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Headquarters Office:

3020 Westchester Avenue
Suite 307
Purchase, NY  10577

Tel: (914) 696-5100
Fax: (914) 696-5101
e-mail: pworthington@abramsconsulting.com

 

 

RESEARCH CAPABILITIES & SERVICES

Abrams Travel Data Services (ATD) is the leading specialized travel market research firm serving the global auto rental, fleet management, and allied travel and transportation industries. ATD is a full-service travel market research firm offering both quantitative and qualitative research. ATD offers its clients: consumer and business-to-business surveys; focus group moderation; market intelligence reports, which offer hard-to-find information on industry data and trends; proprietary, one-of-a-kind products such as Car Rental Market Scan, a subscriber information service tracking the auto rental industry; and, Abrams Quality Compass, a quality assurance tracking and benchmarking product created for car rental companies. This brochure provides a detailed description of ATD’s market research capabilities and services, and profiles of its key staff members.

ATD is a business unit of Purchase, New York based Abrams Consulting Group, Inc., the leading car rental consulting and fleet management consulting and research firm worldwide since 1982.

 

SCOPE OF RESEARCH SERVICES

As a full-service Travel Market Research firm, ATD handles all phases of a market research project from study design to a full written analysis of the findings, and utilizes state-of-the art research methodologies. This includes:

QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE
Assistance In Problem Definition Assistance In Problem Definition
Study Design Study Design
Sample Selection Sample Selection
Questionnaire Design Focus Group Recruitment
Field Interviewing Set-Up and Control Discussion Guide
Data Tabulation Moderating
Statistical Analysis Competitive/Market Intelligence
Analysis & Interpretation of Data Executive Interviews
Reports Reports
Presentation of Results/Presentation Graphics Presentation of Findings

 
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Domestic and International Capabilities

Our international affiliates provide us with a global network of travel market research experts allowing us to provide quality travel market research services to our clients worldwide.

Interviewing is available in a variety of languages. Translations are made by qualified translators with reports available in the desired languages.
 

 

Types of Studies

ATD has extensive experience in the following types of research:

  • Concept Tests
  • New Product Tests
  • Brand Merchandising Studies
  • Consumer Awareness/Perception Studies
  • Product/Service Introduction Studies
  • Competitive/Market Intelligence Studies
  • Gap & Needs Analysis
  • Educational and Program Outcome Evaluation
  • Benchmarking Studies
  • Quality Assurance Studies
  • Customer Satisfaction Studies
  • Usage and Attitude Studies
  • Segmentation Studies
  • Tracking Studies
  • Mystery Shopper Studies
  • Pricing Studies
  • TV Commercial Studies
  • Print Ad Tests
  • Regulatory Studies
  • Site Location Studies

 

Interviewing Methods

Telephone
Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing allows for accurately administered surveys and quicker turnaround time for data. Interviewing on paper is also available for those projects that dictate a more hands-on approach.
 

Mail
Experience with numerous mail studies has given us the techniques necessary to ensure maximum return rates.

  • individually addressed envelopes with stamps hand applied
  • postcard reminders
  • telephone reminders
  • concise and clear questionnaires
  • questionnaires professionally printed
  • respondent incentives, if necessary

 

Internet
We offer Internet/World Wide Web based interviewing. Survey administration on the web offers fast data collection, less opportunity for human error and more convenience for respondents. Studies are conducted when the subject matter is appropriate for interviewing respondents who have access to the Internet.

 

Mall/Central Location
ATD has close working relationships with a vast array of mall/central location facilities throughout the U.S. and in foreign countries. Malls are chosen for each study to best represent the client’s target market. We screen for and interview only those respondents desired for the study.

We also pre-recruit respondents by phone, mail, or possibly mall-intercept to come to a central location at a specified time to test a product or idea. These studies may include product and product concept demonstrations, computer-enabled demonstrations, company brochures and literature, advertising materials, videos, and other product materials.
 

Focus Group Discussions
Our in-house moderators are experienced in conducting focus groups in a variety of industry types and on a wide range of issues from Internet usage to advertising impact.
 

Executive Interviewing
ATD staff members have conducted interviews of executives at all levels of management including CEOs and CFOs of major corporations.
 

Interactive Voice Response Telephone Research
For those target groups where automated telephoning and automated voice response surveys are acceptable, the voice response system can reduce your time and costs to get information.
 
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Data Processing

As an integral part of our commitment to accurate and reliable research, all data processing is done by our affiliate data processing company. This includes data entry, coding of all open-end questions, and data tabulation using the UNCLE data processing system.

  • The UNCLE data processing system is the industry standard and allows for greater flexibility in data analysis.
  • All open-end question codes are approved after checking verbatim “take-off” from at least 50% of the total sample of questionnaires.
  • Data entry is 100% verified.
  • If desired, banner plans may be sent to the client for input and final approval. Additional cross-tab requests can typically be processed and delivered with almost immediate turn-around.
  • Broadband communications capacity allows for electronic transfer of research information, although hard copies are also and printed and furnished to clients as desired.

 

 

Statistical Analysis

ATD offers both univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Our statisticians assist in questionnaire design and statistical analysis in any study involving advanced statistical techniques, including:

  • Factor/Cluster Analysis
  • Discriminate Function Analysis
  • Multiple Regression
  • ANOVA and MANOVA
  • Perceptual Mapping (Multidimensional scaling)
  • Significance Testing ( analysis, t-tests, z-tests)
  • Conjoint Analysis/Conjoint Trade-Off Analysis

 

 

Reports

All analysis of the data and report writing is done by the ATD staff and the global resources and experience of Abrams Consulting Group. ATD works closely with its clients to customize research reports appropriate to the client’s needs and objectives.

Reports are professionally prepared and include color charts and tables, where appropriate, to make the data more meaningful. An executive summary with conclusions is included in each report.
 
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Market Intelligence Reports

ATD conducts customized market intelligence research projects, which offer clients tailor-made information packages designed to answer specific research questions – information that’s essential for making strategic business decisions, and information not available through any other sources. ATD’s specialized knowledge and technical expertise, proprietary industry network, worldwide resources, and library allow us to provide business information unavailable to other research firms. Past projects have provided clients with data on major competitors, industry trends and developments, market statistics, and other critical data on domestic and international car rental, fleet leasing and management, truck rental and heavy duty trucking, travel technology, retail car sales, mass transit, and other travel and transportation topics. ATD’s market intelligence reports are based on data collected through both primary and secondary research sources, including:

 

  1. Interviews with ATD’s proprietary network of car rental, travel, and automotive industry company executives, analysts, industry suppliers, consultants, and other relevant parties.
  2. Documents and information accessed through ATD’s resource library of statistics, reports, and archived industry data.
  3. Information gathered through analysis of industry publications, business media reports, public filings, press releases, and Internet searches.

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Abrams Quality Compass

Abrams Quality Compass (AQC) is a unique, in-depth tool for tracking quality assurance, customer satisfaction, and performance benchmarking in the car rental industry. AQC was designed for car rental systems and operators by car rental professionals, and can be used by car rental companies operating in the airport, local, replacement, and specialty vehicle markets.

AQC utilizes telephone, mail, or Internet surveys to interview customers of subscriber car rental companies on all aspects of their car rental transaction, from reservation to rental return. AQC can be used for tracking customer transactions in North America and Europe. Client subscribers can track customer service on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis and use the data for a range of management functions including assessing the performance of specific locations or regions, gauging the depth of customer loyalty, and identifying goals for service improvement.

AQC is available in two formats: the Comprehensive format has been designed for in-depth analysis of all aspects of the car rental process; the Condensed format offers a concise questionnaire for companies needing a more general overview. Pricing is based on format, sample size, and frequency. Clients will receive a report card on their customer service ratings presented in an A-F grading system.

Clients can purchase additional analytical services including extra questions, a benchmarking database allowing for comparison of company results to industry standards, an assessment of customer loyalty factors predictive of future purchasing behavior, and consulting services which assist clients in taking action on areas of improvement identified during the AQC survey process. Consulting services are provided by Abrams Consulting Group, Inc., the parent company of ATD, and the leading specialized auto rental consultancy worldwide since 1982.

Click here for more information about the Abrams Quality Compass program.