Introduction
The collection of personal information for market research has been of immense importance in marketing as scholars and practitioners attempt to understand the various characteristics and attributes of consumers (Nunan and Di Domenico 2; Schillewaert and Meulemeester 164). Advances in technology have seen the development of various data collection software for use in the gathering of data from the field. The present paper undertakes a comparative analysis of three such data collection software namely iSURVEY, Dub Interviewer, and Voxco Online.
Comparative Analysis
iSURVEY is the versatile and reliable data collection software that supports unlimited devices and can be used on any Android or iOS mobile device to capture market data and download the results in the widely utilized CSV (comma separated value) or SPSS (statistical package for social sciences) file format (“Harvest your Data” par. 1-3). The software has been developed by HARVEST YOUR DATA and is mostly used by large and small companies, universities, health institutions, hotels, distributors, and banking institutions for research related purposes (“iSURVEY” par. 1-2). Dub Interviewer is an intuitive and innovative market research interviewing suite developed by NEBU with the aim of allowing face-to-face, telephone and internet research to be conducted from one centralized platform (“NEBU” par. 1).
The software targets big and small companies to provide viable solutions to their market research needs. On its part, “Voxco Online offers true flexibility in online survey software – powerful scripting and design capability, multi-channel recruiting options, secure data hosting, and more” (“Voxco Survey Software” par. 1). The software is developed by Voxco and is used by hundreds of clients (e.g., market research firms, academic research centers, and the insights departments of global organizations) and industries (e.g., market research, government agencies, social and public opinion, human resources, customer insights, marketing and advertising) worldwide.
iSURVEY has several features that simplify the process of data collection. These features include offline data collection, skip logic, brand and theme design, use of CSV and SPSS file format for ease of analysis, charting, GPS mapping, survey editor, email notifications, multilingual capabilities, and data storage options (“iSURVEY” par. 3). The price for iSURVEY ranges from $89 for single surveys which are charged on a per month basis to $587 for enterprise surveys charged on yearly basis. On its part, the Dub Interviewer software has a flexible intuitive interface and is able to simplify the workflow of the client’s projects. Additionally, the software accelerates scripting for any user skill and can use any style, language or device (“NEBU” par. 2). This software is similar to iSURVEY in that it can be used to collect market research data across all devices, has multilingual capability, and is operational in online and offline survey environments.
Depending on usage, the price of Dub Interviewer software ranges from $100 to more than $20000 (“Web Survey Methodology” par. 1). In comparison, the Voxco Online special features include powerful scripting and design potential, multi-channel recruiting options, ease of comparing data across multiple survey delivery methods, secure data hosting, and capability to operate in a full range of modes. The price of Voxco Online is quite flexible as the company offers up to 50% discount on the online survey software.
iSURVEY has a unique advantage in that it can collect data while offline by simply synchronizing your survey data when your device (e.g., mobile phone, iPhone, iPad, and tablet) has an internet connection (“Harvest your Data” par. 2). Users of iSURVEY are also able to download their results in CSV or SPSS file format as well as upload the survey results to the Cloud or directly to their servers. On its part, the Dub Interviewer software is reliable and stable in terms of scripting and data collection, is easy to learn and provides an easy to use interface for the scripting of questionnaires, and is always up to date with the newest developments in online market research (“Dub Interviewer” par. 9). In comparison, Voxco Online boasts of device responsiveness, powerful survey design, multiple distribution channels, real time results, as well as professional and dedicated service team.
Recommended Software
Drawing from this comparative analysis, it is clear that the three software applications have unique similarities in terms of capabilities, clients, features, and utilization. However, several divergences have been noted in pricing strategies, unique advantages, and the applications’ capability to collect and analyze data. From the ongoing, the best data collection software is iSURVEY. The recommendation is based on the software’s flexibility in pricing (users can subscribe for single use or multiple use depending on need), offline capability (users do not need an internet connection while collecting data), and potential for use of unlimited devices (no charge for the number of devices that clients use with their surveys). Additionally, the iSURVEY software supports various question types, is multilingual, and facilitates the analysis of survey data by downloading results in the SPSS or CSV format (“iSURVEY” par. 4).
Conclusion
This paper has been successful in undertaking a comparative analysis of three data collection software namely iSURVEY, Dub Interviewer, and Voxco Online. From the analysis and discussion, it is evident that the software applications have multiple capabilities that are intended to achieve seamless collection of data in divergent environments. Although some of the capabilities appear similar, the iSURVEY software provides a vast range of functionalities at substantially flexible price regimes, hence its recommendation for use in collecting market research data.
Works Cited
Dub Interviewer. n.d. Web.
Harvest your Data. n.d. Web.
iSURVEY – Offline Surveys and Data Collection Forms. n.d. Web.
NEBU. n.d. Web.
Nunan, Daniel and Maria-Laura Di Domenico. “Market Research and the Ethics of Big Data.” International Journal of Market Research. 55.4 (2013): 2-13. Business Source Premier. Web.
Schillewaert, Niels and Pascale Meulemeester. “Comparing Response Distributions of Offline and Online Data Collection Methods.” International Journal of Market Research. 47.2 (2005): 163-178. Business Source Premier. Web.
Voxco Survey Software 2015. Web.
Web Survey Methodology 2015. Web.