Instantly Launches 'Product Watch' Tool

LA-based research technology company Instantly (formerly known as uSamp) has introduced a new crowd-sourced insights tool called Product Watch, which alerts brands about newly launched consumer products and tracks their performance across key metrics nationwide.

The company changed its name to Instantly last week, and now offers a rebranded range of products comprising Instantly Concept Test, Survey Tool, Sample Service, Automated Sample and Mobile Solutions.

The new Instantly Product Watch tool has been developed to provide companies with early warning about new category competitors, and to help them evaluate their own market impact when launching new products. Product images, pricing data and store location information is collected directly from the firm's mobile audience of thousands of shoppers in grocery stores every day, along with real-time feedback from shoppers about purchase intent and success prediction metrics.

Companies can subscribe to one or several data sets by category, and can follow product sightings over time and across any region. The firm says the launch is part of its plan to enable marketers to access data and feedback at any stage of the product lifecycle.

Justin Wheeler (pictured), VP of Product Innovation, comments: 'Our approach will help solve the 'black hole of marketing' where marketers typically wait weeks or months to see sales data come back from store registers to assess product performance. By leveraging tens of thousands of shoppers each day, we are giving brands more time to make the right shifts in strategy to stay on top.'

Further details of the new service and its applications, along with general comments on the company's ambitions - and a screenshot of Product Watch - can be found in an interview / Q&A session with Instantly CEO Alan Gould, here.

Web site: www.instant.ly .