Services
Research & Database
It’s the ‘data’ that matters.
Unique, authoritative data powers competitive advantage:
- Clients use data to sell subscriptions - which are non-cyclical, high margin and predictable
- Marketing teams use customer and prospect data to power their campaigns - bad data is a big, hidden cost
- World-class customer service requires detailed client profiles at the front lines
- Top management use market data to plan new lines of business and start-ups
How do you get the data you need at the right price?
Lowering the cost of data research:
iPacesetters use rightshore economics, process reengineering and automation to bring down the cost while improving the content quality.
- Rightshore
Data research requires lots of people doing routine work with consistent levels of quality. That spells rightshore. But that is only the start. You need a specialist who uses process reengineering and automation to deliver exceptional results.
- Process Reengineering
Most vendors offer point solutions around one method of collection. That wastes coordination resources and is prone to error at the hand-over points. iPacesetters offers an integrated process across all data collection methods. Most internal processes have evolved gradually over many years. We know how to reengineer them into integrated process workflows.
- Automation
Technology is not a "silver bullet". It is never a substitute for human oversight. iPacesetters uses automation to manage complex processes demanding quality and budget targets. Our people drive the technology, not the other way around.
We use all possible methods to build data/content products that power your service, including:
- Telephone surveys
We manage simple or complex surveys. Complex surveys involve calling multiple people in a single company to complete a record, getting basic data from junior people to maximize available time with senior people.
- Online data aggregation
We collect data from multiple sites into a structured format. The base data maybe in HTML, PDF or other formats and is often in an unstructured format that does not support effective searching.
- Online data collection
We build online forms to enable "self service" updating by people in your audience/community. We have expertise in "smart forms" that enable cross-selling and reduce form-filling time.
- Database integration & cleaning
We integrate data from multiple databases/files, tag as required, de-dupe and clean.
- XML tagging
We take archives and monthly/weekly publications and tag them in XML format to enable more effective searching and "write once, re-publish anywhere".
- Content Conversion
We take archives such as Catalogues and Magazines in PDF (and even in print form) and convert them into searchable online databases.
- Rewriting for SEO
It is no longer just about meta-tags, the text has to be SEO friendly. This is a new form of writing as the text has to work for both humans and machines. Automation alone won't work as Google is on the look-out for that. There is no substitute for human editors.
- Email campaigns to drive input
We use email campaigns to drive self-service online form-filling.
- Automated tools
Wherever possible we use automated tools such as crawlers/scrapers and search engine APIs to reduce the manual work and increase efficiency.
- Integrated QA and dashboard
Most content development requires multiple methods such as those described above. Through our proven QA processes we ensure that content is correct. Through our online, real time dashboards we keep you up to date all the time, from summary down to individual records.
- Online "best shore workflow" systems
We build long term relationships with our clients. Our rightshore team integrates closely with your onshore team, through our online "best shore" workflow systems.
iPacesetters builds proprietary databases for clients in their respective verticals that are paid for by subscription fees.
iPacesetters has a high-speed fiber optic links, a 24/7-managed data center and the latest contact center technology and has developed the iPacesetters Research Manager software with the following key features:
- All touch points. The data goes through the same process and into the same database whatever source – telephone, email, Internet, fax or mail. All touch points are recorded and time stamped, enabling a full audit at any time.
- Online and real time. The whole research process is available online and all updates are recorded in real time, so clients can see progress online at any time.
- All digital with automatic voice recording. We use an all-digital voice based solution so that even a record of every telephone call is available online.
- Multi-level Quality Control process. The system enables a workflow process that starts with the individual Researcher, managed by a Supervisor, with a separate iPacesetters Data Quality Control audit and a final Authorization by the client. The client can view the status down to an individual record and see where it is in the workflow process.
- Online editorial control. Your editors are linked into the same research workflow system and can review, comment, approve and make changes and all these processes are recorded for audit purposes.
- Multi-data points per record. The system is built to support complex research processes. Often it is necessary to contact people multiple times, possibly having to interrupt a call in process and then call back to resume the conversation as necessary to suit the interviewee’s schedule.
Research Overview
Data Aggregation/Enrichment
Research conducted by iPacesetters collects and updates primary & secondary information via phone, email and the internet. Complemented by aggregation and normalization across other content, circulation and third-party databases, iPacesetters builds a comprehensive reference platform for researching identified verticals.
