In addition to the 'standard' methodologies of telephone surveys, web surveys and focus groups, WestGroup also offers a variety of other technologies and services. Listed below are some of those services, and we encourage you to contact your WestGroup representative for more information.
Perception Analyzer
The Perception Analyzer is a computer-supported, interactive feedback system composed of wireless hand-held dials for each participant, a console, special software which edits questions, collects data and analyzes participant responses.
The system is used to allow participants to record their reactions to any form of test material (e.g. advertising, new product concepts, etc.) using hand held dials which have a wireless connection to a PC. Information is translated into data and graphic output, which is presented in real-time to both the group moderator and viewing client.
Benefits of the Perception Analyzer
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Promotes honest communication and full participation through a nonverbal and anonymous feedback technique
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Total group participation increases attention
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Eliminates the bias verbal exchanges or hand raising produce
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Group responses are displayed in easy to read graphic formats
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Immediate aggregate results show participants' level of comprehension, agreement or differences of opinion
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Unique method of analyzing continuous material, such as presentations or video.
Potential Applications:
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Advertising evaluation;
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Concept testing;
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Jury research;
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Discussion facilitation of any kind;
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Voting;
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Product Testing;
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Spokesperson/Personality evaluation;
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Speech/Presentation evaluation;
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Program evaluation.
IVR - Interactive Voice Response
IVR technology enables researchers to collect data 24 hours a day without the expense of interviewers. IVR is an automated phone system handling both inbound and outbound survey calls, collecting respondents' answers via telephone touch-tone pad for fast, clean, inexpensive data. Applications include:
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Customer satisfaction surveys — especially useful immediately following customer contact
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Collection of mystery shopper results
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Automated follow-up to product placements
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Employee "climate" surveys
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Recording of respondents' verbatim comments electronically
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Political polling:
Since our system was customized for our clients' research needs, programming and data processing are simple, resulting in low front- and back-end costs as well.
Mystery Shopper Studies
Determine how to improve sales and service performance. Professional shoppers make personal visits or telephone calls to your place of business, follow a pre-determined scenario, and objectively rate the quality of service and sales effort.
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Identify your company's strengths and weaknesses.
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Objectively measure sales and service performance.
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Document additional information such as facility appeal, how long a customer had to wait, or the number of times the phone rang before being answered.
This evaluative tool assesses the quality of service.
The Shopper Study is a valuable training tool. It is very important to adopt a "catch employees doing something right" approach to the study. If implemented before you begin any in-service training, the Shopper Study will pinpoint areas needing improvement which can then be effectively addressed and corrected through training. Applied as a tracking study, ratings tell the story of improvements and downfalls over time. In a competitive environment, a Shopper Study can also supply information about the strengths and weaknesses of competitors, revealing specific opportunities and threats for your institution.
Product Testing
Get everything right before putting it on the shelf. Performance, packaging, advertising, and promotion all must be finely tuned before market entry.
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Position your product for best market performance.
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Learn about competing products and how they are perceived by current and target users.
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Test product performance and likely repurchase.
WestGroup offers a depth of knowledge in the area of product research. In many respects, package goods companies have lead the way in developing new research techniques over the past 40 years.
A product is usually positioned to meet certain needs and to accomplish certain performance characteristics. WestGroup's product testing is designed to determine how well the product performs and how it compares to competitive products.
In Services Marketing, the consumer "goes into the factory" and observes the product "being made." In Product Marketing, the consumer finds the finished product sitting on the shelf and ready to perform.
No one is present in the grocery store to explain how the product will or should work. Advertising and packaging must perform those tasks.
