Desk research starts with data that already exists. We analyse public statistics, sector information, reports, publications, online sources and other relevant material to build a clearer understanding of a market, sector or competitive landscape.
This method can stand alone or serve as preparation for qualitative or quantitative research. Desk research is often the first step in refining your research question, formulating hypotheses and setting up targeted research.
Desk research is useful when you want to:
Instead of relying on assumptions, you can build on objective information that is already available.
In desk research, we analyse reliable secondary sources, such as:
L’objectif n’est pas de compiler des informations, mais de les analyser et de les croiser pour produire une lecture cohérente du marché.
The aim is not to collect new data, but to bring existing information together and turn it into a coherent analysis. When relevant, we complement desk research with exploratory conversations with stakeholders or experts.
Desk research often provides the foundation for further research. It helps refine hypotheses, define the right target group and develop stronger questionnaires or interview guides.
A restaurant owner wanted to open a new branch and was looking for the most promising location.
We conducted in-depth desk research to identify areas with the greatest potential based on:
By bringing these indicators together, we pinpointed the areas with the highest potential and filtered out less promising locations.
This gave the entrepreneur a stronger basis for deciding where to invest.
Desk research helps you to:
Desk research is often the first step in a comprehensive market research project.
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