 World Research Alliance (WRA) is a global network of
nearly 6,500 independent research agencies with the
objective of improving cost effectiveness in
outsourcing market research services.
 WRA is particularly useful for multi-country studies
anywhere across the globe.
 WRA aims to break the multiple tier subcontracting in
the research business. WRA partners have their own
fieldwork capabilities in the country where they
operate. They are not allowed to offer services that
they intend to sub-contract to others. This means no
multiple margins on top of each other.
 In practice this means one associate per country
supports a multi-country project.
 The Alliance allows the research buyer to interact
directly with the supplier who carries out the work in a
country. This serves transparency.
 The WRA concept provides an online platform to submit
RFQs and quotations. Practically the entire process is
automated.
 WRA’s sourcing services are completely free to research
buyers. Associates pay a 10 % finder’s fee when they
are engaged for a project.
The best agency maybe the one you are still to use
Research Buyers :
Submit your RFQ here:
Research Associates:
Submit your quotation here:
Check for open RFQs
For more details about WRA check out:
Website menu here:
A
B
C
D
E
f
The Research Pricing Jungle
 The research business is one of the few industries wherein service
rates for projects of the same scope and specification in the same
country can vary multiple times over; from the incredibly heap to
the outrageous.
 Of course, the brand of the agency and proprietary research designs
may justify fee variations, but what about the run of the mill
“commodity type” research, such as field and tab? This is about
managing effective and competent data capture methods in a
transparent manner and other than supply and demand that could
vary from one country to the other, there is really not justification for
a huge disparity in rates in the same country. Yet wide price gaps
are common and somewhat bewildering to international research
buyers who require field partners in several countries.
 Other than a handful of global players, few research agencies can
manage to operate field operations in dozens of countries and yet
they have clients requiring international capabilities too. Networking
through research partners offers the solution, but one that has its
challenges. Which potential field partners can you trust? Do they
offer a competitive rate? Do they really have the capabilities they
claim to have and are these truly their own or do they sub-contract?
The best agency maybe the one you are still to use
The Multiple Sub-contracting Pitfall
 It is not uncommon for international RFQs to cascade around several
regions in a bid for a supplier to cover as many countries as possible.
 The risk of course is that with multiple levels of sub-contracting, the
supplier is remote from the actual field operations and this affects
quality control as well as response time to queries.
 Each party in the sub-contracting tree requires a margin, which
increases the project cost or worse, reduces the quality of data
collection by cutting corners, in order for contributors to stay
competitive without compromising on margin.
 The best agencies may well be the ones you have not worked with
yet.
The best agency maybe the one you are still to use
The World Research Alliance Concept
 World Research Alliance is a global affiliation of independent research service
providers offering grass roots capabilities in mostly fieldwork and data
processing (field and tab). Most associates are single office operators with
field teams under their direct management in their own country.
 Most of the associates are smaller agencies, owned by one or more research
veterans. They care about their business, their reputation, seeking growth and
build their status of excellence. In short, accountability ties directly with
individuals rather being able to hide behind an amorphous corporate façade.
They are members of one or more of the many research societies dotted
around the globe. They take their business seriously and want to make a
difference.
 As smaller players in a country, associates are not necessarily on the radar of
multi-national research buyers and mostly serve the national research needs.
 The World Research Alliance concept aims to break the multiple tier
subcontracting and to provide a facility for international research buyers to
connect directly with research practitioners who are not necessarily on their list
of potential suppliers; likely because buyers are not aware of them. The
alliance allows the research buyer to interact directly with the project partner
who carries out the work. This serves cost efficiency and transparency.
 Depending on the number of countries, international field coordination can be a
drain on time, and so WRA offers an optional service to facilitate coordination
on behalf of the client. However, the client has full knowledge who carries out
the work in the various countries and can interact directly at will.
The best agency maybe the one you are still to use
How does WRA Work?
 Research buyers simply post the RFQ on the WRA website. The application
allows for to upload or to specify the requirements through a series of
questions.
 Almost immediately after submitting the RFQ, the online program distributes
emails to the WRA associates in the countries the buyer has specified and who
have the capabilities and competencies required for this work. For instance if
the requirement involves focus groups, associates exclusively focussing on
quantitative research would be excluded.
 In the brief buyers have the option to name agencies they do not want to deal
with , for instance because of bad experiences in the past. If these agencies
are listed as associates, they will not be contacted.
 The buyer receives a ticket number and link, through which WRA informs
how many associates received the RFQ and the number who confirmed to
submit a quotation. The program allows real time tracking of submitted bids.
 The online application automatically assimilates the quotations in a single file
for ease of comparison (side by side) at a glance, including credentials of the
agencies. The buyer can view and download these directly through the link.
All of this in real time. The quotations are direct from the partners at their
price. WRA adds no margins or costs of any kind.
 So far all exchanges are anonymous. Suppliers do not know the identity of
the buyer, nor does the buyer know the agency name of the WRA associate.
 For each quotation WRA adds a rating of the WRA associate based on past
feedback from other research buyers who have used the services of the
supplier before. First time suppliers are marked as “unrated”. Suppliers with
The best agency maybe the one you arerepeated
still to use negative feedback from clients lose their affiliation with WRA.
How it Works at a Glance
Confirmation
• Receives
ticket
number and
tracking link
by email
RFQ
Activation
• Online
confirmation
of number
of RFQ
invitations
to
associates
and
accepted
Results
• Online
viewing of
submitted
quotations.
Side by side
format in
single report
• Submit RFQ
Online
Decision
Invitation
• Email
invitations
to submit
bid
The best agency maybe the one you are still to use
Acknowledge
ment
• Accept or
decline
invitation
online.
• Downloads
the RFQ if
accepts to
bid
Submission
• Online
submission
of quotation
with
credentials
• Buyer
decides
on
supplier
(if any)
Acceptance
• WRA
draws up
agreement
between
parties
Buyer
Associate
Benefits to Research Buyers
 World Research Alliance can draw on nearly 6,500 associates worldwide in
order to secure competitive quotes for your research requirements. This
network accounts for over 90 % of all research agencies across the globe and
is continually updated.
 Not only do you receive quotations, but also credentials of your potential
research partners from other research buyers who have used the associate
through WRA before.
 Practically the entire sourcing process is online with neatly compared
quotations in a single downloadable file with suppliers side by side, saving
you time and frustration.
 Submissions and updates are in real time, accessible at any time from any
internet connection.
 No more endless sub-contracting. You can be in touch with the supplier who
does the actual work in the country where the work is done. This saves time
and cost.
 WRA’s role is to connect. Once you have established a relationship with a
supplier through WRA you can continue using this agency for other surveys
directly without a search fee. If you route this through WRA, the associate
pays a modest fee.
 In case you want WRA to coordinate multiple countries on your behalf there
is a service charge of 10 % of the total sum of agreed quotations across the
relevant countries. This project management includes a minimum of 20 %
back checking of interviews over and above the quality assurance measures
The best agency maybe the one you are stilloftothe
use WRA associate.
Benefits to WRA Associates
 The purpose of WRA is to raise the awareness of independent market
research providers and to provide a united front in order to be a credible
alternative to the multinational research conglomerates.
 Membership of World Research Alliance is completely free.
 WRA will alert you of new RFQs by email. You can also check these
online.
 WRA connects you with the research community at large across the
globe be they as research buyers or potential research partners.
 WRA facilitates and encourages cross associate support for inputs in
expertise to share experiences . For instance, to share experiences on
specific types of research designs, sources for secondary research etc.
 As of Q3 2011 WRA will publish newsletters with contributions authored
by associates, circulated to nearly 6,500 research agencies (and
growing), which will flag the name of the author and the represented
agency.
 In case your bid has not been accepted by the research buyer, you will
receive feedback for the reasons for not winning a project, which you
can view online in real time.
 After completion of a survey you have conducted, WRA requests the
client to provide an appraisal of your performance on several aspects
culminating in a rating, which will – with positive feedback - therefore in
turn improve the conversion rate from quotation to winning a project.
The best agency maybe the one you are still to use
Responsibilities - Research Buyers
 The service is completely free to research buyers.
No search fees.
 In case you require the support from WRA to coordinate associates across several countries, you will be
charged 10 % of the total sum of quotations. As part of this project management, WRA back checks
20 % of interviews over and above the quality assurance measures of its associates.
 While agencies are responsible for their own quality assurance in line with ESOMAR standards, WRA can
act as an intermediary in case of disputes to facilitate amicable solutions. However, WRA does not have
any legal powers in this regard and provides this service on a best effort “goodwill” basis.
 WRA reserves the right to refuse RFQs or quotations if it judges them to be bogus.
 Requests for same day quotations are difficult to entertain given the time difference. Associates must
be allowed to prepare their quotation within 3 days of publishing the RFQ.
 Request for a breakdown of quotations are acceptable provided they relate to different research
modules rather than requiring an interrogation of a supplier’s costing menu, which is confidential.
 Requests for quotations are in Euro or in US Dollars.
 Since associates spend time preparing a quotation, WRA expects buyers to extend the courtesy to
furnish a reason for declining quotations at the time a decision is made.
 Once a Research buyer has approved the bid of an associate, WRA drafts an agreement detailing the
responsibilities of all parties involved.
The best agency maybe the one you are still to use
Fees and Responsibilities - Associates
 WRA associates agree to abide by the ESOMAR code of conduct and quality standards.
 Associates pay a 10 % finder’s fee, but after striking a relationship with a research buyer there
are no further charges to pay for any subsequent surveys you win from the same research buyer
directly, unless the buyer opts to route this through WRA.
 Quotations should always be net inclusive of taxes (if relevant) in US Dollars or Euro. The bid
should be all-inclusive within the scope of the project. Separate additions such as translation of
open ends etc. are not permissible. This work should be included in the total fee on a best
estimate basis.
 Submission of quotations are online in a pre-specified format. For additional information, the
application has a function to upload files, for instance your company profile/presentation or other
information that you think will help you win the project.
 Depending on the RFQ of the client, the project fee breakdown would typically encompass
fieldwork, project management (including set up), incentives (where appropriate),
venue/hospitality, translation, data processing (if required) etc. You will not be required to provide
a fee breakdown that would expose the confidentiality of your costing menu.
 After the Research buyer has decided on the associate supplier, WRA drafts a contract to outline
the responsibilities of the various parties. The 10% finder’s fee is invoiced upon signing this
contract and payable within 30 days of receipt.
The best agency maybe the one you are still to use
Contact Us
Associate membership Administration
admin@world-research-alliance.com
Online Support
support@world-research-alliance.com
Accounts
accounts@world-research-alliance.com
Client Service
ferris.deruyter@world-research-alliance.com
The best agency maybe the one you are still to use
World Research Alliance
Kowloon Building
Nathan Road
Monkok, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: +852 8177 7672
Fax: +852 2297 9269