What to know about consumer data describes collection, privacy and consumer behavior patterns that businesses and shoppers focus on. Businesses collect and analyze data on customers to accomplish a specific goal. A professional research firm can also perform these two tasks, but the goal remains the same. Some research firms increase their sample size to include international shoppers. Companies with an international presence need these international data to make informed decisions.

Consumer research firms favor panel surveys to acquire the desired shopper data and to discover consumer preferences. A panel survey is like taking one picture of the shopper. Then researchers analyze the picture and learn what it tells them. When a panel survey is given over months or years, it becomes known as a longitudinal survey. Panel studies are one of the mainstays of market research. They far from being the only methods to learn about shoppers.

Some retailer stores use mystery shoppers as a way to get feedback on specific store locations and specific employees. This practice is surging in popularity. Sales persons learn directly from shoppers. Mystery shoppers reveal how they feel about the shopping experience in that store location. The sales people use this direct personnel testimony to improve customer service and to increase sales. An internet driven market place probably has an internet driven method to gather and analyze shopper data. One method involves automatic electronic tracking using scanned bar codes also called scanner data.

Scanner data from bar codes allows the automatic creation of databases of purchase patterns data. Bar codes look like black parallel lines. Product manufacturers paste these black lines on the product label of nearly every product they make for sale through internet and retail stores. Bar codes match the international system of classification of goods traded around planet earth. Another benefit of using scanner data is the ability to sync up with international trade data bases.

Privacy Concerns

Shoppers and businesses share common concerns. Business watchdog groups, and government and industry representatives regularly meet to put in place privacy protection. Consumers enjoy shopping and realize stores always collect data on them. Businesses need data about purchase patterns to become more profitable. Businesses and consumers gain much when they cooperate.

Important privacy topics include sharing of shopper data and not allowing data to be used for purposes other than marketing. Businesses that rely on data from consumers need to always store data in an impenetrable location. The best protection of sensitive data sets and internet access involves active cooperation between consumers and businesses. Industry leaders try to create industry standards for collection, storage, dissemination, and use of data on consumers.

Consumer Behavior Patterns

The Holy Grail of shopper data research is the unknowable answer to two lonely questions, namely what do people want and how much will people pay. A business that is horizontally integrated faces the chore of cross referencing these two answers with their several companies. Small businesses use these answers for one company, but the revenue of one company can sustain several families. Every business, big or small, faces the same two tasks, namely predicting what people want and what people are willing to pay.

What to know about consumer data describes collection, privacy and consumer behavior patterns that companies and consumers find important.

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Category: Business
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