Industry overview
What is shaping information services
Data, ratings and information providers need to understand what users actually need, keep their data fresh and size new opportunities accurately.
- Users want timely, verified data in their workflow
- Data collection at scale needs strong quality control
- New products need validation before launch
Client background
An information services company, working in United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan & Hong Kong. Client identity is withheld to protect confidentiality.
- Organisation
- An information services company
- Sector
- Information services
- Team engaged
- Market Research
- Services
- Research consultancy, Business panel, Financial modelling
Client challenge
The company planned an ESG data product but needed evidence of demand and pricing. Several competitors were launching ESG products, and the company had to decide quickly where to focus. The company was considering launching an ESG data product but did not know how large demand was or which data sets mattered most.
Research objectives
- Deliver on the brief: sizing demand for ESG data among investors.
- Uncover the motivations and barriers people do not state in a survey.
- Give the client evidence it can act on within 7 weeks.
Target audience
Scope: 30 interviews.
Audiences we typically reach in information services
Data users and analystsSubscribers and enterprise buyersData contributorsProspectsPartners
Geographic coverage
Coverage: United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan & Hong Kong. Markets: United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan and Hong Kong.
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland
- Japan
- Hong Kong
Research methodology
A qualitative design, built to uncover motivations, decision processes and the language people actually use.
- 1Brief
- 2Investor interviews
- 3Market model
- 4Insight
We interviewed asset managers about ESG data needs, budgets and providers, and built a demand model. Interviews covered portfolio managers, ESG analysts and data buyers at asset managers of different sizes, exploring current data sources, frustrations and budgets. The model estimated demand by investor type and region. The demand model combined interview findings with data on assets under management and current spending.
Research consultancyBusiness panelFinancial modelling
Sampling strategy
- Business respondents were screened on role, company size and involvement in the decision before being invited.
- Online respondents were drawn from verified panel members who matched the screening criteria, with quotas on key profile attributes.
- Qualitative participants were recruited purposively to cover the full range of experiences that mattered, rather than for statistical representation.
Data collection
- interviews
- 30
- The online survey was mobile-friendly and offered in respondents' languages.
- Interviews and discussions were led by experienced moderators using a guide agreed with the client.
- Secondary sources and client data were compiled and cross-checked before modelling.
Data quality & validation
- Digital fingerprinting and duplicate checks
- Attention, speed and straight-lining checks
- Review of open-ended answers
- Recordings and transcripts for every session
- Re-screening of qualitative recruits
- Logic and range checks on the final data
- Work carried out under our ISO 20252 quality procedures
Data analysis
- Thematic coding of interviews and discussions
- Journey and decision mapping
- Market model built from secondary data and primary evidence
Key findings
- Demand was strongest for company-level emissions data.
- Pilot clients helped shape later product releases.
Specific use cases defined the product.
Recommendations
- Build on the core insight: specific use cases defined the product.
- Focus effort where the evidence was strongest: demand was strongest for company-level emissions data.
- Re-measure after the changes to confirm the effect.
Business impact
- The company focused its first product there.
- The first product launched to a group of pilot clients identified during the interviews.
What changed in the business as a result of the work. Impact is described qualitatively.
Deliverables & next steps
- Insight report and management presentation
- Cleaned data file and data tables
- Repeat the measure after changes are in place to track progress.
- A natural follow-on question: how large is the market for a new product?
Client identity is withheld to protect confidentiality.