Smarter research. Better value. More actionable insight.
Innovation is reshaping the research landscape – from how data is collected and processed to how insight is delivered and used. At IFF, we actively invest in technology and new ways of working so our clients benefit from research that is faster, more efficient, and more impactful.
We combine deep research expertise with modern tools – including AI-enabled processes and bespoke data solutions – to help organisations make confident, evidence-based decisions.
Using automation and AI to offer value for money
We use AI and automation to make our research processes more efficient and scalable, helping you receive faster and more cost-effective insight. Importantly, this also frees up our researchers to focus their time on higher-value analysis and interpretation, maximising the quality of insight you’ll receive.
Below are a few examples of some of the tools we’ve developed.
Web scraping & automated data collection
Custom Python-based web scraping solution to automate the collection and organisation of publicly available data at scale. This allows us to build high quality datasets quickly and efficiently.
Advanced survey scripting
AI tool to accelerate survey scripting by generating a first draft of code from questionnaire macros. This enables our Data Services team to focus on reviewing, refining, and handling complex tasks, improving efficiency without compromising quality.
AutoSpecMaker
Transforming raw datasets into templated SPSS and data tables specifications. This frees up our researchers to focus on applying subject expertise to create data outputs most valuable for your analysis.
Turning insight into action through intuitive dashboards
Insight has the greatest impact when it’s easy to explore, understand and apply. Which is why we transform complex social policy data into clear, interactive dashboards that support confident decision making.
Built as ready to deploy products, our dashboards offer rapid turnaround while remaining flexible enough to be tailored to your specific policy questions, audiences, and priorities. Designed in close collaboration with clients, they make it easy to explore trends, track change over time, and share robust evidence with stakeholders – all through engaging, accessible visual tools that bring insight to life.
Meet our Innovation & Efficiencies team
Nicola Wildash
Director, Head of Innovation & Efficiencies
Nicola brings a comprehensive understanding of research projects from inception to delivery, having worked in both agency and client-side roles since 2014.
Nicola provides strategic consultation on individual projects to identify opportunities for innovation and optimisation, and support our commitment to continuous improvement. This guidance helps unlock time and improve quality of delivery – maximising the quality of insight and value for money you’ll receive.
Ollie Gooding
Associate Director, AI & Automation Lead
Ollie brings extensive research experience, having delivered mixed-method research projects since 2018. And now provides expert consultation across projects as IFF’s AI and Automation Lead.
Working with internal teams, and software developers, Ollie helps design and implement AI-driven and automated solutions. With the ultimate aim of improving value for money and freeing up freeing up time for researchers to focus on what they do best: critical thinking, contextual interpretation, and compelling storytelling to deliver impactful insight.
Want to find out more?
Every project is different. We’ll work with you to identify where technology and innovative approaches can add real value – whether that’s improving efficiency, enhancing analysis, or creating more usable outputs.
Get in touch to discuss how our technology and innovation expertise could benefit your next project.