The challenge

Asahi Europe and International is a global beer manufacturer. As custodians of some of the most admired beer brands in the world, being at the forefront of innovation is key – and this extends to the way Asahi approaches research.

Asahi partnered with Kadence International on a pilot designed to explore the applications of augmented reality to pack testing. The pilot was focused on one of Asahi’s flagship brands: Fuller’s London Pride. London Pride is already the capital’s number one ale, but as part of a strategic drive to bring the brand to more ale lovers nationally, Asahi wanted to test a new concept for the pack against the existing bottle design.

Asahi was particularly interested in using augmented reality for this purpose given the premium nature of the product. Augmented reality showed real promise as a way of testing premium elements of the pack at this early stage by allowing consumers to interact with life-like concepts in an in-home setting. This was particularly important given that the research took place during the Covid-19 pandemic.

What we did

We invited ale lovers from across the UK into an online community. From a commercial perspective our goal was to explore consumer reactions to both bottle designs to support the launch. From a research perspective, we wanted to evaluate the role of augmented reality in the pack testing process to understand any value it could bring. So how did we do this?

Respondents were split into two separate streams so we could compare the nature of the feedback from the different groups. Both groups saw both the existing bottle design and the new concept, but the crucial difference was in how these concepts were delivered. Whilst one stream saw static, 2D images, the other was given augmented reality models, built by the Kadence design team, that they could interact with using their mobile phones. We asked respondents in this stream to place the AR bottles in the space where they usually drink at home and record their screen as they talked through their feedback towards both bottles.

London Pride AR bottle

The impact of the research

We found that respondents in the AR stream were more likely to agree that they could really picture what the bottles looked like and this was evidenced in the feedback we gathered. Respondents in the AR stream were more likely to spontaneously comment on many of the critical details that make the bottle feel premium (e.g. the embossing of the glass), demonstrating the benefit of this approach for gaining organic feedback on key design choices. The AR approach also allowed respondents to view the bottles alongside competitor brands they had at home, resulting in useful live comparisons. 

From a commercial perspective, the project enabled Asahi to gather rich feedback on both bottle designs and communicate this to customers, feeding into the launch of the new bottle as part of a brand identity refresh for London Pride.

London Pride Amber Ale - can and bottle

From a research perspective, the study points to real potential for augmented reality as a tool for pack and concept testing, not just qualitatively but on a quantitative scale too, which we look forward to exploring in future.

Compared with those who evaluated the 2D static bottle images, the respondents who reviewed the AR concepts were much more likely to comment on some of those critical details that make the bottle feel premium … We found that they were spontaneously noticing these [details] and telling us what they liked about them … so it was more organic and allowed the elements that they noticed and cared about to rise to the surface naturally … As well as the benefits of gathering more detailed feedback generally, it also allowed us to get some really great quotes and video content for presenting to customers.

Global Insight Manager, Asahi Europe and International
Asahi Europe and International

Watch the video to hear Kadence and Asahi discuss this case study and using AR in market research in more detail

The challenge

Treatwell started life as an idea around a dining room table in 2008. Now, over 25,000 salons across 11 European countries have partnered with Treatwell, making the most of both the salon software and the consumer-facing hair & beauty booking platform. The research partnership between Kadence International and Treatwell has been integral to this growth journey. Building strong B2B relationships is at the heart of Treatwell’s success. Its partnerships with hair and beauty businesses allow it to provide a thriving marketplace of services for its B2C customers across Europe. Treatwell wanted to further understand and deepen these B2B relationships to uncover new opportunities for growth.

What we did

We designed and executed an extensive programme of research, spanning 3 phases, 10 countries and 2 B2B audiences. At every stage of the process, the research methods were tailored to gain the richest possible insight across this broad range of geographies and audiences. We began merging traditional market insight with desk research to help Treatwell understand the market landscape across Europe. Next, we conducted interviews with salon partners to understand more about their needs and expectations of Treatwell. Finally, we harnessed a CATI approach to ascertain the size of the opportunities identified as part of the research.

The impact of the research

Findings from the research have shaped every aspect of Treatwell’s strategy. A rich understanding of its salon partners’ needs has informed everything from the proposition Treatwell offers, right through to the messages it leverages in its comms with this audience.

Kadence has produced an exceptional body of work which plays a crucial part in planning marketing strategies and understanding the opportunities for our business as we continue to grow. We couldn’t ask for a better partner; they provided true expertise, valuable insights and commitment to quality across each project.

Performance Marketing & Analytics Director
Treatwell

The challenge

Kadence International and Unilever Food Solutions have worked together for a number of years, united by a passion for uncovering rich insights. We wanted to understand how blockchain, one of the hottest developments in the tech world, could be applied to research.

What we did

To do this, we partnered with Measure Protocol, a tech start-up that has developed a blockchain-powered marketplace for person-based data. We took part in a first of its kind pilot to test the technology and assess what it could bring to market research.

The impact of the research

One of the key findings was that the emphasis on privacy resulted in a willingness to share passively collected data such as Amazon purchase history, location data or Apple Health data. We’re excited about the opportunity this provides to triangulate claimed survey data with behavioural data, allowing us to uncover the full picture.

The challenge

Wall Street Journal is one of the most respected newspaper brands globally. But like many other sectors, media is undergoing rapid digital transformation. The Wall Street Journal wanted to understand how its digital experience was perceived and how it could be optimised going forwards.

What we did

We embarked on the Wall Street Journal’s biggest ever piece of consumer research at the time, engaging over 5,000 respondents, spanning current, lapsed and prospective customers. To understand perceptions of and attitudes towards the Wall Street Journal and its digital products, we used a range of methodologies, including surveys, focus groups and in-depth interviews. By combining this with passive tracking, and UX testing, we were able to go beyond what consumers say, and understand how they really interact with Wall Street Journal’s digital portfolio.

The impact of the research

As a result of the research, Wall Street Journal has been able to better understand the role and interplay of its products and identify opportunities for further development to drive retention and acquisition. This has been translated into a new digital product strategy, that has shaped decisions on everything from the products and formats the Wall Street Journal produces, right through to the user experience.

Kadence has produced an exceptional body of work which plays a crucial part in planning marketing strategies and understanding the opportunities for our business as we continue to grow. We couldn’t ask for a better partner; they provided true expertise, valuable insights and commitment to quality across each project.

Performance Marketing & Analytics Director
Treatwell

The challenge

As government targets encourage a move towards ultra-low emission vehicles, Mitsubishi Motors has been leading the charge since 2014. Its Outlander PHEV is the UK’s best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). Mitsubishi wanted to better understand how Outlander PHEV customers use and charge their vehicles to remind policy makers of the value of PHEVs as a transitional technology and to inform its future communications about the role and merits of PHEVs.

What we did

We carried out an independent online survey with Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV customers. This enabled us to quantify their current usage and charging habits, as well as their perceptions of PHEVs and future consideration of electrified vehicles.

The impact of the research

The research allowed Mitsubishi to better understand Outlander PHEV customers’ usage habits, particularly in terms of regular charging and use of the vehicle in pure electric mode which contributes to cleaner air and lower CO2 emissions. Exploring the future consideration of electrified vehicles has also helped Mitsubishi to inform its communications and generate PR coverage – emphasising the role PHEVs can play both in the short-term, and as a segue to a pure electric future. This is particularly important within the context of the UK government’s ‘Road to Zero Emissions’ strategy by 2035.

Kadence helped us not only conduct a thorough and insightful piece of research, its interpretation of the data provided many useful and unexpected good-news stories that we were able to use in our communications and interactions with government bodies.

General Manager PR -Internal Communications & Government Affairs
Mitsubishi