has more than 15 years of experience and now focuses on content marketing for innovative tech companies.
Hannah is a reformed journalist who has more than 15 years of experience and now focuses on content marketing for innovative tech companies.
