When You Receive a Survey after an Order

Have you ever received a survey after making an order from a company, only to wonder what the company is up to? The practice of customer surveys is surprisingly wide-spread, and while it can provide valuable insights, there are also some things to consider.

Third-Party Surveys: The Industry Standard

The most common scenario is that the company uses a third-party to carry out these surveys. This is done for several reasons:

Removing Bias: A third-party organization is less likely to affect the responses and can provide more accurate information. Improving Objectivity: It ensures that the results reflect the true opinions of the customers rather than just those of the company. Privacy Protection: The survey typically does not collect or store personal details of the respondents, only aggregate data.

What Happens to Your Data?

Once you make an order with a company, they already have your contact information and other relevant data. So, the information asked in the survey is already known to them to some extent. However, the analytics from the survey are often used to refine and improve their business strategies:

Customer Satisfaction: By understanding the customer satisfaction levels, companies can take corrective actions if necessary. Product Improvement: Feedback can help them enhance and refine their products or services. Marketing Strategies: Insights from the survey help fine-tune their marketing approaches to better target their audience.

Why Do Companies Use Third-Parties?

There are several reasons why companies prefer to use third-parties for customer surveys:

Third-Party Expertise: These organizations often have the necessary tools, methodologies, and analytics to handle the survey effectively. Cost-Effectiveness: Outsourcing the survey process can be more cost-effective than managing it in-house. Compliance: Third-party organizations are often more familiar with regulatory requirements around data collection and handling, ensuring that the process is compliant with relevant laws.

Protecting Your Privacy

Even if the third-party collects data, they are bound by privacy laws and best practices to protect your information. Here are a few key points to consider:

Data Anonymization: The data collected is often anonymized to ensure that individual respondents cannot be identified. Aggregation: Responses are compiled into aggregate data, making it difficult to trace back to individual participants. Data Security: Third-party organizations typically have security measures in place to protect the data they handle.

How to Ensure Your Data Safety

While the use of third-parties can provide a more secure and unbiased experience, there are steps you can take to ensure your data safety:

Read the Privacy Policy: Review the company’s privacy policy to understand how your data is handled. Opt-Out: If you feel uncomfortable, consider opting out of the survey process. Choose Reputable Organizations: Only participate in surveys conducted by reputable third-party organizations.

Conclusion

The practice of customer surveys using third-party organizations is a valuable tool for both companies and customers. It helps in understanding customer needs and improving services. While there are benefits, it's important to be aware of how your data is being used and to take steps to protect your privacy. Always stay informed and question the survey practices of the companies you interact with.