When you need more than just data, AIM has you covered. Market Research is a data-driven field, but AIM knows it’s far more than just that. We may start with objective market research, but we don’t stop there. We make sure the data answers your questions and helps you make informed decisions.
Always beginning with solid research, we analyze trends for your industry, customers, and competition. We help you understand what the market is really doing and how you can capitalize on new opportunities or defend against emerging threats.
We provide far more than research.
We provide intelligence.
At AIM, we provide a variety of research methods. From in-depth interviews and focus groups to brand and reputation studies, we have the experience and skill to find the information you need quickly and efficiently.
With some forms of research, the numbers are pretty cut and dry. They speak for themselves and valuable information lies within.
At other times, you need something a little less dry. You need something with more of a human perspective.
Which is why AIM conducts precise and targeted human surveys via phone or intercepts – in addition to online or e-mail surveys.
Surveys are the perfect way to learn directly from your customers, suppliers, or partners who they are, what they want, and how they perceive your products, brands, or services. Armed with this information, you can make laser-focused decisions moving forward.
Humans are influenced by a myriad of factors. The trick is knowing what – and how – to ask.
And that’s why AIM carefully designs each and every survey to extract useful data from qualitative survey analysis of real people.
Our analysts have years of training and experience in elicitation and conversation techniques that allow us to capture even the slightest details.
At AIM, you always know what’s next. A discussion of your goals, industry particulars, and expectations are always where we start, but we don’t stop there. We stay in continual contact so you know the status of each survey and the kind of results you can expect, and we encourage your feedback so we can refine our approach to suit your needs.
You could say we conduct targeted human surveys of our own.
Are you ready to take a product to market? How about a new service? Or maybe you’d just like to get reactions from real people about your brand, products, or services.
If so, AIM may suggest a study that includes focus groups.
A focus group is a great way to get dynamic responses from your target or segmented market in a short amount of time. They’re more intimate than surveys and more efficient than individual interviews. They have the benefit of revealing the interactions between several of your stakeholders, rather than simply focusing on one individual’s thoughts.
Knowing when a focus group is needed is crucial. Establishing clear goals, recruiting from your target audience and having a skilled moderator to lead the discussion are also important for success.
It’s a good thing AIM has the skills and experience to extract meaningful data right from your market’s mouth. AIM has MRA-certified professionals on staff who recruit, conduct, and analyze focus groups.
At AIM, our first step is always talking with our clients to make sure we understand your goals. While we’re experts at strategic intelligence, you’re an expert for your own organization. You know your company inside and out, and before making any recommendations we always make sure we understand where you’re coming from. There’s nothing worse than focus group results that aren’t relevant or don’t produce the results you need.
At AIM, we make sure every study is focused on your needs.
The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey is a national, standardized, publicly reported survey of patients’ perspectives of hospital care. AIM has met HCAHPS participation requirements and is approved to administer the survey.
AIM provides mixed-mode data collection methods to obtain the highest response rates and the most meaningful results.
There are many types of market research, but conducting in-depth interviews is one of the most information-rich paths to take. Interviews can be combined with other forms of research like human surveys and focus groups to provide a more robust picture of what your customers, suppliers, or partners want and how you can provide that.
Interviews are a great way to get your subject talking more, but knowing how to steer the conversation is tricky.
That’s where AIM’s expertise can help. We’ve been trained in advanced elicitation techniques, so we know how to ask the right questions to help you get the most out of each and every interview.
With AIM, you just get more.
Knowing when a survey, focus group, or in-depth interview would take your study to the next level is an art which AIM has mastered over decades of work with a variety of clients, especially in a world where research budgets aren’t endless.
The very nature of research is that sometimes we just don’t know what we’ll find when we ask a question. Sometimes the answers bring up more questions and a need for more detailed answers. Knowing when to dig deeper and when to change the question is all part of what AIM does.
No matter what your organization does, your reputation is one of the most important assets – or liabilities – you have. Putting programs in place to increase brand awareness and manage your reputation is crucial to brand image, but how do you know your efforts will be or have been effective?
An increase in your bottom line or gaining more customers are not necessarily indicators of a good reputation, since many factors play into them.
What you need is an analytical, unbiased look at your company from the outside.
You need a reputation study.
And that’s exactly what AIM can deliver.
We can even look at who or what is behind the negative chatter!
Reputation isn’t always as easy to measure as say, market share or net worth. Often, we need to use a combination of qualitative and quantitative research to get the answers you seek. But don’t worry. AIM has designed lots of studies and we can design yours.
Every study is different, so the first thing we do is talk about your goals. Then we decide on the best way to harvest and measure the data. Only after careful planning do we take those first steps toward analysis, and you’re with us every step of the way.
You put systems in place to provide excellent customer service. You train your employees, structure staffing for interdepartmental support, and offer solutions for when problems do arise.
But how do you know your customer service efforts are working?
How can you get a real picture of the customer experience?
The answer is mystery shopping.
If you think there might be a gap between customer expectations and your services, it’s definitely time to send an experienced mystery shopper to test them out. Even if you haven’t seen any problems, a well-designed mystery shopping program can reveal insights that help you prevent problems and soar above the competition, earning new customers all the way to the top.
Speaking of competition – you can also turn mystery shoppers on your competition to gain valuable insight. What differentiates your product/services from theirs?
The first step to an effective, insightful mystery shopping program is understanding your goals and the expectations of your customers. Before we ever deploy a mystery shopper, we sit down with our clients to identify customer service strategies taken so far. This gives us insight into your current operations. We also often evaluate the expectations of your customers with surveys or other discovery tools.
Next, we design a mystery shopping protocol that may include shopping the competition, and deploy shoppers who can give you the insight you need. Then we report and analyze so you can take action.
Competitive intelligence and analysis can take many shapes. Sometimes it’s obvious who your toughest competitors are, and sometimes they’re not on your radar yet. Either way, they’re leaving a trail- the longer the trail gets the less time you have to react! That’s why you need AIM to monitor the competitive landscape and warn you when we spot indications of a looming threat.
Continuous monitoring allows you to proactively shape the market based on the newfound knowledge. But the information itself isn’t enough. What makes your competition successful? How are they different from you? What are they planning to do next? Our experts can help you answer all of these questions and more. We’ll provide a detailed analysis of the facts to help you understand the competitive landscape—so you can plan your market domination.
Your competitive environment is constantly changing. You can develop strategies to steer your company through the current environment, but you can’t ignore the possibility that you’ll wake up tomorrow in a different world. Are you prepared to handle:
If you’re not, your company could be stuck in reaction mode, just trying to keep up with it all.
Wouldn’t you rather be able to analyze your risks, come up with a battle plan, and know when to start deploying it?
You need someone to keep an eye on potential changes in the environment so you can keep an eye on the future.
You need Early Warning Alert Systems from AIM.
Each and every day, AIM works hard to help you stay ahead of changes in our fast-paced world. We’ll work with you to focus on the risks that matter most to your company. We’ve developed hundreds of Early Warning Alert Systems, so we know what to look for. We can help you predict not only what could happen, but when it’s likely to happen, while you wait in the wings, ready to act – not just react.
When you know the battlefield, you can control the battle.
It’s one thing to know where you stand in the market. It’s another to know where you’re headed. But more importantly how to get there.
Having a strategic plan for the future of your company is imperative for growth and growth is imperative for success.
How will you harness your resources to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves?
Knowing when to reach higher and when to let things ride requires the right kind of intelligence. You have to look at your market, your competitors, social trends, and world events over time.
You need Growth and Opportunity Intelligence services from AIM.
You are an expert at your business. Making good decisions is how you’ve achieved that success so far. But imagine what you could achieve if you took the guesswork out of steering your company into the future?
Imagine having all the intelligence you need to make a fully-informed, dynamic decision that would launch your company into a leading role in your market. Imagine using that intelligence to take over other markets.
When you have comprehensive Growth and Opportunity Intelligence from AIM, anything’s possible.
Let’s talk about what drives your business, and where you’d like to take it. Let’s talk about the tools and information you need to make the right choice. Let’s talk about how we can help you steer your company toward long-term, sustainable success.
Do you need a systematic search and review of published scientific literature? How about help assessing the impact of regulations using ongoing monitoring of regulatory developments, inspections, enforcement actions, violations, consumer complaints?
We’ve got your back.
Using a combination of customized search/retrieval techniques and the human element of our talented researchers.
Intellectual property is the lifeline of any business. But how do you evaluate and assess new technologies, ideas, or advancements that might launch your business into the stratosphere?
Without the ability to find and analyze existing information, you could end up spending millions reinventing the wheel – only to find out someone’s already patented it.
Instead, why not count on AIM to keep you informed with all the scientific, technical, and IP research you need?
We can help you discover existing data, paint a picture of a technology landscape, and keep up with new innovations by combining the skills of our researchers with powerful data sources such as:
We’ll research, synthesize, and analyze all relevant data so you can make the wisest decisions with your R&D budgets, research partnerships, new product developments, and strategic acquisitions.
We’ve been helping our clients stay up to date on the latest news and discoveries for decades, even back before it was all on the web. We understand the best ways to use the technological tools available, but we don’t stop there.
Sometimes, the right tool just doesn’t exist yet.
That’s why we create our own tools for the job. Whether that’s creating targeted search and retrieval tools, reports for various audiences, or a custom database to give you instant access to all the data you need, we have the right tools for the job – or we’ll create new ones.
Either way, the result is scientific, technical, and IP research you can count on, delivered right to you.
While our analysts are the best in their field, we know that technology can offer a different kind of benefit. That’s why AIM combines human expertise with cutting-edge technology to bring you the best competitive intelligence available.
We’ll work with you to create a Database, Dashboard or App to help you harness the value of harvested data when and how you need it most.
AIM helps you create insight and by developing custom databases with intuitive dashboards. Access, archive, and analyze your data anytime, anywhere.
The best thing about getting started with AIM competitive intelligence today is that the benefits aggregate. The more intelligence we collect and store, the better intelligence we can provide.
Unless your company never faces another challenge again, tracking and storing data over time is crucial. It helps you recognize trends, threats, and opportunities you never even knew existed. It helps you stay agile.
So what are you waiting for?
What are your most valuable assets? Personnel? Costly research and development documents? Are your trade secrets properly protected?
Confidential information can be leaked in a number of ways. Whether it’s through your employees’ social media, your garbage dumpster, your contractor cleaning crew, or simply unlocked office doors, companies lose billions of dollars to information leaks.
Make sure you’re protecting your information with a complete analysis of your strengths and weaknesses. We’ll help you protect what matters most.
Your unsuspecting employees could meet a competitive intelligence professional anywhere – at a restaurant, at the soccer field, or in the airport. They may be revealing secrets and not even know it.
That’s why you need Counterintelligence Training and Support from AIM.
We’ve been helping companies protect sensitive information for decades, whether that’s through training personnel on how to protect valuable company information or conducting red team attacks to identify your vulnerabilities. You can depend on us to help you sleep better at night knowing you’ve done everything in your power to keep your company secure.
AIM provides customized strategic intelligence research and analysis on a global scale.
