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Since 1994, InfoPro
Research (formerly Middle East Infosearch - MEI) has
been catering for the business and market research needs
of the Lebanese market. It initiated a number of sector-specific
research products in banking, insurance, construction,
real estate, and the Internet. InfoPro Research has
built-up an extensive database of information and trends
within each area of specialization. InfoPro Research
also conducts ad-hoc and omnibus research studies on
behalf of investors and companies from a variety of
business sectors. These studies include customer-satisfaction
surveys, product-testing, mystery shopping, consumer
usage and attitude, advertising effectiveness, market
penetration surveys, site surveys, and many others.
InfoPro Research has developed InfoMaps, a geographical
information system (GIS) based database used for location
analysis, distribution, and other applications. InfoPro
Research uses advanced research methodologies and techniques
that comply with ESOMAR standards.
InfoPro Research monitors and
collects data on a continuous basis on all business
sectors in Lebanon. Its library and databases include
most economic and business works and studies, legal
references, and trade and professional directories.
InfoPro offers desk research to complement its fieldwork-based
studies. This includes market survey and analysis, sectoral
analysis, economic data, and general business research.
InfoPro Research has developed
strong quantitative research tools with the use of Computer
Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) & Computer Assisted
Telephone Interviews (CATI), as well as the extensive
use of SPSS, a powerful statistical software specially
designed for market research. InfoPro Research methodologies
and sampling comply with ESOMAR standards.
InfoPro Research provides pre-
and post-advertising research solutions. Through the
use of CAPI-based interviews, both audio and visual
samples can be easily presented to all respondents.
Whether on a street intercept or a door-to-door basis,
pre- and post-advertising research allows advertisers
to test their advertising concepts and measure the effectiveness
of their campaigns.
InfoPro Research offers a wide
range of customer satisfaction surveys to virtually
any form of business. InfoPro Research helps companies
to identify customers' needs and expectations to enhance
their competitive edge and strategies.
Whether a bank, supermarket, customer
service center, call center, fast food franchise, or
other type of business, InfoPro Research's team of trained
mystery shoppers assume the role of consumers and observe
the nature and quality of the services being offered.
Mystery shopper research monitors staff performance
and service standards, and provides detailed performance
scores, ratings, and qualitative feedback to help organizations
measure their actual performance.
InfoPro Research provides companies
and manufacturers with detailed consumer perceptions,
usage habits, and potentials related to new or existing
products and services. Product-testing guarantees higher
success rates, increased customer satisfaction, and
greater achievement of time, quality, and cost objectives.
InfoPro Research provides in-depth
consumer feedback using qualitative research techniques
that comply with ESOMAR research standards. Expert moderators
use visual and physical aides and techniques to uncover
underlying consumer motivation, beliefs, attitudes,
and feelings on virtually any topic. Applications include
product testing, concept testing, taste testing, and
branding.
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InfoPro Research has a specialized
department dedicated to retail banking. It has conducted
a large number of surveys, covering a wide array of
retail banking services and issues. InfoPro Research
has developed comprehensive databases, unique in Lebanon,
on retail banking products, branch networks, and profiles
of retail banking clients and non-clients.
For several years, InfoPro Research
has studied retail banking clients by conducting Bank
Trak, a nationwide annual consumer survey. Details of
most banking services are covered in the survey, which
also incorporates an analysis of banking habits, such
as choosing a bank, switching accounts, hours of branch
usage, selection of products, electronic banking, customer
profiles, and much more. Bank Trak measures the image
of leading banks and advertising effectiveness. Bank
Trak provides an analysis of particular market segments
such as family, female, and young adult banking behavior,
as well as identifying historical trends. Customized
reports are available to meet the specific needs of
individual clients.
 
InfoPro Research has developed a comprehensive database
on retail banking products in the Lebanese market. Retail
Banking Monitor (RBM) monitors in detail loan products,
savings schemes, electronic banking services, and plastic
cards. The database is packaged in a software program
installed at the client's site, and updated electronically
to subscribers online, and provides on-the-spot alerts
of new and modified retail banking products launched.
The program allows the user to manipulate the data,
customize reports, view monitored banks' brochures,
and print information.
InfoPro Research has developed a
bank branch network optimization service. It provides
banks with a detailed profile of the retail and commercial
activities in the area under study, to investigate the
local banking habits, and to make recommendations on the
feasibility of opening a branch. Branch Map supplies banks
with information about the catchment area of their branch,
suggests optimization of network coverage, and identifies
gaps and overlaps in the network. It helps measure the
market share of each branch in its area and is used to
determine the best locations for new branches. Branch
Map uses InfoMaps, a computerized map based on a continually
updated building-by-building survey, advanced satellite
imagery, and geographical information systems.
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The sudden
and rapid development of the Internet in Lebanon has brought
many new companies to the market and led established companies
to reconsider their Internet strategies. InfoPro Research
has been monitoring the market since the beginning of
this growth explosion. This includes the development of
telecommunication laws, as well as Internet Service Providers
(ISPs), web developers, and e-commerce solution providers.
Internet Trak is the first comprehensive
consumer survey on Internet usage habits in Lebanon.
The study analyzes both corporate and home users. Internet
Trak includes an overview of ISPs, web sites, web developers,
types of Internet connections and subscriptions, and
a legal overview of the Internet in Lebanon. Internet
Trak measures ISP market share, analyzes consumer usage
and attitude, customer loyalty, browsing, time spent
on the Internet, evaluation of most frequented Internet
sites, search engines, chatting, international calling,
and downloading. E-commerce is explored to include buying
habits, payment methods, fees, and much more. The study
looks at Internet advertisement recall on international
web sites and local web sites, as well as the effectiveness
of ISP advertising.
 Web
Monitor is a subscription service that delivers information
on the potential development of corporate web sites
in Lebanon. Web Monitor is based on Computer Assisted
Telephone Interviews (CATI) with the general manager
or the IT manager of medium and large companies operating
in Lebanon. Web Monitor offers the following information:
Web Site information
- Availability of a web site in the interviewed
companies
- Satisfaction with the existing web site (if applicable)
- Potential to setup a new web site or update an existing
one
- Objectives behind having or intending to have a web
site
- Willingness to deal with a web development company
Company Profile
- Company name
- Company activity
- Company nationality
- Name of general manager or IT manager
- Budget allocated for the development of the web site
- Detailed address of the company
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InfoPro
Research has pioneered study of the insurance market
in Lebanon. With the collaboration of leading insurance
companies, it has identified their specific needs in
market information. InfoPro Research also monitors the
development of the insurance market in Lebanon, including
the evolvement of legal requirements, marketing, and
product introductions.
 
InfoPro Research conducts Insurance
Trak, a syndicated nationwide survey on the usage and
attitudes of insurance consumers and company clients
in Lebanon. Insurance products are analyzed and categorized
under four product families: Medical, car, property,
and life. Insurance habits are analyzed, such as the
choice of an insurance company, selection of products,
customer profiles, and much more. Insurance Trak analyzes
customer's awareness of insurance companies and products,
investigates types of policies, factors behind the rejection
of purchasing insurance protection, motivation, switching
habits, insurance companies' image and market share
in Lebanon, as well as identifying the policyholder's
profile. Customized reports are available.
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InfoPro Research
has developed a comprehensive database on newly constructed
buildings throughout Lebanon. The data is collected from
project owners, managers, and on-site. All the information
emanates from primary sources. The database contains specific
information on thousands of properties, including the
owners, contractors, building specifications, sale prices,
and other relevant information.
 
InfoPro Research publishes Project Monitor, a monthly
subscription-based service used by dozens of suppliers
of construction material. These include suppliers of
steel, cement products, aluminum and glass, tiling and
sanitary products, lighting and electrical works and
components, and many other types of suppliers in the
construction field. In addition, users of Project Monitor
include soil testing companies, engineers, architects,
interior designers, and real estate agents. Project
Monitor is offered in four different configurations.
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InfoPro
Research has developed in a joint venture with Maps
sal a Geographical Information System (GIS). Database
solutions are developed to meet specific needs, such
as location analysis, sales and distribution, tracking,
and others.
This GIS-based product includes
satellite imagery, geotechnical engineering, and market
research. InfoMaps is designed to provide simple solutions
requiring minimum hardware and software requirements,
as well as to cater for large complex projects. Solutions
include retail banking, FMCG distribution, vehicle tracking,
fast food network design, transport, and others.
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