Ipsos Seeks AI MR Lead with Billion Euro Investment

Ipsos has given details of a new strategic plan, designed to return it to 'a sustained pace of growth' and make it 'the AI augmented global market research leader'. Enhanced training of teams will be accompanied by investment in tech, AI and data totalling more than EUR 1 billion, over the next five years.

The strategy was presented at the global group's Investor Day this week and is being led by recently appointed CEO Jean Laurent Poitou (pictured). According to the plan, the firm's organic growth rate should reach '5% or more' in 2028, with operating margin rising to a record level of 13.5%.

The strategy is based around six pillars:

1. Harnessing the full potential of its broad range of services - particularly those with the most significant potential.
2. Strengthening its ability to operate globally with a strong local footprint - accelerating the development and adoption of global platforms and services, and deepening the expertise of local teams
3. 'Delivering faster, with the same reliability' - delivering insights 'in real time for some projects and within 48 hours for most others.'
4. Leveraging its mastery of AI as a differentiating lever - 'to gain speed, agility, and productivity without compromising data quality and relevance of analysis.'
5. Further developing its proprietary panels - access to real respondents being 'a key differentiator and competitive advantage' for Ipsos, enabling real-time detection of behavioral changes and serving as 'an essential prerequisite for the proper use of AI-generated synthetic data.'
6. Enabling decision-making with high value information.

The ambition of becoming 'the AI augmented Global Market Research leader' relies on two growth drivers, according to the company - reinventing our services by leveraging AI to transform ways of working and delivering faster; and maximizing the adoption of high-potential services while exploring new growth opportunities.

The billion Euro investment will be made 'primarily through acquisitions and strategic investments', and will be mainly funded by free cash flow.

Poitou states: 'We are at a pivotal moment. The opportunities presented by tech and AI will allow us to build on our strengths and further reinforce our model to become an 'Augmented Ipsos'. This strategic plan will enable us to set a new pace in a rapidly evolving market, embody the future of our industry, and reinforce our leadership. By investing in our platforms and services and leveraging the expertise of our teams, we will gain speed without ever compromising on the rigor and reliability of our research. We will thus respond to a new reality for our clients, who must act ever faster, but with the same level of trust.'

The company also confirmed its guidance for the full year 2025, with total revenue of around EUR 2,525 million, organic growth of 0.6%, and operating margin at constant scope of 12.8%. With the plan operative, Ipsos expects average organic growth of between 3% and 4% for the next three years, with an operating margin of 13.5% in 2028; rising above 5% organic growth in 2029-2030, with an operating margin above 14%.

Group home page: www.ipsos.com .