November 17, 2010
From the pressures of managing new media to the advent of technologies likeSmart Grid, utilities providers face a range of unfamiliar challenges. Like anyone in an alien environment, these companies need information to make sense of the landscape and help them develop a plan of action. Happily, research firms like FGI have the tools and capabilities to equip them with much-needed insight. Using online research methods such as communities and social media monitoring, utilities providers not only enhance their grasp of the trends but leverage their knowledge to adapt to and overcome change.
June 7, 2010
FGI Research study suggests consumers are willing to use smart-grid technology to reduce energy consumption, but some have lingering doubts.
As companies worldwide endeavor to rebrand themselves as “environmentally friendly,” and stories about “going green” pervade the news, the cultural emphasis on sustainable living is becoming indisputable. Wal-Mart has announced an initiative to make its outlets “greener” by 2015. Other companies are capitalizing on the green trend by using clean energy sources in their production processes, creating eco-friendly products (like Clorox GreenWorks), or incorporating recycled materials in their designs. In a new study, FGI Research focuses on the question of saving energy from the consumer’s perspective. In it, we find that 9 in 10 respondents think reducing home energy consumption is “somewhat” or “very important.”
April 28, 2010
How leading utilities are benefiting from market research innovations.
In the last five years, custom panels have brought tremendous benefits to market research teams across multiple industries. More recently, online communities have started to replace traditional qualitative methods like in-person focus groups. At FGI Research, we help many of the country’s leading utilities draw maximum benefit from custom panels and online communities alike. Every utility client sees promising results as it adopts these up-and-coming market research methods. Below is a summary of key benefits that utilities are generating:
#1 –Savings: Market research is a major expense for electric and gas utilities. Their core studies often include customer satisfaction trackers, concept and ad testing, and saturation studies. Altogether, the cost for these studies can eclipse a million dollars or more per year. Properly implemented, custom panels and online communities can help a utility’s MR department shave off 20-40% of these research costs. Even when trackers require multi-modal designs, the cost savings from using custom panels and online data-collection are huge.
