UK's Major Agencies Back Triple-S Service

In the UK, GfK, Ipsos MORI, Kantar, Synovate and TNS have sponsored the launch of an online service, which allows developers and users of market research software to test that all exports they create are compliant with the Triple-S data standard.

Triple-S is the only vendor-independent international standard for error-free transmission of research data between different software platforms. It is currently supported by more than 80 market research software suppliers and is widely used by market research companies worldwide.

All members of the Triple-S Group work as volunteers to develop, maintain and promote the standard.

The new validation suite will be available for use on the Triple-S web site, through which users can submit an export document and either receive confirmation that the export conforms to the standard, or a list of messages indicating where any faults lie.

Triple-S spokesman Laurance Gerrard, of LG Consulting, comments: 'This is an important step forward for the standard as for the first time users will have instant recourse to testing their exports.'

Web site: www.triple-s.org .