Leading Edge R&D:

TAKING WEB RESEARCH TO A NEW DIMENSION

Online research has proved an efficient and effective medium for market researchers, and the volumes of data collected online are full of valuable information that can help organizations to ultimately develop more profitable relationships with customers. Web interviewing software mrInterview from SPSS Inc is helping companies improve their online research to gather a more complete understanding of consumer, employer and market behavior -- for a competitive edge and stronger bottom line. Leading research organizations are already looking to mrInterview to turn these possibilities into realities.

NOP World (formerly United Information Group) is implementing mrInterview to bring a standard platform to the online research activities of its international agencies: NOP Research, Audits & Surveys, Market Measures Interactive, Mediamark, Strategic Marketing Corp. and Allison-Fisher International. The group collects data on a vast scale in a multitude of formats -- so a major benefit to switching over is that the new technology platform allows them to integrate legacy systems and data, regardless of the methodology or format in which the data was collected. David Zotter, NOP World's director of developing technologies stated: "We came to the view that the SPSS MR software most effectively matched our requirements. We weren't looking for a 'Web-only' solution, we were looking for a solution for all media."

NOP World plans to develop a range of applications on top of mrInterview that will allow it to collect data and deliver results across the range of existing and emerging platforms, including new media and the latest electronic devices, and offer new services to its clients. "The architecture is good and we intend to expand on it," David said. "We have the expertise and technical know-how to take it forward. The openness and flexibility play well with our intention to move towards CRM (customer relationship management) and data mining."

ACNielsen BASES, a subsidiary of top-ranked ACNielsen (as listed in the 2000 Honomichl list of the top U.S. research organizations), is transitioning its online projects to mrInterview. The new platform is flexible and scalable, and promotes the use of research results with other enterprise data through an open data model. "We bought mrInterview because its open architecture is fundamental for data and research providers in today's global market. Implementation barriers that previously existed, like integrating our proprietary applications, are now opportunities rather than limitations," says Mark Thatcher, vice president of data processing at ACNielsen BASES.

Along with online intelligence, ACNielsen BASES will also offer their clients "peace of mind" by incorporating Clever Content, security software that protects online content from theft or misuse. This added component allows clients to safely conduct important research online that they otherwise would not do without added protection. "Clients are anxious to take advantage of the new security offering once implementation is complete," says Thatcher. "We will be able to transition business that might not have otherwise gone online."

mrInterview's flexible, scalable and open platform for the Web is just the tip of the iceberg for the market research industry. SPSS MR is dedicated and committed to providing a full component system that takes advantage of the possibilities that an open data model allows, promoting multi-mode research in any of the world's languages, seamlessly. Currently on release are a paper and scanning survey solution, translation software that simplifies management of international projects, and the SPSS MR data model and development library, which allows customization of the software to each users' specific branding needs.

"These are exciting times for market researchers, times of dramatic change and opportunity. We're 100% committed to helping the industry add value to their services by providing them with the tools and expert consultation they need to maintain a competitive advantage," says Ian Durrell, president of SPSS MR.

About mrInterview

mrInterview, SPSS MR's end-to-end online research solution, helps businesses collect, analyze and report data via the Web. Complete with online authoring and reporting tools, mrInterview allows researchers to turnaround quality projects in record time so that end clients can react in real-time -- giving them a competitive advantage over those with lagged research and reporting operations.

About Clever Content

Clever Content from Alchemedia is offered through our partner technologies program, as an add-on to mrInterview providing enhanced security for online survey content. With it, researchers can rest assured that images or prototypes displayed in online surveys will not be saved, printed, screen-captured or downloaded.

About SPSS MR

Businesses of all sizes drive their success using SPSS MR software and expertise for data collection, data management and insightful analysis and reporting. With a background in market research and business intelligence, SPSS MR offers an extensive technology suite with unrivaled breadth and depth, proven consulting skills and a truly global service through our international network of offices.

SPSS MR is a division of SPSS Inc, which enables organizations to develop more profitable customer relationships by providing analytical solutions that discover what customers want and predict what they will do. Headquartered in Chicago, SPSS has more than 40 offices, over 900 employees and 1999 revenues of $142 million. The company also has won the following awards: No. 77 on Forbes 2000 list of the "200 Best Small Companies" and No. 12 on the 2000 DM Review 100; placed No. 16 on the 2000 Soft letter 100, a ranking of the top 100 personal computer software companies in the United States; and No. 115 in the 2000 Software 500, a ranking of the world's largest software vendors by Software Magazine; listed on Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for 2000. For more information, visit www.spss.com.

Contact Kelly Anson, SPSS MR, 646-536-8540, kanson@spss.com.