Bureau surveys
the client

The client is one of the UK’s leading Trade Unions.

the requirement

Whilst striving to improve its service, the client wanted to ensure that every member group be equally and fairly represented. The client was spending large sums annually on external market research agencies and was keen to explore the possibility of managing more of the process in-house. Reference Point was approached to provide a survey tool in order to measure both the client’s representation, and also to obtain member feedback about the Union and its effectiveness.

The client runs a series of surveys annually: a large member survey once a year and smaller ad hoc questionnaires during the year and also at annual conference.

Because of the range of surveys required, the client wanted a number of different ways to gather respondent data, including electronic, web-based and high volume automated data entry using Optical Mark Reader technology, as well as conventional manual data entry for smaller scale questionnaires.

the solution

Easi-Quest is a survey tool widely used across the UK by many organisations in both the public and private sectors.

Initial bespoke development to the Easi-Quest standard product enabled the client to develop and host its own surveys online with the organisation’s own branding. An online survey allows respondents to access and complete the survey from anywhere in the UK as well as abroad. Completed responses are collated with the click of a mouse, and analysis of the results is available immediately.

The client also utilises the bureau facilities, offered by Reference Point, for hosting the Annual Member Survey, providing anonymity for a carefully selected group of 6000 members. Any member without access to the Internet may complete a paper-based survey, and the responses can be manually entered into the same questionnaire file as the online responses.

An electronic data capture facility within Easi-Quest allows the client to survey delegates whilst attending any one of the client’s conferences. Responses are read into Easi-Quest via an Optical Mark Reader, and the user can then provide the speaker with feedback before the end of the session.

The client’s System Buyer comments: "The software is easy to use and accessible to every part of the organisation, so we are now free to create our own surveys at any time, and the results are instantly available without the complexity of involving external and expensive research companies."