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Who doesn’t love getting more data? More data provides more insight to the nuts and bolts of your day to day operations. How your organization runs, what areas are most efficient, how you can improve processes is all seen through data. However, not all data is as easily accessible as others. For example, understanding your customer base and what potential clients want from your organization can be tricky data to mine. For this, we recommend you use quantitative surveys. Simple and straightforward, these surveys can answer some of the most basic, yet vital questions to your organization!

What are Quantitative Surveys?

Quantitative surveys aim to quantify something into a numerical or statistical value. These may be opinions, the point of views, product reviews, or others that cannot simply be put into numerical value. Likewise, these surveys look to ask a variety of short, concise questions about your organization, products, or services. Questions, such as “From 1 to 10, how likely are you to repurchase your last product?”. Although these questions may not be very detailed, collectively they provide vital insight into your organization. Additionally, these surveys are sent to your existing and potential customers and work to improve what your organization should offer.

Who Takes the Surveys?

Who you ask and how frequently you do so ultimately determine how insightful your data will be. If you send a quantitative survey to every customer after each purchase, you will collect a large amount of data. Likewise, you can monitor purchasing habits and analyze how they change over time. However, the key to receiving honest data from your customers is to ask only what you need and not more. Long, drawn out surveys that take up more time will discourage customers from answering the survey accurately or at all.

How Do You Collect the Data?

Next, your collection process is critical to the success of your quantitative surveys. Some organizations may require an outside contractor to analyze the incoming data. Likewise, certain companies may prefer to send surveys to customers via post rather than email. These delivery factors can lead to more expenses, decreasing the value of your data collection. To combat this, we recommend two things. First, analyzing the data in-house. Second, distributing surveys via email.

As a Six Sigma employee, you understand the need for improvements as seen when practicing DMAIC. Quantitative surveys are no different. As you begin to construct your surveys, decide a few select questions you want to ask. Next, find a way to turn your customers’ responses into numerical data. Typically, this will be in the form of a scale or ranking system. After this, send out your surveys and receive their responses electronically. Not only does this decrease additional costs, but it also increases the response time and data accuracy. Last, analyze the data within your organization. Of course, your surveys are pertinent to your operations. Organize a project team that distributes, collects, and analyze the incoming data from your surveys. In no time, you will have greater insight into your operations and find new ways for improvement!