The Top Research Organizations for Your B2B Product Strategy [Updated]
The Article in 60 Seconds
Do you have a clear understanding of who your target audience is and what they want? Understanding these two essentials will empower you to more effectively develop and market products in the B2B tech world.
Understanding those needs requires significant initial and ongoing research to get the most valuable insights for your business.
We’ve pulled together our list of the best resources to support your B2B tech product strategy in these categories:
- Health IT
- Fintech
- Cybersecurity
- Cross-Industry
Think About This
- The larger the company, the more team members are dedicated to research. Businesses with less than 100 employees may only dedicate part of one employee’s time to research. Make that time count.
- 26% of US adults are “always online.” 77% are online daily. They leave a digital trail. Do you know how to follow your prospect’s breadcrumbs?
- Deeply knowing your target customer and your industry improves the web visit experience from 2x to 5x.
- Ads that target the behavior of your prospect are twice as effective as other ads.
Do you have a clear understanding of who your target audience is and what they want? Understanding these two essentials will empower you to more effectively develop and market products in the B2B tech world.
You can’t rely on your perspectives alone; this understanding should be rooted in data. With the right data, you can then form a comprehensive strategy to address your audience’s top needs.
Understanding those needs requires significant initial and ongoing research to get the most valuable insights for your business. Thankfully, there are many reputable research firms, associations, and other outlets doing the hard work for you.
Not sure where to start looking? That’s why we’re here. We’ve pulled together our list of the best resources to support your B2B tech product strategy.
Health IT Resources
If you’re a healthcare technology solution provider, you need to understand the top pain points for key stakeholders in provider and payer organizations. Healthcare research firms gather valuable data and insights that can inform your product functionality and end-user priorities.
Below are resources we recommend for your health IT product research.
AHIMA
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) provides knowledge, resources, and tools to advance health information professional practice and standards for the delivery of quality healthcare. Such resources include courses, webinars, assessments, meetings, and publications.
HIM Body of KnowledgeTM
Resources covering key topics, including coding, privacy and security, information governance, health informatics, and more
Journal of AHIMA
Official publication of AHIMA featuring multiple articles published daily, white papers, and resources for patients and caregivers
Virtual Lab
Platform for value-added HIM experiential education featuring multiple software applications and corresponding lab lessons
CHIME
The College of Health Information Management Executives (CHIME) is a professional organization for CIOs and other senior health IT leaders that enables members to collaborate, exchange ideas, develop professionally, and advocate the effective use of health information management.
CIO Forums
Member-only events twice per year featuring health IT educators and networking opportunities
Healthcare CIO Boot CampTM
Intensive education program for members featuring presentations, small group discussions, case studies, and interactive problem solving
Healthcare’s Most Wired Survey
Program recognizing healthcare organizations that use innovative and disruptive technologies to advance health and care
HIMSS
The Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a global, cause-based not-for-profit organization focused on better health through information and technology. It is one of the largest, most influential healthcare industry organizations, and more than 45,000 health IT professionals attend the HIMSS conference every year. Additionally, HIMSS offers a plethora of educational resources and professional development opportunities for members.
HIMSS Learning Center
the largest health IT online learning platform in the world
HIMSS Innovation Center
an interactive facility for events, open-source community tools, and education
HIMSS Analytics
a global healthcare advisor, providing guidance and market intelligence solutions
Resource Library
podcasts, webinars, publications, and industry research materials
KLAS
KLAS aims to amplify the voice of healthcare providers and payers through research and insights it shares in exchange for feedback from key stakeholders. It analyzes data to identify key trends and issues, and works with vendor leadership to improve solutions.
Industry Reports
55+ insight-driven reports available each year to payers and providers in exchange for feedback on their experiences
Performance Data
vendor performance data based on user feedback
Arch Collaborative
framework of success to better understand and guide organizations to improve EHR utilization and satisfaction
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Fintech Resources
As fintech continues to permeate the banking industry, these technology vendors need access to data and insights around how their solutions will impact financial institutions. There are several organizations dedicated to garnering this valuable product and industry information, including:
ABA
The American Bankers Association (ABA) serves as the united voice of America’s banks, ranging from small to regional to large. The organization provides information, training, staff expertise, and other resources to its bank members.
ABA Banking Journal
Flagship magazine and news site
ABA Benchmarking Programs
Interactive tools and ongoing quarterly programs focused on management issues to help bankers compare their performance to their competitors
ABA Survey Reports
Surveys from banks around key topics, such as lending, consumer banking, operations, risk management, and compensation.
Financial Brand
Financial Brand is a digital publication focused on marketing and strategy issues affecting retail banks and credit unions. In addition to publishing ongoing editorial content, the publication oversees the following educational resources:
Digital Banking Report
Comprehensive reports that combine leadership interviews with in-depth analysis, charts, and case studies on data, digital technologies, innovation, and new competition
Financial Brand Forum
The world’s most elite conference on marketing, customer experience, data analytics, and digital transformation in the banking industry
ICBA
The Independent Community Bank Association (ICBA) creates an environment where community banks flourish. It offers members national representation, professional development, innovative products/services, and exclusive tools and information.
Bank Director Program
newsletter, online training courses, seminars, and publications
ICBA ThinkTECH
center for cutting-edge financial technology that includes a networking portal, The Venture Center accelerator, and education materials
Independent Banker
award-winning monthly magazine
The Venture Center
The Venture Center offers innovative programs for fintech entrepreneurs and corporations that support sustainable economic growth. Golden Spiral was recently named the official marketing mentor for the organization’s fintech accelerator and will provide hands-on marketing coaching to companies selected for the bi-annual program.
Accelerators
Two 12-week programs (sponsored by FIS and ICBA) featuring a rigorous curriculum, mentorship, and access to hundreds of c-level banking executives
Mentorship program
Nine-month program for professionals looking for career coaching with seasoned professionals
Community events
Workshops and seminars open to the public
Cybersecurity Resources
No matter who you users are, they care about cybersecurity; the risk of data breaches is too high for them to ignore it. That’s why it’s important to be well-informed of the latest trends affecting security issues. Here are a few organizations that specialize in developing cybersecurity research and insights:
Cybersecurity Ventures
Cybersecurity Ventures is a top researcher and Page ONE for the global cyber economy. The organization delivers cyber economic market data, insights, and predictions for CIOs and IT executives, CSOs and CISOs, information security practitioners, cybersecurity company executives, and more.
Cybercrime Magazine
Publication covering annual and quarterly reports on cybercrime, cyberwarfare, hacks and data breaches, cybersecurity market forecasts, etc.
2019 Cybersecurity Almanac
100 facts, figures, predictions, and statistics surrounding the global cybercrime landscape
Cybersecurity Lists for 2019
Running lists for the cybersecurity community
ISF
The Information Security Forum (ISF) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides research, practical tools, and guidance around current information security topics and challenges impacting members’ businesses. It focuses on people, process, technology, governance, risk, and compliance.
Research Library
Reports covering a range of security challenges and topics
Tools and Methodology
Tools and methodologies based on collective expertise and insight of members to develop security and risk management strategies
Consultancy Services
Practical solutions and guidance that supplement research and tools
RSA Conference
RSA Conference empowers companies to stay ahead of cyberthreats through online outreach and events around the globe. More than 50,000 cybersecurity professionals attend the conferences each year to network with like-minded peers, participate in industry discussions, and hear from experts in the field.
RSA Conference
The world’s leading cybersecurity event
SANS Institute
The SANS Institute is a cooperative research and education organization serving more than 165,000 security professionals globally. It is the largest source of information security training and security certification in the world, and it develops and maintains the largest collection of research documents about information security.
Reading Room
More than 2,880 original computer security white papers in 109 different categories, as well as analyst papers
Webcasts
Live web broadcasts featuring security experts, analysts, and customer experiences
Newsletters
Weekly, semi-weekly, and monthly cybersecurity news summaries
Cross-Industry Resources
In addition to the above industry-specific research firms and associations, there are even more organizations with cross-industry expertise that you can tap into. These firms typically provide a range of services, including consulting, advisory, tax preparation/audit, research, and analytics.
Here’s a list of reputable organizations you can reference the next time you’re looking for valuable insights to inform your product strategy.
Accenture
Strategy, operations, consulting, digital and technology insights covering healthcare, high tech, and more
Boston Consulting Group
Consulting and insights focused on strategy, growth, operations, and analytics in various industries, including financial institutions, healthcare, and technology
Brookings Institution
Not-for-profit public policy institution that conducts in-depth research that leads to problem solving. Industries include financial institutions, and tech and innovation.
CB Insights
Machine intelligence platform, intelligence analysts, and global network of executives and startups that help companies answer strategic questions using probability
Deloitte
Trends research, surveys and case studies for life sciences/healthcare, financial services, and technology industries
Ernst & Young
Advisory services, benchmark reporting, and surveys covering fintech, healthcare, and more
Forrester
Research, analytics, events, consulting, executive programs, and training for banking, health insurance, and high tech
Gartner
Research and advisory company that offers tools to help companies achieve mission-critical priorities. Industries include financial services, high tech, and healthcare.
IDC
Global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for IT, telecommunication, and consumer technology markets.
KPMG
Management consulting, risk consulting, deal advisory, and strategy services for financial services, healthcare, and technology organizations
McKinsey & Company
Global research, professional networking, analytics, benchmarking, knowledge management, and more for financial services, healthcare system and service, and high tech industries
PwC
Strategy consulting, benchmarking, and data and analytics covering financial services, fintech, and health services
The First Thing to Do After Reading this Article
Share this article with those on your team who regularly conduct research. Do you have a single repository of potential sources? If not, develop one on a file-sharing platform.
Updated from the originally-published version of April 18, 2019
