The Bureau of Market Research (Pty) Ltd (BMR) at the University of South Africa (Unisa) occasionally produce highly pragmatic research products and quality services valued and applied by Standard Bank for strategic planning, market segmentation and product positioning purposes.

The integrity and value of the research produced by the BMR has resulted in a sustained membership subscription of all the BMR Research Divisions by Standard Bank. Besides the value gained from business research, Standard Bank confidently benefited from the business intelligence produced by the BMR with specific reference to the following research reports published in the past three years (2017 – 2019):

• Macroeconomic and retail trade sales forecast for SA (2017, 2018 and 2019);
• Population estimates of South Africa (provincial, district, local municipality and ward levels – 2016-2017.
• Happiness Index for South Africa (2017, 2018 & 2019).
• Distributional household balance sheet figures for South Africa, 2016.
• Evaluating the demographic aspects and estimating demographic indicators from the 2016 South Africa Community Survey.
• Sectoral and sub sectoral trends in South Africa, 1993 – 2017.
• Household income and expenditure trends and patterns, 2013 -2018.
• Personal income estimates for South Africa, 2013 – 2018.
• Behavioural aspects to investment decision making.
• Using Psychophysiological insights to uncover the subconscious behaviour underlying certain values.

Standard Bank is also a subscriber to the BMR top-up household wealth and business syndicates and likewise benefits from the advanced research services of the BMR providing subscribers the ability to independently tailor data according to company specific needs. More specifically Standard Bank finds good value in the BMR research in support of investment strategies to navigate the macroeconomic operating environment and to, among others, conduct forecasting, analyse business cycle developments and plan for behavioural interventions.

Overall, the research services of the BMR display sound scientific methodological application of research theory and resemble high research ethics and standards. Also, the sustained high quality consumer and business research produced by the BMR has secured valuable business intelligence for Standard Bank in support of its strategic sustainability priorities inclusive of innovative business, penetrating new markets and sustained value for its target market. Likewise, the long-term stakeholder relationship between Standard Bank and the BMR resembles sound trust and confidence that Standard Bank displays towards the BMR.

Our best wishes accompany the BMR in expanding its research services to other organisations that are anticipated to experience similar satisfactory service performance from BMR commissioned work.

 

EMILE DU PLESSIS
HEAD: RETAIL AND BUSINESS BANKING ECONOMICS