Summary
Topics covered in this round-up of presentations from the 2013 MRS Annual Conference include Big Data, trust and transparency in the MR industry, the role of emotion and real-time research. Each of these are revealed to be fraught topics, with many researchers divided on whether the preponderance of consumer made available by the digital revolution will lead to a seismic change in how researchers practice their trade. Other subjects mentioned by the day's speakers include behavioural economics and inter-disciplinary collaboration. The report includes insights from companies including Fujitsu, PepsiCo and GfK NOP.

Summary
In this presentation, Samsung describes its journey to build stronger brand desire. It needed a new approach to make a continuous, real-time loop between the digital debate and action. To accomplish this, it needed to find the right tool to tap into the online debate, identify influencers and move from listening to analysis and insight. To overcome implementation challenges, it needed to gain buy-in, analyse and communicate insights. This allowed the company to influence communications and business strategy with instant market feedback on how sentiment was driving brand perception.

Summary
The growth of audio downloading and streaming is turning music data into a rich source of insight. Data-mining services are processing daily listening and purchasing information on a global scale for the music industry to use as a predictive, decision-making tool. This data is also driving new forms of advertising, such as music streaming service Spotify's campaign that showcased on outdoor posters the most popular songs of different UK regions. This Snapshot includes examples of brands ahead of the curve and discusses the general implications of the trend.

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A round-up of the key issues businesses and marketers face as they address the brave new world of big data, as discussed at the I-COM conference in 2012. Research firms providing insights at the event include Nielsen and comScore. The presenters suggest that, a) consumers are increasingly tech savvy and protective of their personal data, b) that businesses face the internal task of managing and analysing the vast amount of data available and the external challenge of using data-fuelled insights to improve consumer communication, relationships and loyalty, and c) that advertisers have to work in close partnership with agencies to help them assess the relevant data and use it to shape strategy.

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A round-up of presentations from I-COM 2012, looking into the issue of whether or not the Big Data trend is driving business efficiencies. Presenters argue that, regardless of the business concerned, the application of data insight can increase efficiency, hone strategy, and provide new means to offer improved customer service. In order for this to happen, brands and marketers need to: identify areas where data can impact on a specific business problem, look at specific, relevant data in context, and, where possible, integrate data into marketing to allow for rapid targeting and tailoring of communications.

Summary
A round-up of presentations from the I-COM 2012 conference. Across the course of a wide range of panel discussions and presentations a number of key themes emerged. Among these were the challenges of adapting to the Big Data megatrend – the explosion in available data on shoppers available to companies in recent years. Presenters suggested that Big Data has reshaped the way corporations are structured, the way they plan and analyse, and the way they market their goods and services.

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This article explores ways marketers can deal with the frenetic pace of change in digital marketing technologies and presents a roundup of ideas from some major brands, and brand marketing experts. 'Big data' and mobile are identified as the two major digital marketing trends that are capturing the lion's share of marketers' attention. Micro-trends such as multi-screening and the growth of tablets are also highlighted. Digital marketers have many great opportunities to leverage these trends which can ultimately improve their targeting accuracy and expand their reach.

Summary
A report from the second day of Measuring Advertising Performance 2012, an event organised by Warc. Prevailing themes from the day's presentations include: that effective research increasingly involves layering new methods based in neuroscience over traditional techniques, giving brands deeper functional and emotional insights; that the proliferation of research tools makes having clear objectives more important than ever; and that relationships are the key to effectiveness in a complex world.

Summary
Peter Dann of The Nursery looks at social media monitoring, which has focused on ROI measurement, but suggests that as research data it can be misleading with small samples and unreliable analysis. He suggests that the real value of social media research lies in analysing the content not the volume and demonstrates the value of proven quantitative and qualitative techniques and experience over data analytics. Case studies come from customer service in high street banks, sports betting and trends in baking.

Summary
A report from the first day of Measuring Advertising Performance 2012, an event organised by Warc. Prevailing themes from the day's presentations include: that researchers must go beyond number-crunching and also take qualitative insights into account; that creative ads boost sales more than functional ads – and this is even more true in Asia than elsewhere; and that new market research tools – from neuroscience to online panels to social listening – must be used judiciously for best results.