Credited with his innovative initiatives in conducting market research in India, Raj Sharma Chairman of Majestic Research,is now re-writing the history of Digital India through market research.
Almost a decade and half back, Raj Sharma was the then force behind introduction of the first CATI set-up in India i.e. Computer Assisted Telephonic Interviews. With increased penetration and mobiles phones CATI has now become the most preferred methodology to conduct market research in India of which Sharma is considered as the pioneer.
Academically equipped with a Diploma in Industrial Electronics followed by post graduation in Electronics and Telecommunications followed by an MBA, Raj Sharma in his professional voyage has seen the evolution from manual typewriters to electronic machines that included photocopiers and fax machines.
Starting his career with Godrej and then joining a Dutch photocopying company name `Oce’, Raj Sharma never looked back as he then moved to Tata Nelco where he led marketing communications before joining MRSS India Ltd, a leading digital Market Research Agency in the country. MRSS is now India's 1st and only listed Market Research Company that is a subsidiary of Majestic Market Research Support Services Limited, - One of Asia’s largest full service market research firm. MRSS is also a member of MRSI and DIN ( Digital Insight Network - Global).
At a time when India was struggling with 9.6KBS modems, Majestic under his able leadership introduced video streaming in India, which was then unheard off in the segment of market research. Video streaming facilitated in market research investigators being location agnostic and be in any part of the world and see and listen to their consumers in India real time. Going further, Majestic launched ‘Ethnostreaming’ which basically connected Boardrooms to Bedrooms and Bathrooms thus giving the global companies to further customize their offering for the Indian consumers.
At Majestic, the quest for introducing newer methodologies and technologies has became a norm than an exception. This was further built upon with tools like SMS Research; Online Panels; Eye Tracking; Online Communities; Mystery Shopping; Digital Tracking. Today, the firm is talking about new innovative tools including Neurosciences, Indoor Audience Measurement Systems, and Sensory Sciences and aiming to revolutionize the Digital Landscape of Insighting in India.
Regarded as a thought leader in the field of Market Research, Sharma has served as the International Features Editor for QRCA VIEWS, a publication of QRCA (Qualitative Research Consultants Association). He has also been associated with various organizations such as ESOMAR, AEMRI, MSPA, WAPOR, AIAI, UPA, ePHMRA, MMA and AQR. He is on the Management Committee of MRSI (Market Research Society of India) and also has recently been appointed as the 1st ever official Media Spokesperson of MRSI.