Vision Critical Grows, Partners with CMR

In Canada, research software developer Vision Critical has reported triple digit growth for the third consecutive year. The firm has also teamed up with US full-service agency Creative Marketing Research (CMR) to develop proprietary online customer advisory panels.

CEO Angus Reid said that in the last three years, the firm had doubled its operations and gross revenues, adding: 'The growth we've seen to date is expected to continue as we expand our operations globally and advance our capabilities with our custom panel platform and our suite of 3D retail simulations.'

Meanwhile sister company Angus Reid Strategies has also shown strong growth, and opened new operations in San Francisco, New York and London.

CMR will use Vision Critical's online Panel+ and Fusion software to develop proprietary online customer advisory panels for its clients, and in return will provide panel design, recruiting and management services, as well as research design, reporting and advanced analytics; while Vision Critical will provide web-based server platforms, technical support, and software updates.

CMR's CEO Lynn Brown commented: 'Under this alliance we will be an early entrant into custom online panels, helping clients gain better access to consumers, improve the quality of research, and turn around research in days, not weeks and months.'

According to Vision Critical SVP Brett Glover, Panel+ is the only software to offer both quant panels and qual communities in one research tool. 'Clients get an average of 48% response rate with custom online panels compared to dwindling figures for telephone research,' he added.

The partners are on the web at www.visioncritical.com and www.c8mr.com .