Research in Progress
At Verity, we provide niche market research for businesses, associations, publications, and industries.
Rather than standard “check-the-box” survey-driven studies, we conduct research via high numbers of phone interviews that offer greater depth and understanding of topic “hot buttons”. Interviews are typically 15 minutes in duration. Depending on the study, participants may receive a white paper or report over-viewing the results.
At this time, we are conducting research projects on the following:
2012 DC/Warehouse Technology Report
Overview: This study seeks to understand technology usage in North American distribution centers and warehouses by studying current technology satisfaction, device usage, new technology initiatives, issues impacting operations, issues related to cold-storage (where applicable), error tracking/cost-per-error, employee labor issues, buyer preferences, and other information key to understanding the changing needs of the DC/warehouse marketplace. Participants will receive a free copy of the report when it publishes in June of 2012.
Participant qualifications: By invitation only- partcipants must have a minimum of two DC’s/warehouses in operation, must operate their own DC or DC+ 3PL, and have at least ten taskworkers on staff.
Retail In-Store Technology Solutions Market
Overview: This study overviews in-store technology solutions usage, planned deployment, and initiatives among large retail operations having 200+ stores. Specifically, it covers the following technologies in the retail sector: back-end inventory/POS systems, hardware mobile devices, and RFID, with the goal of determining the extent to which these technologies are deployed, plans for deployment, user preferences, and replacement and purchase plans over the next two years.
Participant qualifications: This study focuses primarily on VP’s of Store Operations, though it is open to other job titles who oversee technology usage at the corporate level.
Voice-Picking Technology Usage in Distribution Centers: 2012-13
Overview: This study examines voice-picking technology usage, deployment plans, and selection criteria in distribution centers throughout the U.S. It gauges the extent to which DC’s have implemented voice-picking technology to date, reviews factors that have caused DC’s to lag in adopting VP solutions, and determines the percentage of DC’s looking to implement VP technology from mid-2011 – 2013. Additionally, this report covers: problems considered most critical within distribution centers, the extent to which common DC issues impact monthly operations, tracking of error rate/cost/and limits per employee, turnover rate and average training times for order pickers, and planned initiatives for improving warehouse efficiency.
Participant qualifications: This study focuses primarily on DC managers and supervisors but is open to all management-level and higher employees who oversee distribution center operations.
Mobile Computing Practices in Health Care: 2012-13
Overview: This study examines mobile technology plans and practices in medical facilities, especially as it pertains to patient safety and regulatory standards compliance. Participants will be queried about current mobile capabilities in their facilities; extent of bar coding technology usage among patients, staff, and for pharmacy control and inventory; current and future plans for patient safety initiatives; growth and construction projections; issues that continue despite the implementation of technologies, and more.
Participant qualifications: This study seeks participants with the following job titles: Chief Nursing Officer, Nursing Director, Head of Nursing, Nursing Informatic Coordinator, MediTech Coordinator, Purchasing Officer, IT Director.
Survey participants will receive a report reviewing our findings in aggregate. This report will enable participants to compare the current level of mobile technology, as well as plans for future technology implementation, in their facilities to that of similar size facilities.
Mobile Automation Practices in the Food and Beverage Industry
Overview: This study looks at mobile technology practices and plans for the food and beverage industry. Specifically, it will examine mobile hardware and applications currently being utilized for customer management, promotions, merchandising, field sales, and field service and will gauge satisfaction levels with these solutions. Participants will also be asked to discuss various challenges they continue to face that impact their overall operations costs–as pertains to mobile hardware and durability–and for information that provides a picture of market needs for the year ahead.
Participant qualifications: This study seeks participants with the following job titles: IT Manager, VP of Technical Services, VP of Operations, General Manager, CTO, CIO.
Survey participants will receive a report reviewing our findings in aggregate. This report will examine overall market needs and practices regarding mobile technology for the food and beverage industry.
Security Automation Market: 2011-2012
Overview: The purpose of this study is to gauge current levels of courthouse and prison security automation across the United States and to determine the extent to which secure facilities will increase automation through 2012.
Participant qualifications: This study is based on interviews with participants holding the following job titles: Chief of Police, Judge, Bailiff, Other. Participants will be questioned regarding current level of security automation within their facility, extent to which automation projects have been changed due to economy, whether they feel their existing automation provides adequate security, obstacles that have most hindered security automation projects, the extent to which they feel their security automation matches or exceeds that of similar facilities, and what their security automation plans are through 2012.
Survey participants will receive a report over-viewing findings in aggregate. This report will enable them to see how they compare to similar facilities in terms of existing and planned security automation.
Northwest Fleet Automation Market: 2012-2013
Overview: This study looks at planned and projected mobile computing, route accounting and fleet management projects for the next two years. In addition to considering market trends and influences, it will address budgets, solution requirements, and buyer needs in order to help industry players better understand critical factors that must be addressed to facilitate growth.
Participant qualifications: The study seeks participants with the following job titles: President, Owner, Fleet Manager, Operations Manager, Transportation Director. Participants will be questioned on current issues affecting their operations, planned/projected purchase budgets, fleet size, and solution requirements that they feel are most critical to meet their needs.
Survey participants will receive a report over-viewing our findings in aggregate. This report will enable participants to compare their current level of automation to those of similar companies and to benchmark where they stand in terms of budget, operations issues, and system requirements compared to peer businesses. Aggregate overviews of this study will appear in Integrated Solutions magazine and various trade publications.
Midwest Fleet Automation Market: 2012-2013
Overview: This study looks at planned and projected mobile computing, route accounting and fleet management projects for the next two years. In addition to considering market trends and influences, it will address budgets, solution requirements, and buyer needs in order to help industry players better understand critical factors that must be addressed to facilitate growth.
Participant qualifications: The study seeks participants with the following job titles: President, Owner, Fleet Manager, Operations Manager, Transportation Director. Participants will be questioned on current issues affecting their operations, planned/projected purchase budgets, fleet size, and solution requirements that they feel are most critical to meet their needs.
Survey participants will receive a report over-viewing our findings in aggregate. This report will enable participants to compare their current level of automation to those of similar companies and to benchmark where they stand in terms of budget, operations issues, and system requirements compared to peer businesses. Aggregate overviews of this study will appear in Integrated Solutions magazine and various trade publications.
Southeast Fleet Automation Market: 2012-2013
Overview: This study looks at planned and projected mobile computing, route accounting and fleet management projects for the next two years. In addition to considering market trends and influences, it will address budgets, solution requirements, and buyer needs in order to help industry players better understand critical factors that must be addressed to facilitate growth.
Participant qualifications: This study seeks participants with the following job titles: President, Owner, Fleet Manager, Operations Manager, Transportation Director. Participants will be questioned on current issues affecting their operations, planned/projected purchase budgets, fleet size, and solution requirements that they feel are most critical to meet their needs.
Survey participants will receive a report over-viewing our findings in aggregate. This report will enable participants to compare their current level of automation to those of similar companies and to benchmark where they stand in terms of budget, operations issues, and system requirements compared to peer businesses. Aggregate overviews of this study will appear in Integrated Solutions magazine and various trade publications.
