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New Year, New Challenges

What’s in Store for BEAM Fieldwork this year? We speak to BEAM’s Fieldwork Manager, Vicki Thomas on what she believes will be the biggest trends and challenges in the Market Research Industry in 2018.

How did you find your first ‘Silly Season’ with BEAM Fieldwork?! 

My first ‘Silly Season’ definitely went quickly! I was actually quite surprised how busy we were so close to Christmas – which is great. It’s a funny time of the year as you are winding down but also having to plan ahead as you know it will be fast paced as soon as you start in the new year.

What was your highlight of 2017?!

My highlight was joining BEAM. We have had a great first year and turning 1 with so many projects completed has made all the hard work worthwhile. I’ve loved getting to know returning clients and building a rapport with them, as well as with the recruiters we use.

Describe a typical work week as BEAM’s Fieldwork Manager?

Wow – each week can be so different. A typical week will usually involve providing new quotes to clients, booking in projects, booking out recruiters and arranging venues. You certainly need to manage your time well, when you have 10 projects on the go at the same time, it can get quite busy!

When conducting a focus group, what tips would you give to Market Researchers to ensure the study is a success?  

First of all, I would say that you need to plan ahead and make sure there is enough time for the right people to be recruited. I would also recommend using a venue that is suitable for the needs of the group – e.g. bright, spacious, and easily accessible. At BEAM, we have a fantastic portfolio of venues that we work with and many clients often feedback to us that they really enjoyed using them.

What are you most looking forward to this year?  

I’m looking forward to our team expanding; we are currently looking for another person to join the team, which will be great and means we can look at taking on more projects.

What will be the biggest challenge in the Market Research Industry this year? 

I think the biggest challenge is going to be the introduction of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). It is something that all companies, whether a data controller or data processor, will have to take the time to ensure is correct. It can have a massive impact if not adhered to, as we handle so much personal data in the Market Research Industry.

What advice would you give to companies that haven’t prepared for GDPR yet?

My advice would be to start as soon as possible. Its going to take time and can’t just be looked at the week before it is implemented (25th May 2018). Businesses may need to implement strict technical and organisational security measures, including pseudonymisation and data encryption.

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