The Powerhouses of Market Research

What’s the difference between market research and data analysis? They are both forms of market intelligence that businesses need to make better decisions. Understanding what’s happening in your market is vital for growth, whether what to sell and to whom or which sales tactics to use.

Data analysis, aka market analytics, is an indirect form of market research that analyzes data added to customer profiles captured from online sources, e.g., purchasing activity and location. On the other hand, market research is the primary form of gathering firsthand intelligence directly from the start, i.e., consumers.

Direct initiatives like customer surveys and data scientists analyzing online data to study audience behaviors are working toward the same goal—market intelligence. Many years ago, businesses undertook their own market research. Now, with big data, companies rely on the expertise of market research companies.

There is a vast demand for data scientists, whether you wish to hire them in-house or one of the countless market research companies. Either way, you can get the intel your business needs to succeed in today’s commerce. Let’s look at some of the powerhouses of market research and their services.

1. Nielsen

Nielsen is arguably the most prominent market research company in the world today, and it offers its services globally. The company claims it covers over 90% of the world’s GDP and population. It’s an S&P 500 company with its headquarters in New York. Founded in 1923, the company today has around 50,000 employees posted worldwide.

Nielsen’s core services include measurement, data analytics, and retail, analytical, and consumer panel measurement.

Some of Nielsen’s clients include Nestle, Twenty-First Century Fox, The Coca-Cola Company, and the Unilever Group. Their blog includes posts on their market research.

2. Kantar

Kantar is a company that provides consulting, data, and insights. Founded in 1993, it is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Over 50% of Fortune 500 companies turn to Kantar for market research. Presently, the company has more than 30,000 employees.

Kantar’s core services include data solutions, consumer panels, managed services such as DIY solutions, and survey design & fielding.

Volkswagen, PepsiCo, Diageo, and the European Commission are among Kantar’s most prominent clients.

3. IQVIA

IQVIA is a market research company based in Connecticut and North Carolina, USA. It specializes in human data science and offers its services exclusively to the life sciences industry. Thanks to its IQVIA CORE solution, IQVIA has integrated analytics, information, technology, and domain expertise. Today, IQVIA has more than 70,000 employees.

IQVIA’s core services include research and development solutions, contract sales and medical solutions, technology, and analytics solutions.

IQVIA’s well-known clients include Georgetown University, Nova Biomedical, PatientPoint, and Noble Analytics & Consulting.

4. IPSOS

Ipsos, founded in 1975, is headquartered in Paris, France. It offers clients public opinion, media, advertising, and marketing research. IPSOS is relatively tiny compared to Nielsen and IQVIA, with fewer than 20,000 employees. However, the company has been hailed for its stellar services, keeping it at the forefront of companies specializing in market research.

IPSOS’ core services include creative excellence, brand health, innovation, clinics, mobility labs, market strategy and understanding, customer experience, market measurement, retail performance, and quality measurement.

Zillow, Ad Council, and Budweiser are IPSOS’s most famous clients.

5. Gartner

Gartner is another market research company based in Connecticut, United States. Established in 1979, it offers market research services to the communications, computer hardware, software, and IT industries. Gartner provides its services via a subscription-based model. It’s also famous for the Magic Quadrant. The model’s highlights are exclusive access to content featuring published research and access to a strong network of 2,300 research experts. As of now, the company has close to 20,000 employees.

Gartner’s core services include conferences, research, consulting,

More than 70% of the Global 500 companies work with Gartner for in-depth market research. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company United is the most famous client among the companies.

Market research makes the business world go around. Without it, companies would fail to deliver products and services customers need and want. There would be more environmental waste, higher staff turnover, and inefficiencies in every department.

Whether you choose one of these powerhouses or another market research provider, your business will benefit from the market intelligence available from data analysis and direct from the source market research.