"๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐. ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐ฎ, ๐๐ง๐๐๐ช๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐, ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ก๐ค๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ช๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐, ๐๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐๐!" says ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐, our ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ.
This article compares the experience of Best of ESOMAR Romania and Succeet22 where he met two different types of audiences, but his the conclusion remains the same. ๐ฌ
I had the pleasure to attend in October two marketing research events, each of them catering to marketing research industry in its own way.
The first one was Best of ESOMAR Romania 2022, jointly organized by SORMA (Romanian Marketing and Public Opinion Research Association) and ESOMAR. Beside the research agencies showing off something of the interesting stuff they are doing, the event was also happening around research professionals themselves, from both sides of the โbarricadeโ โresearch agencies and client companies.
The other was Succeet22 in Mรผnchen, an international Insights Industry trade show, more on the business side, where various companies from the research supply chain are looking for customers and partnerships.
As you might expect, Best of ESOMAR is a focused event โ one stage, one presentation or discussion at a time โ the kind of event easy for one person to follow through. There was, of course, a lot of networking during the breaks.
On the other hand, Succeet22 is at the opposite side, with many things happening at once โ lots of exhibitors on the show floor, lots of people walking around or stopped at one of the many booths โ and a lot of discussions. And, at any moment, there were quite a lot of presentations taking place simultaneously (too many, if you ask me, as it was almost impossible to choose from).
While is clear these 2 events are very different, there are also some commonalities. And Iโm not talking about the fact that both are about research industry.
No, itโs about something else.
During both Succeet22 and Best of ESOMAR breaks, when people were able to freely mix together, there was not a moment's rest.
People were swarming and buzzing all over the place โ just like in a bee hive.
I cannot show you proof; I have no research data to back me up, but I had an overwhelming feeling people were just happy to be together, trying to catch up after 2 years of pandemic resulting in cancelled, virtual-only or toned-down events. Everybody looked busy to reconnect with old acquaintances, make new ones and in general enjoying each otherโs company. It seemed to me that research professionals sorely missed the human connection, much like everybody else did. Might this mean they are humans tooโฆ? Who knows, we definitely need a thorough research to establish if thatโs the case or not.
There was also another connection between those 2 events: Dr. Parves Khan, the new ESOMAR Director General & CEO, had a presentation about the marketing research future at each one of them. I had the pleasure to attend both presentations, as I was curious to see how the 2 different audiences will respond to the message. And, of course, it made me thinking โ what do I really make of it?
Hereโs my take:
The industry is changing. Slowly, gradually, but is changing, like anything else. Technology will continue to alter the landscape, as it always did.
We need to pay attention to new tools, in order to stay as relevant as possible. That doesnโt mean the technology will turn research on its head, although some technology evangelist might want to make you believe that.
There will still be plenty of work for those who will stick to the old ways. Itโs just that those who will be able to mix old & new tools will have more opportunities.
To the future and beyond.
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