Greenfield Online's real-time sampling capability consists of soliciting potential survey takers who are on the websites of the company's Global Survey Network, all of which are pre-screened.
Through this network, the company has been able to reach potential survey takers online who are willing to take a survey, but who may not want to join a marketing research panel.
Once the individual clicks through, they are assigned to participate in a particular survey by Greenfield Online's proprietary survey router. This internally developed technology screens survey recruits in real time and assigns them into surveys for which they qualify based on demographic data.
The company expects to launch the capability in Germany and France during the first quarter of 2008 and claims it is the first of its kind in the European market. It allows Greenfield Online and Ciao Surveys to offer clients an expanded source of high quality respondent supply.
Albert Angrisani, president and CEO of Greenfield Online, said: "Our investments in technology and innovation over the last two years are providing value-added product breakthroughs for our clients. In addition, we believe these technology driven product breakthroughs, like real-time sampling, are building a competitive advantage for Greenfield/Ciao! in the global marketplace and making our business model more efficient."
Hugh Davis, executive vice-president and co-founder of Greenfield Online, said: "Our real-time sampling capability has ensured that we have ample, scalable high-quality supply to meet client demand. We have proven with this capability we are better able to source the right respondent, for the right survey, at that time -- when he or she might be in the right frame of mind to take a survey. Now that we have implemented our global technology platform in Europe, we are bringing the benefits of real-time sampling to our European clients as well."