Acquisitions/transactions 

Data analytics and intelligence platform Babel Street has agreed to acquire text analytics platform Rosette to create a data and intelligence software platform to deliver insight on threat intelligence, risk mitigation and identity management.

Multimedia research and consulting firm Jon Peddie Research has acquired performance analysis and insights company Babel TechReviews to expand its news, analysis and reporting abilities. 

Marketing insights and analytics solutions provider ScanmarQED has acquired marketing attribution platform Roivenue to strengthen its marketing analytics solutions across North America and Europe. 

Professional services company Accenture has acquired customer insights and advisory company Fiftyfive5 to help clients improve their data insights and performance marketing across New Zealand and Australia.

Data solutions provider Melissa has acquired ZIP code data provider ZipInfo.com for an undisclosed sum. 

Audience intelligence platform Audiense has acquired consumer insights company SOPRISM to improve its analytics and insights.

Attention measurement company Amplified Intelligence has acquired attention verification company AttentvAds to improve its predictive capability and attention measurement offerings. 

Digital experience platform Crownpeak has finalized its acquisition of shopping experience platform Attraqt to improve its e-commerce performance and digital experience offerings. 

Business process management company WNS Limited has acquired platform solution consultancy OptiBuy and market intelligence and analytics platform The Smart Cube. 

Advertising agency Dentsu has acquired salesforce, data and analytics consultancy Aware Services. It will join Dentsu’s CX management company Merkle to improve its capabilities. 

Software and solutions company NowVertical has entered a definitive agreement to acquire data and analytics solution providers Smartlytics Consultancy and Acrotrend Solutions.

Consulting firm Protiviti has acquired digital experience agency R2integrated to expand its CX offerings. 

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited has agreed to acquire data analytics company DOT Loves Data to offer data insights to its business customers. 

Digital advertising network Thoughtful Media Group has acquired branding agency More Media to expand its digital advertising sector.

Alliances/strategic partnerships 

Independent podcast company Acast has approved audio analytics and research platform Veritonic as an attribution partner. 

IP intelligence and location data company Digital Envoy has partnered with the Purdue University School of Management for its Data for Impact program. The program aims to examine the impact retail crime has on consumer demand and teach consumers of the benefits of location data.

Broadcasting station Kazt Phoenix has selected Comscore to measure its local TV currency. 

Association/organization news 

Market research association ESOMAR has invalidated its 2023-2024 election results after investigating and concluding that interference occurred in the process. As a result, two staff members have been terminated and a new election will be held. 

The Marketing Research Education Foundation (MREF) has announced its inaugural Month of Service to help researchers make an impact on their communities throughout the month of January.

The preliminary relief judge in the Amsterdam District Court ruled that ESOMAR’s publication of allegations of election-related fraud and misconduct against CEO Parves Khan were unlawful towards her and should be rectified immediately by ESOMAR.

Awards/rankings

Research and consulting firm S2 Marketing, formerly S2 Research, won two awards at the 2022 Las Vegas Valley Pinnacle Awards. It received the 2022 Writing and Speeches award for company owner Matt Seltzer’s book and the 2022 Research and Data Analysis award for a research project led by market analyst Eric Gonzalez.

Market research content platform Significant Insights has released its Global 30 Under 30 2022 list. The winners have contributed to the industry through their use of insights and data. To see all winners visit https://www.significantinsightsmedia.com/30-under-30/2022/.

The Australian Data and Insights Association has named Marissa Tsioutsis and Roger Kong of Fiftyfive5 as winners of the Global Research Got Talent 2022 Award. The awards are held by ESOMAR in partnership with worldwide associations to showcase researchers who are implementing market research on social issues.

The Market Research Society held its MRS Awards 2022 in London. To view the list of winners visit www.mrs.org.uk/awards/mrs-awards. 

The National Retail Federation's NRF Foundation has awarded Lowe’s Chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison with The Visionary 2023 award. The award recognizes individuals who are impacting the retail industry.

Customer experience platform Sprinklr has been named an Exemplary Vendor in Ventana Research’s 2023 Customer Experience Management Value Index.

The QRCA has named Antonio Lopez and Tasheenah Brown of Lightbeam Communications as winners of the QRCA Award for Excellence in Qualitative Research, also known as the Qually Award. 

New companies/new divisions/relocations/expansions 

Enghouse Interactive Market Research & Communities has relocated to a new office space in the Netherlands. 

Research company earnings/financial news 

Customer intelligence platform Chattermill has raised $26 million in its Series B funding round to expand its customer feedback analysis capabilities. 

Consumer insights platform Zappi has raised $170 million in growth capital from software investment firm Sumeru Equity Partners and co-investors. The funds will help improve its platform innovations with new technologies.  

Customer engagement platform MessageGears has completed its $62 million financing round, led by Long Ridge Partners. The funds will be used to improve its technology platform.

Customer journey management platform TheyDo has raised €12 million in its Series A round of funding.

Research recruiting platform User Interviews has raised $27.5 million in its Series B round of funding led by Sageview Capital. 

Management platform ArenaCX has raised $4.2 million in its funding round led by Eagle Ventures, Sovereign’s Capital and more. 

Software solutions provider Enghouse Systems will acquire video technology provider Qumu for approximately $18 million.