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ICM Direct uses fully-hosted web survey environment from SPSS

~ market researchers stay ahead of the curve with SPSS data collection survey software~

October 23, 2008

ICM Direct, the leading provider of telephone and online data collection and processing, is providing its customers with a unique solution for carrying out online surveys with its newvista Online Research Service, which provides its customers with a range of capabilities from Panel-based research to Online Virtual Shopping. To support their unique offering, ICM Direct chose MSP (Managed Service Provider) services from SPSS Inc. (NASDAQ: SPSS), a leading worldwide provider of Predictive Analytics software and solutions. SPSS will host, administer, manage and support its data collection and survey reporting technology for ICM Direct.

With SPSS MSP, ICM Direct can rapidly harness the software’s capabilities without the expense and complication of having to purchase, manage and maintain an infrastructure, provide data storage and operational facilities, or install software. In addition, in-depth technical support is provided by experienced professionals from SPSS to help ICM Direct use the data collection and survey reporting software to its full potential.

ICM Direct originally used SPSS ASP (Application Service Provider), which allows organisations to lease access to the data collection software. The switch to the MSP model means that ICM Direct can create a custom experience for their users based on SPSS technology within their new dedicated infrastructure ICM Direct can now create a truly unique survey service offering while still relying on SPSS to maintain the secure, high-availability environment.

“With SPSS MSP we can customise our standard products and differentiate our services from other market researchers,” says Patrick Diamond, Managing Director at ICM Direct. “It gives us a competitive edge, and we get the software we need without the hardware constraints. A team of specialist support staff ensures the accuracy and smooth running of the entire system, further reducing any concerns from our end.”

The success of ICM Direct’s online research solution ‘itsyourview’, the respondent gateway to the newvista service, has been measured independently by Survey Police, an organisation that acts as an external rating body for the quality of web-deployed survey data collection sites. Ratings are assigned to criteria such as “How engaging is the survey?” and “Is the data safe?”. This solution has been awarded one of the highest ratings by end users, putting ICM Direct ahead of many other UK and European companies.

“There has been a widespread shift in the market research industry toward SaaS (SPSS’ ASP) and fully hosted (SPSS’ MSP) solutions,” says Haydn Lewis, Vice President of EMEA at SPSS. “We offer both of these deployment options with enhanced service level agreements that go far beyond industry standards, and our dedicated support specialists ensure widespread and flexible access to each client’s customised environment. This flexibility means that clients like ICM Direct can offer a tailored infrastructure or platform which allows them to react quickly to market changes.”

Executive quote

“There has been a widespread shift in the market research industry toward SaaS (SPSS’ ASP) and fully hosted (SPSS’ MSP) solutions,” says Haydn Lewis, Vice President of EMEA at SPSS. “We offer both of these deployment options with enhanced service level agreements that go far beyond industry standards, and our dedicated support specialists ensure widespread and flexible access to each client’s customised environment. This flexibility means that clients like ICM Direct can offer a tailored infrastructure or platform which allows them to react quickly to market changes.”

Customer quote

“With SPSS MSP we can customise our standard products and differentiate our services from other market researchers,” says Patrick Diamond, Managing Director at ICM Direct. “It gives us a competitive edge, and we get the software we need without the hardware constraints. A team of specialist support staff ensures the accuracy and smooth running of the entire system, further reducing any concerns from our end.”

About the company

About SPSS Inc.
SPSS Inc. (Nasdaq: SPSS) is a leading global provider of Predictive Analytics software and solutions. The company’s Predictive Analytics technology improves business processes by giving organizations forward visibility for decisions made every day. By incorporating Predictive Analytics into their daily operations, organizations become Predictive Enterprises – able to direct and automate decisions to meet business goals and achieve a measurable competitive advantage. More than 250,000 public sector, academic and commercial customers rely on SPSS technology to help increase revenue, reduce costs and detect and prevent fraud. Founded in 1968, SPSS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. For more information, please visit www.spss.com.

Contact details

For further press information and photography please contact:
Victoria Collinson at LEWIS
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7802 2626
Email: spssuk@lewispr.com
Website: www.lewispr.com

For enquiries about SPSS please contact:
Emma Bennett at SPSS
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 719 200
Email: ebennett@spss.com
Website: www.spss.com

Technorati tags: Predictive analytics | data | consumer analysis | Predictive Enterprises |

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