Data collection is an essential component of any research or data analysis project. Collecting data enables you to gather data about a topic and draw conclusions from it. Only when you have garnered good data can you extract quality inferences and conclusions that can answer the big question that caused you to collect the data in the first instance.

Getting web data for market research in business circles is not strange, as it engenders growth, but not always. After all, Statista records that total data as of 2020 was over 64 zettabytes. Hence, it’s not just about getting data, but good and relevant data.

Using the wrong data collection methods and tools can take you backward instead of forwards and waste your time and money, especially in business. Understanding how a data collection tool can help you is vital, and the importance of data collection cannot be overemphasized.

This article highlights the importance of data collection and suggests the best data collection tools. Read on to find out more.

Importance of Data Collection

Data collection is critical for not only big businesses but also small and medium ones. As long as it’s a business, data collection is profitable and should be embarked on routinely. Also, data collection is not just for the business world alone but also for the academic world, where comparisons must be made and growth accessed.

Here are some vital points to prove the importance of data collection:

1. Data collection saves time and money that would otherwise be wasted on unimportant and unnecessary strategies and policies in the business.

2. Data collection helps gather info and evidence to support claims for a change in direction or approach. Proving how better digital marketing can increase sales through data collection will help make easier and faster decisions.

3. Data collection helps businesses, individuals, and institutions to plan well for the long term.

4. Data collection helps you know who your real customers are and how you can help these customers better through improved service delivery. For example, you can easily recognize which products are being purchased by which age group/social class.

5. Data collection helps you identify inherent problems. Not all problems are visible; you might need to check your stats to be in the know. For example, you realize that certain customers stopped patronizing your store through surveys. Then you realize this happened when you changed cleaning fluids for your store racks – the new one causes allergies.  

Best Data Collection Tools for You

Knowing some bits and pieces about data collection and analysis tools can help you find the best one that can properly handle the web data for market research for analysis. Here are the top five data collection tools you can employ:

1. Repsly

Repsly offers a data collection tool that appears as a mobile customer relationship management (CRM) software. It can be of immense benefit to small and medium-sized businesses in the retail sector. With this tool, you can monitor and assess a business’ sales performance by identifying patterns in purchased and on-the-shelf goods. You can also use this software to track the productivity of sales team members and inventory.

2. Zonka Feedback

This is a widely used data collection tool. It is popular because of its feedback feature that many other data collection tools lack. And because of its easy-to-use customer survey analysis features. Zonka Feedback allows you to create and use CSAT, CES, and NPS surveys and supports easy capturing of the experiences of website visitors who use feedback buttons, links, and popups.

Zonka has many useful features, including survey redirection, themes, languages, and more. You can use pre-designed templates (over twenty question types) and edit client evaluation and satisfaction surveys to your liking and specific use. You can also offer surveys in multiple languages and update your work in real-time.

3. GoSpotCheck

For businesses that utilize a lot of field data, GoSpotCheck is the tool to go for. This tool assembles and analyzes real-time data and executes quick analysis. Furthermore, it enables traceable insight into all situations, which aids in understanding how the current sales staff handle their tasks and how to get better at them.

With GoSpotCheck makes on-site data reporting and perception extremely easy for sales representatives and field teams. Field teams, here is the tool for you!

Some other features of GoSpotCheck are easy software integration, infographic data reporting, easy content distribution, and a good process for capturing images and analytics.

4. Forms on Fire

Forms on Fire maintains relevance in a market condensed with numerous data collection tools because of its document digitizing process and cloud integration. The software offers pre-designed templates where you can input the collected data and share it with your colleagues in real-time. You can access the forms online or offline and view them on a computer or a mobile device.

Conclusion

Data collection tools are essential for conducting reliable data analysis. Ensure you choose a function-friendly tool that simplifies your data collection process and provides accurate reports to extract the best possible results for further use.

There is no point in collating data if you will not work on it, which entails converting data to insights. Do not forget to thank your respondents after data collection.