Survey Software Guide
Survey software is a type of tool used to collect information from people. It is used in market research and customer service and helps businesses gain feedback about products, services, or other issues. Survey software can be used to create surveys online, on mobile devices, and even offline.
Survey software typically includes a variety of features that allow users to design surveys, send them out to participants, gather responses, and analyze the data. There are many different types of survey software available such as open source survey tools, proprietary survey tools, and custom-built survey platforms. Common features include questionnaires with different question types (e.g., multiple-choice questions or open-ended questions), ready-made templates for creating surveys quickly and easily, email invitations for collecting respondents' feedback directly from their inboxes, customizable branding options for making the survey look professional and matching the business's brand identity, real-time reporting with charts and graphs so you can keep track of how your surveys are performing as responses come in, qualitative analysis like sentiment analysis that allows users to find out what people think about certain topics or their experiences with your company/products/services, etc., integration with popular databases like Salesforce or Zapier for automatically syncing data between different platforms for further insights into the collected data.
Survey software also has various security settings like requiring strong passwords for account access control or encryption that protect respondent data from unauthorized access or any security breaches as well as compliance settings like GDPR consent forms so companies can be sure they are meeting all necessary regulations when collecting data from customers in Europe.
Overall, having the right survey software can help companies make better decisions based on hard facts instead of guesswork since it enables them to get accurate insights into their target audiences faster than traditional research methods. This makes it an essential tool in today’s business world.
Survey Software Features
- Question Library: A library of pre-made survey questions which can be selected and used to quickly create a survey. These questions are usually organized into categories so that users can easily find the types of questions they need.
- Responses Analysis: The ability to analyze collected responses in order to gain insights from the data. This could include graphical representations, summaries, or drill-downs into individual responses depending on the software.
- Data Export/Import: The capability to export survey data in various formats for further analysis outside of the survey software platform. Similarly, it should also provide the ability to import data into the platform in order to build surveys quickly and easily.
- Customization Options: Various customization options such as designing your own survey template, adding custom branding elements (e.g., logos or colors), or creating custom logic rules with branching logic or question skip patterns.
- Automation Tools: Automated tools that allow users to schedule, deliver and track surveys over multiple channels including email, sms, web links, and social media platforms. Additionally, some automated features may include reminders for those who have yet to respond and follow-ups for those who have already responded.
- Reporting & Insights: Comprehensive reporting capabilities including real-time dashboards viewable on mobile devices as well as easy-to-understand metrics like response rates, completion times and sentiment analysis rankings based on open-ended answers or comments left by respondents.
- Security & Privacy: Secure hosting and data encryption to ensure that survey data is protected from unauthorized access. Additionally, the ability for users to customize individual privacy settings so that surveys are only accessible by those who are intended to view them.
Different Types of Survey Software
- Online survey software – This type of software facilitates the creation and deployment of online surveys. It usually provides tools for designing questions, tracking responses, reporting results, and analyzing data.
- Mobile survey software – This type of software allows users to create surveys for mobile devices. It can be used to collect information quickly from remote locations or during field interviews.
- Enterprise survey software – This type of software is designed for large organizations that need to collect feedback from a wide range of people in multiple locations. It is typically used to track customer satisfaction levels, employee engagement scores, and other organizational metrics on an ongoing basis.
- Web-based survey software – This kind of survey software is often hosted in the cloud and accessed through a web browser. It enables users to design, administer, analyze, and report on surveys from any internet-connected device.
- Offline survey software – This type of survey software allows users to develop stand-alone surveys that can be completed without an internet connection. Commonly used for collecting data in rural areas or during transitory periods such as natural disasters or public health emergencies.
- Dashboard survey software – This type of software provides a real-time dashboard that allows organizations to monitor survey responses in order to identify trends and take action. It typically includes analytics tools for measuring key performance indicators related to customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and other organizational metrics.
Advantages of Using Survey Software
- Automation: Survey software can automate many tasks that would normally consume a significant amount of time, from collecting responses and summarizing data to analyzing results with interactive charts and graphs. This allows users to save time and energy when it comes to running surveys.
- Customization: With survey software, users are able to customize their surveys in any way they see fit, including designing questions, layouts, colors, and more. This ensures that the survey experience is tailored specifically to meet the user’s needs and preferences.
- Accessibility: Survey software makes it easy for anyone to access a survey at any time from anywhere with an internet connection. This means surveys can be administered quickly and easily across different locations or platforms.
- Cost-effectiveness: Using survey software instead of manual survey methods can save businesses both time and money by reducing labor costs associated with creating and managing traditional surveys. Plus, many software solutions offer low-cost plans tailored for small business owners on tight budgets.
- Comprehensive Analysis: By collecting data through survey software solutions, users are able to study trends in real-time using advanced analytics tools. This helps them gain meaningful insights into customer opinions or employee feedback that could aid in the decision-making process or enhance company policies.
- Efficiency: Survey software is a great tool for streamlining the survey process and helping businesses become more efficient. Its automated processes help save time, while its comprehensive data-analysis capabilities ensure that users are able to quickly respond to customer feedback or any other trends identified in the survey.
Who Uses Survey Software?
- Market Researchers: Organizations that rely on surveys to gain insights into customer behaviors, preferences, and opinions.
- Academic Researchers: Scholars and students who use survey software to conduct studies or polls related to their field of study.
- Human Resources Professionals: Employers who use surveys to collect employee feedback, assess performance, and gauge job satisfaction.
- Social Scientists: Professionals in the fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics and other disciplines who use surveys to observe group behavior.
- Businesses: Companies that use surveys to gather customer feedback about products and services in order to improve them.
- Government Agencies: Public organizations that require feedback on policies or programs from citizens or employees for statistical analysis.
- Non-profits/Charities: Non-profit organizations that often need data from donors or volunteers in order to better understand the needs of their community or make decisions about how best to allocate resources.
- Consultants & Coaches: Freelance professionals who rely on survey responses from clients as part of their service offering.
- Event Planners: Professionals who use surveys to gain insights into the preferences of potential attendees and plan accordingly.
- Journalists & Writers: Reporters and authors who conduct surveys to collect data for stories, articles or books.
How Much Does Survey Software Cost?
The cost of survey software varies widely depending on the features, functionality and customization options it offers. Generally speaking, most survey software solutions can start as low as $0 for basic versions offering limited features and capabilities, while more advanced versions could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month depending on the size of the organization and the complexity of its needs. For larger organizations seeking enterprise-level solutions with detailed reporting capabilities and enhanced security features, costs can run much higher, potentially reaching five-figure sums annually.
In addition to licensing fees, there are also often set-up fees associated with many survey software solutions which cover installation and implementation services. In some cases these set-up fees may be waived if a customer signs up for an extended contract or if they purchase additional services such as custom training or technical support. It is always wise to compare several different vendors and options before making a decision so that you have a good understanding of what’s included in each option, how much it will cost over time, and any other potential hidden costs such as user licenses or customer service fees.
What Software Can Integrate with Survey Software?
Survey software can integrate with many different types of software. For instance, it can integrate with customer relationship management (CRM) software and help organizations to manage their customer data. It also integrates well with analytics tools such as Tableau or Power BI, allowing businesses to gain insights from survey data. Additionally, survey software integrates with other marketing tools like email platforms and webinar services that allow companies to send out surveys or collect responses in real time during events. Finally, survey software can even integrate with billing systems so businesses can keep track of payments while conducting surveys.
What are the Trends Relating to Survey Software?
- Increased Adoption: The use of survey software has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its ability to easily manage large volumes of data and quickly generate insights.
- Faster Results: Survey software can also provide faster results than traditional survey methods, allowing organizations to quickly make decisions based on real-time data.
- Improved Accuracy: Survey software helps to improve the accuracy of results by automating the process of data collection and analysis. This reduces the risk of human error and ensures reliable results.
- More Options: Survey software offers a wide range of features such as question branching, custom reports, and data filtering. This allows organizations to tailor surveys to their specific needs.
- Flexible Delivery: Survey software allows for flexible delivery, allowing surveys to be distributed via email, web page embeds, social media links, and more.
- Reduced Costs: Using survey software can help reduce costs associated with traditional survey methods such as mailing costs or printing expenses.
- Increased Security: Survey software offers increased security compared to traditional methods by encrypting all data collected during the process. This helps protect sensitive information from malicious actors.
How to Select the Right Survey Software
Utilize the tools given on this page to examine survey software in terms of price, features, integrations, user reviews, and more.
Selecting the right survey software for your business can be a challenging task. Here are some tips to help you choose the best survey software for your needs:
- Identify Your Goals: Before selecting any software, it’s important to know what you hope to accomplish with your surveys. Do you want to collect customer feedback or gather data on employee satisfaction? Knowing the purpose of your surveys will make it easier to find the right survey software.
- Determine Your Needs: Once you know what type of survey data you need, consider what other features would make sense for your business. Look into reporting capabilities, automation functionality, and integration options that may be helpful in analyzing, tracking and sharing your survey results efficiently.
- Read Reviews: Researching online reviews can provide insight into which products are available and have received positive feedback from users. It’s also a good idea to ask peers in similar industries about their experiences with different solutions.
- Request Demos or Trials: Requesting demos or trials from different vendors gives you an opportunity to assess each product’s user interface and features firsthand before making any final decisions. This will give you insight into how easy it is to use each option as well as how much training may be needed for staff members who will be using them regularly.
- Evaluate Prices & Customer Service: Comparing prices between different vendors can help narrow down which product offers the greatest value based on its features and reliability, as well as any additional costs associated with training and support services if necessary after purchase. Additionally, take note of customer service policies such as response times and hours of availability; this should also factor into your decision-making process when selecting the right survey software solution for your company's needs.