Online platform gives Explain an innovative edge

Kim Davis, managing director at Explain Market Research,

Newcastle based Explain Market Research is embracing innovation to maintain a competitive edge, and has tapped into funding and support from the SME Innovation Programme to advance its pioneering online research platform.

The fast-growing company, founded in 1993 to provide full-service market research solutions to a range of companies across the UK including those in the healthcare, social housing, utilities and financial services sectors, is able to offer its clients access to bespoke digital platform Explain Communities, which allows for real-time monitoring of opinions and perceptions of brands.

The company had identified that in order to stay ahead of the game it needed to develop a digital research platform in response to customer demands.  Online Communities allows businesses to undertake focus groups, polls and interactive conversations within a private online space, to provide valuable insights that can be used to influence business strategy.

Kim Davis, managing director at Explain Market Research, said: “Having delivered high quality and reliable insight to our customers for over 20 years, we knew we had to adapt to provide our customers with a digital market research solution.  Explain Communities is an exciting online platform which gives us a unique digital proposition to benefit our customers.”

The company, which employs over 50 staff from its Newcastle head office and outbound research centre, has seen clients from a wide range of sectors from across the UK experience the benefits of Online Communities.

After speaking with the Innovation Programme, Kim found that the company was eligible for grant funding towards the ongoing development of the software programme.

She added: “With such a unique offer it was vital that it continued to be fit for purpose. We were able to access grant funding towards developing a number of enhanced features which has enabled us to remain competitive. The process was made really straightforward by the experienced Innovation Programme team.”

Elizabeth Shaw innovation manager at the North East Business & Innovation Centre (BIC), which delivers the Innovation Programme, said: “Explain Market Research is a forward thinking business that realised the importance of adapting its offer in a digital world. I’m delighted that we have been able to offer funding support to such a dynamic business and to support them in maintaining a leading edge in the marketplace.”

The North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) has received £820,439 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

For further information about the Innovation Programme contact the team on 0191 5166035 or email innovation@ne-bic.co.uk

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