MRSI Initiatives

MRSI has been at the forefront of numerous groundbreaking initiatives throughout 2024. Here is a snapshot of some of the remarkable work they have undertaken:

SPECIAL WEBINAR ON ISEC IMPLEMENTATION

On 5th April 2024, MRSI hosted an exclusive webinar focusing on the implementation of the Indian Socio-Economic Classification (ISEC). The webinar featured a distinguished panel of experts who provided valuable insights into practical applications of the ISEC grid.

The panel included Parijat Chakraborty, India Lead for Public Affairs, Corporate Reputation, ESG, and CSR at Ipsos; Prashant Kolleri, Leader for Consumer Insights in South Asia at NielsenIQ; and Siddhartha Banerjee, Director of F2F & CATI Data Acquisition for South Asia at Kantar. Each expert shared extensive experience and knowledge, providing attendees with a thorough understanding of how the ISEC framework can be effectively utilized across various research and strategic contexts.

To catch up on the recorded session, please click here

HONORING VISIONARIES: MRSI CELEBRATES FOUNDERS OF THE ISEC

During the AGM on 27th June 2024, MRSI paid tribute to the architects of the ISEC for their invaluable contributions. The honoured stalwarts include Ashutosh Sinha, Sanjoy Datta, Praveen Tripathi, Thomas Puliyel and the late Sandeep Saxena, whose visionary efforts established the foundation of this classification system.

IMRD24: EMPOWERING HUMANE RESEARCH WITH A SPECIAL PANEL DISCUSSION

Like every year, since 2021, MRSI joins the International Market Research Day (IMRD) hosted by ESOMAR.

The theme for IMRD24 was "Celebrating Research: The Joy and Achievements in Market Research." On this occasion, MRSI organized a special Live panel discussion "Humane Impact - Going Beyond Research." The focus was to spotlight Indian research teams and organizations that exemplify humane practices, promoting positive impacts on both the planet and people. The panel discussed about passionate initiatives and unique implementation programs, addressing critical agendas such as sustainability and diversity.

The panellists included: Nandita Singh, AVP & The Culture Engine at Purple Audacity; Ayushi Sharma, Associate Director at Ipsos India; Paru Minocha, Managing Director (Head - Qualitative and Sustainability Transformation Practice, India) at Kantar.

To catch up on the recorded session, please click here

TCP2024: YOUNG RESEARCHERS EMPOWERING NGOS WITH MARKET INSIGHTS

The TCP2024 results showcase outstanding projects in research and insights, reflecting innovation and impactful contributions to pressing social challenges.

TCP2024 Winner: Chandramouli Sundaram from Kantar with the project “Understanding Bystander Behavior for a Safe Community.” This project provided valuable insights into community safety by examining bystander behavior. The winning team (researcher and NGO) is nominated for the ESOMAR’s Research Got Talent.

Finalists: Snigdha Gupta and Raunaq Singh from NielsenIQ for their project “Access to Education and Gender Equality,” focusing on innovative solutions to promote education and gender equity.

Monika Khatri and Tripti Joshi from Ipsos with their project “Creating Effective Pathways for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities,” which explored strategies for enhanced inclusivity.

The Community Program (TCP), an initiative by MRSI, aims to contribute to society by identifying grassroots NGOs and charities dedicated to social causes. The program harnesses the ideas, skills, and enthusiasm of young research professionals, to address key challenges faced by social organizations.

MRSI MC MEMBERS SPEARHEAD EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES

In a proactive move towards fostering Educational Alliance and empowering emerging talent, members of the Managing Committee have taken centerstage as guest speakers at MET (Mumbai Educational Trust). This initiative marks a significant commitment by MRSI to share industry insights and prepare the next generation for the dynamic landscape of market research.

Abhinav Goel, Senior Lead of Consumer Insights at Nestle India, delivered a compelling session on the “Role of digitization & AI in Marketing @ Nestle” on 30th January 2024.

Nitin Kamat, Chief Growth & Partnerships Officer at TAM Media Research Pvt. Ltd. and currently MRSI President, will present on "The Impact of Globalization on Local Markets," on 27th July, offering invaluable perspectives on navigating global trends while preserving local market dynamics.

This initiative is integral to MRSI's broader mission of advancing market research practices and preparing the next generation of research professionals, by bridging academia with industry expertise.

WEDNESDAY WEBINAR: POPPING THE INSIGHTS PILL - HOW DOES MARKETING AND RESEARCH WORK IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR?

On 21st of August this year, MRSI hosted a webinar on the intersection of marketing and research in healthcare. The session was hosted by Sunder Muthuraman, Executive Vice President, IPSOS MMA; Mukul Gautam, VP & Chief Of Capacity Building, Purple Audacity; Amitabh Mishra, Head-Insights and Analytics - India, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories; and Sivakumar Somanathan, Consumer Behaviour Consultant, Curious Cat Consulting; including speakers Amitabh Mishra, Head- Insights and Analytics, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories; Dr. Sanjoy Mitra, Founder and Managing Director, SMSRC; Praful Akali, Founder & MD, Medulla Communications; and Gauri Pathak, Country Service Line Leader, Healthcare, Ipsos.

Here's a breakdown of the key insights:

• Healthcare Market Overview:
  • The Indian pharmaceutical industry is worth ₹5.4 lakh crores, with ₹2,000 crores spent on marketing research.
  • Healthcare is twice the size of the FMCG market, with hospitals contributing 70%, pharma 20%, and MedTech 10%.
• Prescription Data and Research:
  • Dr. Sanjoy Mitra discussed the dominance of branded generics in India’s pharmaceutical market, where prescription data reflects doctors' treatment aspirations.
  • Prescription trends, dosage, and price determine sales, with historical shifts from manual data to electronic medical records (EMR) enhancing accuracy.
• Holistic Healthcare:
  • Gauri Pathak highlighted the shift from symptom-based to prevention-focused care, with an emphasis on technology, patient self-reliance, and integrated healthcare.
• Diabetes Management:
  • Amitabh Mishra revealed the gaps in diabetes management, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and adherence to treatment guidelines. A KAP study showed only 10% of physicians recognized the link between diabetes and skin itchiness.
• Creative Campaigns:
  • Praful Akali shared insights into campaigns like "Last Words" (palliative care awareness) and MuscleBlaze's "#Tumnahisamjhoge" (gym-goers' mental health). Both campaigns used real-life insights to craft authentic communication.

The webinar showcased the critical role of market research in creating effective healthcare marketing strategies.

For more details about this webinar check here

MRSI’S 32ND ANNUAL MARKET RESEARCH SEMINAR: ‘RISE AND SHINE’

The Market Research Society of India (MRSI) held its 32nd Annual Market Research Seminar, themed ‘Rise and Shine’ on September 23-24, 2024, at Taj Lands End in Mumbai. The event, hosted by Raunaq Singh of NIQ and Chandramouli Sundaram of Kantar, saw over 700 in-person and virtual attendees. A total of 99 research papers were submitted, with 23 being shortlisted and presented across four themes: Rise to Reroute, Rise to Scale, Rise to New Vistas, and Rise to Lead. The seminar’s success was backed by partners such as Smytten Pulse, Hindustan Unilever, ITC, and Nestlé, with media support from Adgully, Adtech Today, and Manifest. The seminar committee was led by Amitabh Pande of Diageo India and Ashwini Sirsikar of Ipsos.

The event underscored the evolving role of research, technology, and creativity in shaping the future of the market research industry.

Here are some pictures highlighting the key moments of the event:

To view the recording of the seminar please visit here