Top Nine Challenges in Survey Data Collection Industry

Top Nine Challenges in Survey Data Collection Industry

March 15, 2021
6:23 am
quality data, survey, survey data collection, survey management, surveys

In the collection of reliable and quality data, organizations can face a variety of challenges. It is important to first recognize obstacles to consistent data collection to implement approaches to enhance the quality delivery of data collection.

Marketing research at the simplest level is about getting knowledge to help marketers make decisions and solve problems. That means asking the right questions, asking the right people, in a way they are going to be comfortable with the questions and want to answer.

The challenge of getting responses from the right people is fundamental to data quality. However, these areas are rife with challenges which we aim to highlight in this blog post.

Few key challenges in current data collection practices:

Inconsistent data collection standards:

Data standards outline the importance of collecting common data items and demographic information. Usually, defined standards include definitions of data, structured questions with agreed options for a response which can guide consistent collection practices. These criteria are not always universally implemented and can themselves be inconsistent, and the consistency of data collections may be influenced by this.

Context of data collection:

In certain circumstances and environments, data collection from customers can occur where it may be difficult to obtain full and reliable information, and the amount of information collected can differ depending on the context of the situation. Contexts, where certain data collection may be limited, include crises or emergencies or where an individual’s privacy could be compromised. Further, in some cases, organizations may not be resourced to provide services to specific cohorts, which can mean there is little incentive to improve the data collected on certain topics.

Data collection as a core business function:

An organization’s core functions and time constraints in service delivery may affect the type and quality of data collected by an organization. Usually, administrative data is gathered as a by-product of organizational requirements or to fulfill an internal business need and can only contain key details required to conduct a service. As a result, only a limited range of data items can be obtained by organizations, which lack the information necessary for wider secondary use purposes, such as performing state-wide service analysis, surveillance, or research. A belief that the processing of such demographic data is not important to core business functions can affect the quality and comparability of data.

Lack of training in data collection:

As data collection is usually not the primary role of service personnel, they may not obtain training in this field. If workers do not obtain training or understand why specific data needs to be collected, they will feel less secure about asking the related questions. A lack of training in how and why to collect certain kinds of data can particularly impact the quality of data collected. The fear of causing offense can affect the willingness of personnel to ask questions and lead them to make judgments based on observation or voluntary knowledge. Training can develop an awareness of the importance of obtaining these data items in sensitive or culturally acceptable ways and help build data quality and consistency.

Lack of quality assurance processes:

The probability of verifying information with a person who has been in touch with a service may be limited, meaning that the data initially collected cannot be verified. Also, the complexity of record-keeping systems can vary where the quality of data is dependent on the individual correctly entering the information. Time may not permit staff to review data for completeness or to retrieve missing data.

Changes to definitions and policies and the preservation of data continuity:

Over time, strategies, and methods for collecting data transform. These developments and how they affect data collection practices may not be understood by agencies and their employees, implying that they unwittingly implement obsolete procedures. In large organizations, this problem appears to be more prevalent, particularly if the information is not shared widely and regularly throughout the workplace. Organizations changing data collection systems and processes also need to be aware of the need to ensure continuity of reporting using existing data items.

Economic and IT restrictions:

Some companies do not have the resources or infrastructure to prioritize upgrades to systems and processes for data collection. This may be due to a backlog of digitized paper-based records, a limited workforce to input and retain information, or a lack of budget for updating record management systems. Such updates can be costly and take time. In certain situations, the ability of these IT systems to provide multiple answer values or complex questioning may be limited, which hampers sophisticated data collection.

Demographic Reach:

While remote surveys are not fresh, most of the literature on the subject focuses on individuals and households, which are notoriously difficult to reach. Restricted communications networks, nomadic and displaced peoples, conflict zones are among the other obstacles. These conditions make it difficult for those attempting to gather reliable data, which is a prerequisite for enacting sound public policy. Many researchers and data collection teams in the area lack structured survey methodology training, and specialized statistical training for survey management and data quality.

Real-time data availability:

One of the most challenging parts when it comes to the question of implementation for enterprises is real-time data availability which is often beneficial in assisting to make stronger and more informed decisions. There are several difficulties associated with it. Since storing such a large amount of data and processing it in real-time are two completely different things. Furthermore, real-time data processing also necessitates scalability, fault tolerance, predictability, and resiliency against stream imperfections, as well as the ability to be extended. As a result, it is all about data availability and response time. Users will gain insights as soon as the data is entered into their system.

There are several challenges that businesses can face, but surveys are still useful and meaningful. In promoting marketing decisions, product creation or refinement, customer support, and more, they will direct you on the right path. In general, the feedback you gain from these surveys can be used to provide a better overall experience for your customers and can be used to focus and explain your efforts. However, you need to find a way to resolve the obstacles that are common with poorly designed and constructed surveys to achieve the objectives that you have. Over the past decade, the use of online surveys has skyrocketed. You can now perform research for a fraction of the price and time owing to technological advancements. This makes it simpler than ever before for anyone to collect data. When studying and choosing a software platform for surveys, consider not only how they help you develop, distribute, and analyze surveys, but also how they can help you achieve your organizational goals.

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Why door-to-door marketing is still relevant in this digital era

March 1, 2021
11:11 am
branding, delivery, digital marketing, marketing, online marketing, traditional marketing

The digital revolution has changed the marketing world, but that doesn’t mean that the hard-won experiences of door-to-door selling have lost their value. While companies are gradually moving away from in-person marketing and embracing the Internet, social media, and other ways of digital promotion and sales, they can still benefit from learning the skills of door-to-door marketing.

While you might think of door-to-door sales as a thing of the past, in today’s modern climate, it is still a highly successful way to attract new customers.

Two-way Communication

As much as technology has evolved over the years, human nature has not. There is no digital substitute for face-to-face, human-to-human connectivity. A company cannot ask a business owner to explain the obstacles his/her company faces. An internet ad cannot ask about a growing family’s requirements, make eye contact, or interpret facial expressions, but a competent salesperson can.

Businesses can localize their marketing activities through door-to-door sales and communicate with clients on a personal level. By engaging one-on-one, salespeople in the sales process learn about the needs, desires, and concerns of their clients. They can create trust by building a relationship, which in turn translates not only to the decision of the customer to buy but to stay loyal to the respective brand.

Traditional Marketing vs Digital Marketing

The launch of a new product or service across most marketing channels is costly and time-consuming. Expenses add up quickly, whether you are paying for market analysis, airtime, graphic design, public relations, or anything in between. This is another key differentiator in door-to-door marketing. Not only is it more cost-effective, but the implementation of modifications and the marketing of new goods is significantly quicker. With a sales team in place, launching a new product is easy as all you must do is teach the salespeople about your new service.

Measuring Success

The tricky thing about most forms of marketing is that a campaign’s success or failure is always a grey area. Although a given ad can boost brand awareness or contribute to the buzz about a new product, results are difficult to quantify. It is easy to determine whether a door-to-door marketing plan has been successful, unlike advertising campaigns. The number of new clients acquired is crystal clear, enabling businesses to monitor progress, quantify ROI and plan accordingly.

Customer Awareness

It is extraordinarily hard to stand out with so many businesses competing for the attention of consumers. Even the most innovative billboards and social media campaigns that are eye-catching are likely to get lost in the mix. For any organization trying to carve out space in a competitive market, door-to-door marketing is the secret weapon. Not only is it a less common approach to customer acquisition, but it is highly efficient at targeting individuals who have not responded to other types of customer outreach.

Face-to-face communication offers the ability to educate clients on items that they would not otherwise have heard about; and secondly, to impact their decision-making process.

Conventional Marketing

These days, commercial messages are everywhere. We are filled with so many advertisement messages, from billboards and TV ads to social media and smartphone advertising, that it is easy for everyone to blend into an ocean of noise that quickly disappears into the background. Therefore, marketing campaigns require door-to-door sales. In-person sales reps build real interactions with potential clients in a way that even the most advanced digital ads and artificial intelligence cannot. They interact from one person to another, adjusting their sales message and even their body language and sound.

Marketing Strategies

Seasoned door-to-door marketers realize that it is not enough to simply highlight the benefits of a product or service. Organizations need to help individuals imagine themselves using the brand and see the advantages of doing so. It is about selling a lifestyle, and not just a product. Well-trained marketers will make potential consumers feel secure, draw their attention, and start a conversation, which is the first and most significant step in attracting new customers.

Online Branding

The most effective salespeople knew their goods and recognized the people who most likely would profit from them. When choosing communities and times to pound the pavement, they keep the simple demographics of their target consumer in mind.

Today, online marketers need to know their target audience and target the platforms used by these demographics. For example, if you sell something that appeals to young people, pay attention to the social media they use and capitalize on those channels with your ads which is a way of replicating popular methods used for selling in the past.

On the surface, the way we market and sell products could have changed dramatically. But marketing in the modern era, at its heart, still revolves around the same tested approaches that were once used in the past.

There are many reasons why one of the oldest occupations has seen a revival over the past decade: It works!

People would still choose to buy from people, no matter how advanced digital marketing becomes: It is human nature.

Although diversifying your sales and marketing strategies is the smartest sales strategy, incorporating a door-to-door feature in your marketing mix remains a successful way to maximize revenue and drive consistent sales outcomes.