Retail measurement services (RMS) are present in a
diverse range of industry sectors including FMCG, consumer durables, pharmaceutical, vision care,
pet foods, writing instruments, computers and peripherals, mobile phones/telecom products, as
well as hardware and sanitary ware.
In the FMCG sector, NielsenIQ stands out as the largest global service provider,
while IRI has a strong presence in North America. Aztec, which was acquired by IRI in 2013, leads
in the Pacific region. In Japan, Intage serves as the sole service provider since Nielsen
discontinued its Japan retail index in 2009.
GfK holds dominance in the consumer durables industry, while IMS is a key player
in the pharmaceutical sector.
The development of a retail index involves six key steps, which are as follows:
- Universe definition
- Census
- Sample design and recruitment
- Data collection
- Data processing
- Analysis and interpretation
Steps 1 to 3, including universe definition, census
(universe estimation), and sample design and setup, form the foundational aspects of designing
and developing the retail measurement service. These steps establish the basis for the measurement
service.
Steps 4 to 6 encompass the ongoing measurement processes that are repeated in every
reporting cycle, ensuring the continuous collection, processing, analysis, and interpretation of
data.
