Market Research Agency Indianapolis

Need market research expertise in Indianapolis? Kadence helps organisations understand audiences, test concepts and build strategy in Indiana's capital and the broader Midwest. Over 30 years of global experience, applied to one of America's most accessible and representative consumer markets.

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With offices across Asia, Europe and the Americas, Kadence brings a global perspective to a city that consistently ranks among the best in the US for business, affordability and quality of life. Whether you need to understand Indianapolis consumers or you're an Indianapolis-based organisation looking to research markets nationally and internationally, Kadence provides the infrastructure and expertise to deliver.

Indianapolis's position in the US market

Indianapolis occupies a strategic position at the intersection of several major interstate highways, earning the city its reputation as the "Crossroads of America." The metropolitan area of over two million people supports a diversified economy anchored by healthcare, life sciences, logistics, motorsports, technology and financial services.

The life sciences sector is a standout. Eli Lilly's headquarters, a growing biotech cluster and the Indiana University School of Medicine create a research and innovation ecosystem that drives significant economic activity. Salesforce's major presence and a growing tech scene have added another dimension to the city's professional workforce.

Indianapolis's consumer base reflects Midwestern values of practicality, community and value consciousness. The city's demographics are increasingly diverse, with growing Hispanic, Black and international communities, particularly on the west and east sides. Research that accounts for this evolving diversity produces more accurate insight.

The city's affordability and central location make it a strong test market. Consumer spending patterns in Indianapolis tend to be representative of the broader Midwest, and the market's manageable size makes research logistics efficient compared to larger metros.

Kadence operates from offices across Asia, Europe and the Americas, with our US presence anchored by teams in New York and San Francisco. Our global network spans London, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Jakarta, Mumbai, Bangalore and beyond.

For Indianapolis-based organisations expanding internationally, particularly in life sciences and technology, our network provides seamless coordination and genuine local expertise in each market.

 

We’re consistently recognised as a leading market research agency across multiple markets.

AURA Innovation of the Year award

Innovation of the Year

Finalist

— The AURAs, 2021
Agency of the Year Awards, 2021

Market Research Agency of the Year

Winner – Gold

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2021
Marketing Interactive Agency of the Year, Winner - Gold, 2021

Consultant of the Year

Winner – Gold

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2021
Kadence team collecting Agency of the Year award

Consultant of the Year

Winner

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2020
Agency of the Year Awards, 2020

Market Research Agency of the Year

Finalist

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2020
Quirks Supplier of the Year Kadence International

Market Research Supplier of the Year

Winner

— Marketing Research & Insight Excellence Awards – 2019
Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Market Research Agency of the Year

Winner

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2019
Kadence International is Highly Commended for Global Agency of The Year

Global Agency of the Year

Highly Commended

— Market Research Society Awards, 2019
Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (face-to-face)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards – 2019
Best Data Collection, Finalist — Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (telephone)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019
MRS Opperations Awards Trophy

Best Training and Development

Highly Commended

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019
MRS Young Researcher of the Year

MRS Young Researcher of the Year

Finalist

— MRS, 2023
ESOMAR Best Congress Paper

ESOMAR Best Congress Paper

Winner

— ESOMAR, 2023

Indianapolis Market Research

Kadence delivers research designed for Indianapolis's practical, value-oriented consumer market. Our customer and market understanding research helps brands map the city's consumer segments with precision.

Brand and advertising research evaluates how marketing resonates with Midwestern audiences who value straightforward communication and reliability. New product development research takes advantage of Indianapolis's representative demographics and accessible research environment.

Our fieldwork covers metropolitan Indianapolis and the wider Central Indiana region using online, telephone and in-person methods.

For Indianapolis-based organisations that need insight beyond Central Indiana - whether targeting other US cities or international markets - Kadence coordinates research through our global office network, giving you a single relationship with local execution in every market.

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FAQs

How diverse is Asia Pacific culturally?

The short answer is that Asia is incredibly rich and nuanced from a cultural standpoint: the multitude of religious beliefs, histories, languages, and other cultural markers means that each market is more different than similar. This can make Asia Pacific market research challenging without the right partner to help you understand the intricacies of each country. That said, though, the ‘urban Asia’ experience is similar to some extent, and popular culture does form the basis to link up a couple of the Asian markets, so there can be ways to seek out common threads amidst the vibrancy of difference.

Do I need to do all my market research in Asia in local / vernacular languages?

As a rule yes. By conducting research in the local language, consumers will have the capability and confidence to express their thoughts and feelings toward the brands, products or services in question. Unlike some market research agencies in Asia, Kadence has a range of languages in-house thanks to our network of Asian offices, so local language moderation is a service we can provide. That said, it is possible to carry out research in English in some markets (e.g. Singapore, India, Philippines), depending on the subject matter and education level of the respondents you want to reach.

For large Asian markets like China and India, how many cities do we need to cover with our research?

We recommend at least a combination of 1st tier and 2nd tier cities, as well as 3rd tier and rural locations, if possible. On top of getting a read on geographic and demographic differences in the reactions to your products and services, lifestyle / intra-market attitudinal variations exist, so the wider you are able to carry out your research, the more comprehensive your resulting understanding of the market will be.

Are there certain research approaches or methodologies that work better in one Asian market, compared to another?

Yes. Cultural differences between Asian markets mean that you need to carefully consider your methodology. For instance, we find that in-depth interviews, rather than group-based discussions, can work better for some topics in markets like Japan, where there can be a tendency to ‘self-censor’. In contrast, the one-on-one format lends itself better to building trust and establishing bonds between interviewer and respondent, often leading to more productive conversations. 

You’ll also need to consider the technological infrastructure of the markets you’re researching. In India, for instance, you’ll need to take a mobile first approach for reaching those outside metros and tier 1 cities. This is also true of mobile-first markets like Indonesia and China. Whilst cultural considerations can be diverse and numerous, we’re on hand to help, based on our long history of conducting market research in Asia.

Does the sequence of which markets I do my research first in Asia matter?

Unless there are specific roll-out plans that have strategic importance for your product or service across markets, our experience has taught us that any order comes back down to organizational preference. Your internal stakeholders may want to start the research in a market that is a stronghold for the brand to establish ground understanding, then venture into unfamiliar grounds to gather ‘new news’, or vice versa. Ultimately, Kadence is flexible in terms of how / when / where to start a piece of research, and in the absence of real preference, is willing to provide our suggestions and justifications for any arrangements.

Our Customers

View all case studies
Bloomberg
Unilever
Samsung
Panasonic
Mitsubishi
Mars
Arla
Discovery Networks Asia Pacific
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FAQs

Why is Indianapolis a strong market for consumer research?

Indianapolis's central location, representative demographics and affordable research environment make it an efficient and effective market for consumer studies. The city's Midwestern consumer base provides practical, honest feedback that translates well to broader US markets.

What industries does Kadence research in Indianapolis?

We work with organisations across Indianapolis's key sectors, including life sciences, healthcare, technology, logistics, financial services, motorsports and consumer goods. Our researchers understand the competitive dynamics specific to the Central Indiana market. For Indianapolis companies in life sciences and technology that are scaling nationally or globally, our teams across Asia, Europe and the Americas provide coordinated research with genuine local expertise in each market.

How does Indianapolis's life sciences sector create research opportunities?

Eli Lilly, a growing biotech cluster and major healthcare systems create a concentration of life sciences professionals and health-conscious consumers. This makes Indianapolis particularly valuable for healthcare, pharmaceutical and wellness-related consumer research.

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