--- title: Blog | FlexMR | Tech & Trends description: Tech & Trends | Exploring the latest thinking on insights empowerment, from the crossroads of marketing, research and technology. --- close ## Ready to level up your insights? Get ready to streamline, scale and supercharge your research. Fill out this form to request a demo of the InsightHub platform and discover the difference insights empowerment can make. A member of our team will reach out within two working days. close ## Cost effective insights that scale Quality insight doesn't need to cost the earth. Our flexible approach helps you make the most of research budgets and build an agile solution that works for you. Fill out this form to request a call back from our team to explore our pricing options. [![FlexMR logo](https://www.flexmr.net/skin/images/images-custom/2b221b67-b091-4584-9017-872ee2ddf960-logo.svg)](https://www.flexmr.net/) Book a Demo Request Pricing [Contact Us](https://www.flexmr.net/contact/) Menu - [Home](https://www.flexmr.net/) - [InsightHub](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/) - [What is InsightHub?](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/) - [Data Collection](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/data-collection/) - [Data Analysis](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/data-analysis/) - [Data Activation](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/data-activation/) - [Research Templates](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/survey-templates/) - [Information Security](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/information-security/) - [Services](https://www.flexmr.net/services/) - [Our Expert Services](https://www.flexmr.net/services/) - [Support & Education](https://www.flexmr.net/services/support-and-education/) - [Consultative Services](https://www.flexmr.net/services/consultative-services/) - [Insight Delivery](https://www.flexmr.net/services/insight-delivery-services/) - [Research Methods](https://www.flexmr.net/methods/) - [Sectors We Work With](https://www.flexmr.net/sectors/) - [About](https://www.flexmr.net/about/) - [About Us](https://www.flexmr.net/about/) - [Leadership](https://www.flexmr.net/about/leadership/) - [Meet the team](https://www.flexmr.net/about/meet-the-team/) - [Advisory Board](https://www.flexmr.net/about/advisory-board/) - [Press & Media](https://resources.flexmr.net/tag/press) - [Accolades](https://www.flexmr.net/about/accolades/) - [Careers](https://www.flexmr.net/about/careers/) - [Blog](https://blog.flexmr.net/) - [Resources](https://resources.flexmr.net) - [Contact](https://www.flexmr.net/contact/) - [Book a Demo](https://blog.flexmr.net/) - [Request Pricing](https://blog.flexmr.net/) - [Home](https://www.flexmr.net/) - [InsightHub](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/) - - [What is InsightHub?](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/) - [Data Collection](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/data-collection/) - [Data Analysis](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/data-analysis/) - [Data Activation](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/data-activation/) - [Research Templates](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/survey-templates/) - [Information Security](https://www.flexmr.net/insighthub/information-security/) - ![Camp InsightHub](https://blog.flexmr.net/hubfs/Website_Files/Images/Navigation/camp_insighthub_nav.png) Embark on a new adventure. Join Camp InsightHub, our free demo platform, to discover the future of research. [Sign Up Today](https://insighthub.flexmr.net/users/new) - ![FlexMR InsightHub](https://blog.flexmr.net/hubfs/Website_Files/Images/Navigation/insighthub_screenshot.png) Read a brief overview of the agile research platform enabling brands to inform decisions at speed in this PDF. 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[Download Credentials](https://blog.flexmr.net/hubfs/Public_Files/Brochures/FlexMR_Credentials.pdf) - ![FlexMR Insights Empowerment](https://blog.flexmr.net/hubfs/Website_Files/Images/Navigation/insights_empowerment.png) We are the insights empowerment company. Our framework addresses the major pressures insight teams face. [Download Brochure](https://blog.flexmr.net/hubfs/Public_Files/Brochures/Insights_Empowerment_Brochure.pdf) - ### Latest News - [Insight as Art Shortlisted for AURA Innovation Award](https://resources.flexmr.net/aura-innovation-award-2021) - [FlexMR Launch Video Close Connection Programme](https://resources.flexmr.net/close-connections-launch) - [VideoMR Analysis Tool Added to InsightHub](https://resources.flexmr.net/videomr-launch) - [FlexMR Makes Shortlist for Quirks Research Supplier Award](https://resources.flexmr.net/quirksmr-mr-supplier-award-2020) - [Blog](https://blog.flexmr.net) - - [Latest Posts](https://blog.flexmr.net) - [Strategic Thinking](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/strategic-thinking) - [Technology & Trends](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/tech-trends) - [Research Methods](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/research-methods) - [Practical Application](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/practical-application) - [Insights Empowerment](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/insights-empowerment) - [View Full Blog Archives](https://blog.flexmr.net/all) - ![FlexMR Close Connection Programme](https://blog.flexmr.net/hubfs/Website_Files/Images/Navigation/close_connection.png) Discover how to build close customer connections to better support real-time decision making. 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[Listen Now](https://resources.flexmr.net/mrx-lab-podcast) - ### Featured Stories - [Specsavers Informs Key Marketing Decisions with InsightHub](https://resources.flexmr.net/specsavers) - [The Coventry Panel Helps Maintain Award Winning CX](https://resources.flexmr.net/coventry-building-society) - [Isagenix Customer Community Steers New Product Launch](https://resources.flexmr.net/isa-insights) - [Curo Engage Residents with InsightHub Community](https://resources.flexmr.net/curo) - [Tech & Trends](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/tech-trends) / 5 MIN READ ## Retaining a Human Touch with Customer Salience, CX and AI #### Dr Matthew Farmer # [Participatory Approaches to Customer Closeness: Ex...](https://blog.flexmr.net/participatory-customer-closeness) Most research still treats customers the way it did twenty years ago: as people we study, not people... [Read more](https://blog.flexmr.net/participatory-customer-closeness) 6 MIN READ #### Dr Katharine Johnson - [Events (1)](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/events) - [Insights Empowerment (38)](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/insights-empowerment) - [Practical Application (179)](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/practical-application) - [Research Methods (285)](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/research-methods) - [Strategic Thinking (239)](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/strategic-thinking) - [Survey Templates (7)](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/survey-templates) - [Tech & Trends (397)](https://blog.flexmr.net/topic/tech-trends) ### [Retaining a Human Touch with Customer Salience, CX a...](https://blog.flexmr.net/customer-salience-cx-ai) In recent years, companies have embraced artificial intelligence (AI) at pace, swept up in a technological momentum that promises efficiency and cost savings. However, in their rush to pursue quickly ... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/customer-salience-cx-ai) 5 MIN READ #### Dr Matthew Farmer ### [A Casual Conversation... with Iosetta Santini](https://blog.flexmr.net/casual-conversation-iosetta-santini) Most research projects still currently end with a powerpoint report and a debrief. This has become deeply entrenched as the industry standard, and it is what stakeholders have come to expect when they... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/casual-conversation-iosetta-santini) 4 MIN READ #### Sophie Grieve-Williams ### [Synthetic Data: The Key to Richer Market Insights?](https://blog.flexmr.net/synthetic-data-richer-market-insights) In the dynamic world of market research, the need for robust and accurate data is critical. Whilst the increased prevalence of generative AI has provided a range of benefits to market research process... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/synthetic-data-richer-market-insights) 7 MIN READ #### Rachel Kilmurray ### [Insight 2025: Market Research Trends and Predictions](https://blog.flexmr.net/market-research-2025) The past twelve months have been dominated by technological momentum and behavioural uncertainty. In a review of 2024, published by Research Live, industry leaders highlighted how this dichotomy has i... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/market-research-2025) 11 MIN READ #### Paul Hudson ### [3 Challenges Facing Financial Services Market Resear...](https://blog.flexmr.net/financial-services-market-research) The landscape in the financial services sector is forever changing, this brings a unique set of challenges for brands and therefore their market researchers. With changing regulations, volatility in l... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/financial-services-market-research) 10 MIN READ #### Michael Connor ### [The Future of Technology in Market Research](https://blog.flexmr.net/future-technology-market-research) As the market research industry continues to evolve, one of the most significant transformations is happening within the realm of online research panels. These digital communities have long been a cor... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/future-technology-market-research) 7 MIN READ #### James Watson ### [Designing Conversational Surveys and AI-Powered Foll...](https://blog.flexmr.net/conversational-surveys-ai-powered-follow-ups) Off the heels of embedded surveys, a feature we introduced earlier this year, our development team was tasked with re-imagining how surveys could be presented. The goal? To create a “conversational st... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/conversational-surveys-ai-powered-follow-ups) 9 MIN READ #### Nana Akwah ### [4 AI Use Cases for Customer Salience Strategies](https://blog.flexmr.net/4-ai-use-cases-customer-salience) In today’s increasingly competitive marketplace, businesses are starting to recognise the importance of customer centricity and insights. However, in recent CMO research, while 73% of senior executive... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/4-ai-use-cases-customer-salience) 7 MIN READ #### Emily James ### [How to Use Synthetic Data in Market Research](https://blog.flexmr.net/how-to-use-synthetic-data-in-market-research) In recent years, the rapid advancement of technology and data analytics has revolutionised working practices in the market research industry. One significant and growing innovation to watch is the pro... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/how-to-use-synthetic-data-in-market-research) 9 MIN READ #### Dr Katharine Johnson ### [How Delivery Platforms Reshaped the Restaurant Indus...](https://blog.flexmr.net/delivery-platforms-reshaping-restaurant-industry) Have you noticed how ordering food today feels like a whole new experience compared to a few years back? The restaurant and food delivery industry has been on quite a journey, and it’s amazing to see ... [Continue reading](https://blog.flexmr.net/delivery-platforms-reshaping-restaurant-industry) 8 MIN READ #### Muneera Belim ![](https://www.flexmr.net/skin/images/images-custom/48f118ee-cef9-42d6-b60b-5575d5ac26e3-flexmr_footer.svg) - [Home](https://www.flexmr.net/) - [Contact Us](https://www.flexmr.net/contact/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.flexmr.net/legal/privacy/) - [Cookie Policy](https://www.flexmr.net/legal/cookies/) - [Terms of Use](https://www.flexmr.net/legal/terms-of-use/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/flexmr/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/_flexmr) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/flexmr) [Follow us on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/FlexmrNetOnlineResearch) [![Grit Top 50 Logo](https://www.flexmr.net/uploads/photo-gallery-include-images/34/44258f4d-7452-40d6-bb23-0e220c8ba21f.png)](https://www.greenbook.org/mr/grit/business-innovation-edition) [![ISO 27001 Alcumus](https://www.flexmr.net/uploads/photo-gallery-include-images/34/fa89f9b3-d866-43b8-8de0-4a052a9053d8.png)](https://www.alcumus.com/en-gb/certification/iso-27001/) [![Cyber Essentials Plus Logo](https://www.flexmr.net/uploads/photo-gallery-include-images/34/cba57df6-75a2-4544-9599-dcc0c2f14b79.png)](https://blog.flexmr.net/hubfs/Public_Files/Other/FlexMR_Cyber_Essentials_Certificate.pdf?__hstc=163229475.dde2c3d212762f49b059c9f62e7537a0.1624542718433.1626339489304.1626701624468.7&__hssc=163229475.2.1626701624468&__hsfp=3142549060) © FlexMR 2021. 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