Building a future-ready research agency

Market research isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days when you could collect data in one place, analyze it in another, and manually stitch everything together like some kind of scary digital Frankenstein. Today’s clients want faster insights, richer data, and reports that don’t take three weeks to compile. And who can blame them? 

If your agency is still wrangling disconnected platforms, manual data entry, and a dozen software subscriptions that refuse to talk to each other, this blog is for you. Now, let’s get into it! 

The reality is that many researchers are still buried under manual tasks:  

• Researchers spend 80% of their time preparing data and only 20% finding insights 

• Professionals not using AI or integrated solutions complete tasks 25% slower than those who do 

• Only 1 in 5 market research professionals have fully embraced AI as part of their core strategy. Crazy, eh?  

That’s a whole lot of wasted time, untapped potential, and stress-fueled coffee consumption. 

But the researchers that get integration, automation and AI right? They’re the ones delivering insights at lightning speed, reducing errors, and outpacing the competition. 

So, how do you build a future-ready research agency with integrated solutions? Let’s break it down. 

Step 1: audit your current research toolkit (and find out what’s slowing you down) 

First things first—take a good, hard look at your tech stack. Ask yourself:  

• How many different tools are you using for data collection, analytics, reporting, and visualization? 

• Are your platforms seamlessly integrated, or are you exporting, importing, and copy-pasting like it’s 2008? 

• Are there redundant systems that simply aren’t pulling their weight? 

If your tools aren’t saving time, improving accuracy, and making your life easier, it’s time for an upgrade. 

Step 2: choose an integrated research platform (because patchwork solutions are holding you back) 

Not all platforms are created equal. The goal here is to centralize everything from data collection to reporting into one powerful, automated and AI-driven ecosystem. 

With an integrated research solution, you get: 

✅ End-to-end efficiency: no more hopping between a dozen tools just to get a simple answer. 
✅ Real-time Insights: AI-enhanced automation speeds up analysis, letting you focus on what matters. 
✅ Error reduction: fewer manual steps mean fewer mistakes (and fewer late-night data cleanups). 

Take Forsta’s HX Platform, for example. It seamlessly blends customer experience, employee experience, and market research. Breaking down silos and delivering insights in record time. (Yes, we’re biased, but also… it works.) 

Step 3: automate the boring stuff (so you can focus on the fun, brainy bits) 

Let’s be real, nobody got into market research because they love data entry, formatting spreadsheets, or manually coding open-ended responses. Unless you did, and in which case, no judgement.  

But the beauty of integration? AI and automation handle the grunt work so your team can focus on the fun stuff: AKA delivering impactful insights that change the world (or at the very least, change your clients’ businesses for the better).  

What this looks like in action: 

• AI-powered data cleaning: no more wasting hours fixing messy datasets 

• Automated reporting & visualization: watch your PowerPoint decks generate themselves in real time 

• Intelligent probing in surveys: adaptive AI can give respondents prompts to enrich their answers, giving you richer qualitative insights 

The result? More time spent uncovering the ‘why’ behind the data. Not just processing it. 

Step 4: avoid these common mistakes when integrating research solutions 

Even with the best of intentions, agencies often stumble when trying to integrate new tools. To help you get started, here’s what not to do: 

🚨 Mistake #1: choosing tools that don’t talk to each other 
Some platforms look shiny and exciting, but if they don’t integrate smoothly with your existing systems, they’re more trouble than they’re worth. 

🚨 Mistake #2: underestimating training needs 
Integration only works if your team knows how to use it. Investing in training makes sure that automation doesn’t lead to confusion and inefficiency. 

🚨 Mistake #3: not thinking about scalability 
You might only need simple survey tools now, but what about in five years time? Choose a platform that can grow with you, not one you’ll outgrow in a year. 

Step 5: what happens if you don’t integrate? (spoiler: it’s not pretty) 

So, what if you decide not to embrace integration? 

❌ Longer project timelines: expect slow, manual data wrangling that eats up precious time 
❌ Frustrated clients: if they can’t get quick, actionable insights, they’ll take their business elsewhere 
❌ Higher operational costs: more manual work = more billable hours spent on admin instead of real insights 
❌ Missed opportunities: without real-time insights, you’ll always be a step behind the competition 

Integration isn’t just about making life easier, it’s about future-proofing your agency and keeping your clients happy. 

What’s in it for you? (besides a lot less stress) 

So, what’s the payoff for embracing integrated research solutions? 

• Faster, smarter research: we’re talking less time on grunt work, and more time on strategy
• Higher-quality insights: AI-enhanced analysis = deeper, more accurate findings
• Better ROI: less wasted time = more billable hours doing high-value work
• Stronger competitive edge: clients want agencies that deliver fast, actionable insights

In short: integration is no longer optional. It’s the key to future-proofing your agency. 

Don’t just keep up. Lead the charge 

The research world is only getting faster and more complex. Not to mention more competitive as the months pass us by. With that in mind, we’re confidently predicting that the agencies who embrace integration and automation today will drive innovation tomorrow. 

So, if you’re still cobbling together fragmented tools and manually crunching numbers, now’s the time to level up. 

Ready to supercharge your insights? Learn how Forsta’s integrated solutions can help you ditch the inefficiencies and thrive in the new era of research.