Discover why the top global brands trust Kadence

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Our China office

Kadence International is a leading market research agency in China, trusted by local brands and multinationals looking to succeed into the Chinese market.

From our base in Shanghai, we’re able to conduct market research in China that spans the length and breadth of the country.

We work with brands on full service market research projects, helping them build customer understanding and design winning products, services and marketing strategies. We’re also able to partner with organisations as a fieldwork partner, helping them to reach respondents right across China.

We are consistently recognised as one of the top market research agencies globally

AURA Innovation of the Year award

Innovation of the Year

Finalist

— The AURAs, 2021

Market Research Agency of the Year

Winner – Gold

— Agency of the Year Awards, 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

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
MRS Opperations Awards Trophy

Best Training and Development

Highly Commended

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (telephone)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (face-to-face)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards – 2019

Meet Our Senior Team

Kouei Kaku

Kouei Kaku

Specialist sectors FMCG, Kids Research, Technology Current location China

Kouei has worked in the market research industry for over 20 years. Originally from Japan, he has spent the past 14 years in China and is bilingual in Japanese and Chinese. His expertise lies in helping brands understand how to cater to the needs of Chinese consumers so they can succeed in this lucrative market.

Steven Zhou

Steven Zhou

Specialist sectors Automotive, Media, FMCG, Healthcare, Technology, Financial Services, Food & Beverage Current location China

Steven has almost two decades’ experience conducting market research in China, having worked at global, as well as top tier Chinese market research agencies. Steven’s passion is qualitative moderation, drawing on his expertise to help organisations build a rich understanding of their customers.

Work With Us

Join Kadence

We’re always on the lookout for bright, passionate, curious people to join our team. See our careers page for current vacancy details.

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Kadence China
Free Guide

How to conduct online market research in Asia: The Go-To Guide

What online methodologies work best in India? How do you get the most out of respondents through digital methodologies in China? Experts across our global boutique share best practice tips and techniques for conducting online market research in Asia.

Download the guide now
Conducting Online Research in Asia 2
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Blog

How to conduct online research in China

Online research has taken off at a faster rate in China compared to other Asian countries. Network coverage across the country is good and as one of the first markets to facilitate social media commerce, Chinese consumers tend to be digitally savvy. This, combined with their familiarity with multi-functional apps like WeChat, means there’s real […]

Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Market research in Asia – our capabilities.

From Singapore to Shanghai, Medan to Manila, we are the go-to partner for market research in Asia

We help brands conduct market research in Asia, setting them up for success in the region. We can work with businesses as a fieldwork partner, helping them to reach the right respondents across key Asian markets. We also conduct full-service market research projects that allow brands within Asia and regional entities to deepen their understanding of consumers, launch standout products and develop effective marketing campaigns.

Kadence is one of the most highly regarded market research companies in Asia. We’ve had an established presence across the region for more than 15 years and have partnered with brands on a range of challenges. We’ve helped Dentsu Aegis understand the priorities of marketers across Asia. We’ve partnered with Bloomberg to deepen their understanding of the impact COVID-19 has had on business decision makers across the region. And we’ve helped local brand, GoBear, understand attitudes and behaviours with regards to personal finance in key Asian markets.

We have offices in 8 countries across Asia, meaning we’re perfectly placed to support on Asia Pacific market research projects. We have the coverage to tackle fieldwork-heavy studies in multiple markets. But we’re also agile and collaborative in our operations, ensuring you will get both breadth and depth of insights for pan-Asian market research.

0

Asian countries

0

Languages

0

Years of Asian experience

0

Years of global experience

0

Award nominations and wins in the past 2 years

0

Projects globally each year

0

Employees globally

As one of the leading market research companies in Asia, we partner with clients on strategic challenges

Our most recent work has seen us answer questions such as:

  • How do I ensure that the product or service I want to launch within Asia meets the unique needs of each market?
  • How do I refine campaigns or tweak concepts to ensure that they appeal to each market on a ‘universal’ level, but still have enough local nuance that makes them relevant and relatable?
  • How do I ascertain the target market for my product or service, given how diverse the markets in Asia are in terms of demographics, economic development, culture and values?

Conducting market research in Asia – 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.

Free Guide

How to conduct online market research in Asia: The Go-To Guide

What online methodologies work best in India? How do you get the most out of respondents through digital methodologies in China? Experts across our global boutique share best practice tips and techniques for conducting online market research in Asia.

Download the guide now
Conducting Online Research in Asia 2
Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Market research in Asia – our capabilities.

From Singapore to Shanghai, Medan to Manila, we are the go-to partner for market research in Asia

We help brands conduct market research in Asia, setting them up for success in the region. We can work with businesses as a fieldwork partner, helping them to reach the right respondents across key Asian markets. We also conduct full-service market research projects that allow brands within Asia and regional entities to deepen their understanding of consumers, launch standout products and develop effective marketing campaigns.

Kadence is one of the most highly regarded market research companies in Asia. We’ve had an established presence across the region for more than 15 years and have partnered with brands on a range of challenges. We’ve helped Dentsu Aegis understand the priorities of marketers across Asia. We’ve partnered with Bloomberg to deepen their understanding of the impact COVID-19 has had on business decision makers across the region. And we’ve helped local brand, GoBear, understand attitudes and behaviours with regards to personal finance in key Asian markets.

We have offices in 8 countries across Asia, meaning we’re perfectly placed to support on Asia Pacific market research projects. We have the coverage to tackle fieldwork-heavy studies in multiple markets. But we’re also agile and collaborative in our operations, ensuring you will get both breadth and depth of insights for pan-Asian market research.

0

Asian countries

0

Languages

0

Years of Asian experience

0

Years of global experience

0

Award nominations and wins in the past 2 years

0

Projects globally each year

0

Employees globally

Conducting market research in Asia – 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.

Free Guide

How to conduct online market research in Asia: The Go-To Guide

What online methodologies work best in India? How do you get the most out of respondents through digital methodologies in China? Experts across our global boutique share best practice tips and techniques for conducting online market research in Asia.

Download the guide now
Conducting Online Research in Asia 2
Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Market research in Asia – our capabilities.

From Singapore to Shanghai, Medan to Manila, we are the go-to partner for market research in Asia

We help brands conduct market research in Asia, setting them up for success in the region. We can work with businesses as a fieldwork partner, helping them to reach the right respondents across key Asian markets. We also conduct full-service market research projects that allow brands within Asia and regional entities to deepen their understanding of consumers, launch standout products and develop effective marketing campaigns.

Kadence is one of the most highly regarded market research companies in Asia. We’ve had an established presence across the region for more than 15 years and have partnered with brands on a range of challenges. We’ve helped Dentsu Aegis understand the priorities of marketers across Asia. We’ve partnered with Bloomberg to deepen their understanding of the impact COVID-19 has had on business decision makers across the region. And we’ve helped local brand, GoBear, understand attitudes and behaviours with regards to personal finance in key Asian markets.

We have offices in 8 countries across Asia, meaning we’re perfectly placed to support on Asia Pacific market research projects. We have the coverage to tackle fieldwork-heavy studies in multiple markets. But we’re also agile and collaborative in our operations, ensuring you will get both breadth and depth of insights for pan-Asian market research.

0

Asian countries

0

Languages

0

Years of Asian experience

0

Years of global experience

0

Award nominations and wins in the past 2 years

0

Projects globally each year

0

Employees globally

Conducting market research in Asia – 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.

We’ve helped clients solve some of their toughest business challenges through European market research

Our work in this area helps clients answer critical questions such as:

  • Which European markets represent the best growth opportunity for my brand?
  • How should I adapt my product or service to ensure it’s a hit with consumers in my key target market?
  • How should I price our offering to set it up for success in Europe?
  • What are competitors offering in this market and where is the whitespace for innovation?
  • How can I reach my target customers in this market? What should my marketing strategy look like?
Free Guide

How to conduct online market research in Asia: The Go-To Guide

What online methodologies work best in India? How do you get the most out of respondents through digital methodologies in China? Experts across our global boutique share best practice tips and techniques for conducting online market research in Asia.

Download the guide now
Conducting Online Research in Asia 2
Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Market research in Asia – our capabilities.

From Singapore to Shanghai, Medan to Manila, we are the go-to partner for market research in Asia

a shop in Tokyo, Japan

We help brands conduct market research in Asia, setting them up for success in the region. We can work with businesses as a fieldwork partner, helping them to reach the right respondents across key Asian markets. We also conduct full-service market research projects that allow brands within Asia and regional entities to deepen their understanding of consumers, launch standout products and develop effective marketing campaigns.

Kadence is one of the most highly regarded market research companies in Asia. We’ve had an established presence across the region for more than 15 years and have partnered with brands on a range of challenges. We’ve helped Dentsu Aegis understand the priorities of marketers across Asia. We’ve partnered with Bloomberg to deepen their understanding of the impact COVID-19 has had on business decision makers across the region. And we’ve helped local brand, GoBear, understand attitudes and behaviours with regards to personal finance in key Asian markets.

We have offices in 8 countries across Asia, meaning we’re perfectly placed to support on Asia Pacific market research projects. We have the coverage to tackle fieldwork-heavy studies in multiple markets. But we’re also agile and collaborative in our operations, ensuring you will get both breadth and depth of insights for pan-Asian market research.

0

Asian countries

0

Languages

0

Years of Asian experience

0

Years of global experience

0

Award nominations and wins in the past 2 years

0

Projects globally each year

0

Employees globally

Conducting market research in Asia – 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.

Free Guide

How to conduct online market research in Asia: The Go-To Guide

What online methodologies work best in India? How do you get the most out of respondents through digital methodologies in China? Experts across our global boutique share best practice tips and techniques for conducting online market research in Asia.

Download the guide now
Conducting Online Research in Asia 2
Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Market research in Asia – our capabilities.

From Singapore to Shanghai, Medan to Manila, we are the go-to partner for market research in Asia

NY Chrysler Building

We help brands conduct market research in North, Central, and South America so they can gain marketshare in these crowded and competitive markets.

We partner with brands on full-service market research projects, helping to crack complex business problems through rich insight. We also work with companies as their fieldwork partner, helping reach the right respondents across the Americas.

From our hubs on the East and West coasts, we conduct market research across North, Central, and South America to support you through every stage of the product life cycle. Whether you are trying to tackle the user experience for a high-tech product in the US, dive into the unmet needs of radiologists in South America, or identify the true pain points of sufferers of a rare disease in Canada, we don’t shy away from a challenge.

With over 30 years of experience understanding mainstream and niche markets with consumers and in the B2B space, we are a leading market research company. Our team can help you design the best approach to even the toughest of challenges.

Conducting market research in Asia – 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.

Free Guide

How to conduct online market research in Asia: The Go-To Guide

What online methodologies work best in India? How do you get the most out of respondents through digital methodologies in China? Experts across our global boutique share best practice tips and techniques for conducting online market research in Asia.

Download the guide now
Conducting Online Research in Asia 2
Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Market research in Asia – our capabilities.

From Singapore to Shanghai, Medan to Manila, we are the go-to partner for market research in Asia

We help brands conduct market research in Asia, setting them up for success in the region. We can work with businesses as a fieldwork partner, helping them to reach the right respondents across key Asian markets. We also conduct full-service market research projects that allow brands within Asia and regional entities to deepen their understanding of consumers, launch standout products and develop effective marketing campaigns.

Kadence is one of the most highly regarded market research companies in Asia. We’ve had an established presence across the region for more than 15 years and have partnered with brands on a range of challenges. We’ve helped Dentsu Aegis understand the priorities of marketers across Asia. We’ve partnered with Bloomberg to deepen their understanding of the impact COVID-19 has had on business decision makers across the region. And we’ve helped local brand, GoBear, understand attitudes and behaviours with regards to personal finance in key Asian markets.

We have offices in 8 countries across Asia, meaning we’re perfectly placed to support on Asia Pacific market research projects. We have the coverage to tackle fieldwork-heavy studies in multiple markets. But we’re also agile and collaborative in our operations, ensuring you will get both breadth and depth of insights for pan-Asian market research.

0

Asian countries

0

Languages

0

Years of Asian experience

0

Years of global experience

0

Award nominations and wins in the past 2 years

0

Projects globally each year

0

Employees globally

Conducting market research in Asia – 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.

Free Guide

How to conduct online market research in Asia: The Go-To Guide

What online methodologies work best in India? How do you get the most out of respondents through digital methodologies in China? Experts across our global boutique share best practice tips and techniques for conducting online market research in Asia.

Download the guide now
Conducting Online Research in Asia 2
Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Discover why the top global brands trust Kadence

Trusted by

Our China office

Kadence International is a leading market research agency in China, trusted by local brands and multinationals looking to succeed into the Chinese market.

From our base in Shanghai, we’re able to conduct market research in China that spans the length and breadth of the country.

We work with brands on full service market research projects, helping them build customer understanding and design winning products, services and marketing strategies. We’re also able to partner with organisations as a fieldwork partner, helping them to reach respondents right across China.

We are consistently recognised as one of the top market research agencies globally

AURA Innovation of the Year award

Innovation of the Year

Finalist

— The AURAs, 2021

Market Research Agency of the Year

Winner – Gold

— Agency of the Year Awards, 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

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
MRS Opperations Awards Trophy

Best Training and Development

Highly Commended

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (telephone)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (face-to-face)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards – 2019

We are regarded as one of the best market research agencies in the United Kingdom, with clients coming to us with their toughest business challenges

Clients value our consultative approach and ability to turn insights into action. Most recently, we’ve supported organisations to answer questions such as:

  • Will our new sustainable solution be a hit with consumers?
  • Is there a market for our innovative new drink?
  • How do we expand our presence in Europe? Where are the best opportunities for our business?
  • What are the big challenges keeping CMOS awake at night?
  • Which packaging concept should we launch?
  • Is there scope to extend our brand into a new category?

Meet Our Senior Team

Kouei Kaku

Kouei Kaku

Specialist sectors FMCG, Kids Research, Technology Current location China

Kouei has worked in the market research industry for over 20 years. Originally from Japan, he has spent the past 14 years in China and is bilingual in Japanese and Chinese. His expertise lies in helping brands understand how to cater to the needs of Chinese consumers so they can succeed in this lucrative market.

Steven Zhou

Steven Zhou

Specialist sectors Automotive, Media, FMCG, Healthcare, Technology, Financial Services, Food & Beverage Current location China

Steven has almost two decades’ experience conducting market research in China, having worked at global, as well as top tier Chinese market research agencies. Steven’s passion is qualitative moderation, drawing on his expertise to help organisations build a rich understanding of their customers.

Work With Us

Join Kadence

We’re always on the lookout for bright, passionate, curious people to join our team. See our careers page for current vacancy details.

See all vacancies
Kadence China

FAQs

Do you specialise in qualitative or quantitative research?

We’re experts in both. We pride ourselves on being dualists. This means that everyone is our team is experienced in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies and regular works across the two disciplines. This has distinct benefits for our clients. By operating as one core team, we can ensure that no insights are lost between different phases of the research.

How do you help clients leverage research to turn insight into action?

We are passionate about raising the impact of market research in organisations and work closely with our clients to achieve this. When we’re designing projects, we focus on creating opportunities for you to engage your team in the research up front, such as stakeholder interviews or hypothesis sessions. This is also an emphasis on this once fieldwork has finished. Thanks to our own in-house design team, we can create stand-out deliverables that bring findings to life for your business. We can also run workshops designed to align your team around the insights and build a strategy to capitalise on them. We’re specialists in doing this and have even written a book on this topic!

How do you approach international projects?

We conduct market research in the UK and beyond, helping our clients to develop strategies to succeed in multiple markets. We regularly work with clients to help them understand consumers in the UK alongside their counterparts in European markets, the US and Asia drawing on our network of global offices across these continents. This allows us to tap into rich cultural understanding of your core growth markets to shape the research design and inform our analysis.  

Free Guide

How to conduct online market research in Asia: The Go-To Guide

What online methodologies work best in India? How do you get the most out of respondents through digital methodologies in China? Experts across our global boutique share best practice tips and techniques for conducting online market research in Asia.

Download the guide now
Conducting Online Research in Asia 2
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Blog

How to conduct online research in China

Online research has taken off at a faster rate in China compared to other Asian countries. Network coverage across the country is good and as one of the first markets to facilitate social media commerce, Chinese consumers tend to be digitally savvy. This, combined with their familiarity with multi-functional apps like WeChat, means there’s real […]

Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore