Using surveys can bring great value to your business, whether you’re looking for customer insight into a new product or employee feedback on workplace practices.
There are many survey tools available, and while you may think it doesn’t matter which you choose, there are a few things to look out for when buying enterprise survey tools to ensure you get the best out of your surveys.
Customisable templates
Surveys should not be a one size fits all solution. Every business has its own goals, which require different design elements.
Look for survey tools with a simple survey design that allows you to customise as needed. You want an enterprise survey tool that is easy to use, from designing the template to deployment.
You need your survey to stand out, as chances of the survey being completed will likely be increased if the survey looks good and is easy for the participants to use.
Choose a tool that allows you to add your own logos and branding, and get the look and feel you want, by selecting your theme and question types. Good survey software should provide template options and the ability to customise the theme, colours, layout and style to suit your needs. It should also be customisable in terms of question and response options.
There are a wide variety of questions types to use in a survey. Your questions may range from one answer questions, multiple choice and scaled answers, so you want your survey to allow for a wide range of responses if needed. Various response options such as star or number ratings, check boxes, multiple choice or free text, allow you to cater for any question type.
Another key feature is choosing a survey tool that allows participants not to answer a question if they don’t want to. When developing a customer service survey, you don’t want to restrict the responses of your customers as this could result in them not completing the survey.
Flexible enterprise survey tools that deliver personalised surveys and allow you to schedule your survey via SMS or email, or allow you to link your survey to your website or social media channels can be very beneficial.
It is also crucial to choose an enterprise survey tool that is compatible across multiple devices, including desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones. You want your survey to be formatted properly for each type of device and provide ease of use no matter what device participants are on when engaging with the survey. A survey tool needs to be able to recognise the device being used and adapt.
Choosing an enterprise survey tool that allows for customisation means you can create a survey that will appeal to your audience.
Analytics & reporting
If you’ve chosen to use a survey to gather data, you need that data to be easy to analyse.
Make sure the collected data can be analysed in different ways. Allowing for reports to be developed and segmented in accordance with the data type, such as demographics like age, gender, location, can make it easy to determine patterns in responses based on various demographic factors.
You want easy to understand analytics that provides percentages and breakdowns of responses. This may include statistics tables and charts.
The level of analysis and reporting you require may depend on the purpose of the survey or your industry. Features such as real-time analytics and reporting, dashboard API and data exports, and custom reporting provide more flexibility with reporting. A system capable of disseminating reports and sharing results with a group of interested parties may utilise an online reporting portal requiring a personal log-in.
Customer service surveys are generally distributed to a large number of people and it can take time to get back all responses. Using a tool that enables businesses to monitor responses in real-time means that you can start to gauge an overall response and start planning around this sooner rather than later.
Monitoring responses in real-time also allows you to find out how your customers are interacting with your survey.
You should also look for survey tools that allow you to easily collate the results and import them in various ways, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF or a user friendly dashboard of your choice.
Data security
Data security is becoming increasingly important, and as surveys are used to collect information that often includes personal details, it’s crucial to use a survey tool that ensures the security of data.
Most online survey software may include privacy and security statements on their websites, but it’s important to choose an enterprise survey tool that adheres to the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
When distributing surveys you want to be able to ensure participants that their private information will not be misused and will be kept secure. Not considering data security could lead to loss of consumer loyalty if that data is breached. When gathering and storing data, you need to act responsibly.
When looking for survey platforms that adhere to the proper privacy laws and guidelines, consider choosing a platform that stores data in Australia rather than overseas, as the data may otherwise be subject to different privacy regulations.
When buying enterprise survey tools, choose one that will enable you to get the most out of your surveys and keep the data secure.
