Teak Research Co., Ltd.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a design analyst at a design innovation consulting company. We use design processes and methodologies to tackle business challenges. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

We hired Teak for their research services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Teak helped us do research and find stakeholders as we gathered information in terms of data and numbers. The team delivered transcripts, videos, and pictures to us as they explained what was happening in the stakeholders’ industries. We then determined interesting trends in the areas we were researching. 

Moreover, Teak used our design research methodology. We set up the questions, but we didn’t use any questionnaires. Their team simply talked to people, while our team set the numbers in terms of the people we wanted them to interview. We went to various factories to interview people in different positions. 

We didn’t require them to do any results evaluation because we did that ourselves. Their resources simply helped us gather data and target the right people from specific countries and cultures that were related to the answers we were seeking. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with 5–6 people from Teak, but I only had direct contact with 1–2 people. When we go through the interviews, they gathered more people, including senior researchers. 

How did you come to work with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

I already knew about Teak before this engagement. There also weren’t a lot of design research companies in Thailand. On top of that, I knew they had a good reputation. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Teak from February–March 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We didn’t have many success metrics because the deliverables were specific — Teak simply delivered the research work we needed and the transcript of the interviews. They also answered any questions regarding the targets’ answers. Overall, my team was happy with the results of the engagement. 

Anecdotally, the team was willing to answer any kinds of questions and problems. They helped us talk to other people more effectively; it was also easy for us to talk to them. Overall, their work was highly impactful. 

How did Teak Research Co., Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

Teak’s project management has been great. We had no problem in terms of deadlines. Our teams didn’t use any specific management tools; we only used GSuite to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had experienced people in the company. They were great at creating methodologies to do their research and understand how human behavior worked. Their team could connect psychology to the business, making it easier for us to understand people’s thoughts and how we could derive business value from them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They can create a more refined system of research where we don’t have to start over from the beginning when we want to talk about particular pieces of research. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Talk and connect with Teak’s leadership, such as their co-founders. They can use their network to help you with their research. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a design specialist at a design and innovation consultancy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

We needed to have some research done offshore, and it was pretty hard for us to relocate due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Teak Research helped us with recruitment and session moderation, including prototypes and prototype testing. We worked together for three months in a biweekly study. 

We had monthly screeners with the same ground basis and changes depending on the features we had to test. We mixed it up a bit each month so we could have an entire set of profiles. From there, Teak Research would gather a participants list and share it with us, and I would approve it or reject it. 

Then, I would check the discussion guide with them. The Teak Research team conducted the sessions providing interpreting services. Their only deliverables were the participant lists and the session videos. 

What is the team composition?

Sawyer (Partner & General Manager) was our main point of contact at the beginning, and then I worked with Kanatip (Senior Researcher). Sometimes other teammates participated when there was extra recruitment work, but they varied each round.

How did you come to work with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

We have a list of approved vendors for global studies, and Teak Research is one of them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August 2020–February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Although the research took a bit longer because our end client requested a tougher sample than we were expecting, Teak Research was able to accomplish the goal. They made a humongous effort because it was a complex sample to get, and they got it. The team exhausted their resources and went wherever they had to in order to get the sample. 

We didn’t have any problems with their moderation, and they put a huge amount of effort into finishing the research in time.

How did Teak Research Co., Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

Our communication with them ran perfectly; we used email, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Teams. Whenever I work with vendors, I communicate closely with them. I incorporated Teak Research as part of my team. 

They performed fairly from a project management standpoint. They’re still a small company compared to other vendors that I’ve worked with, and they have room for improvement. They take feedback amazingly, though; I never had to tell them things twice.

The Teak Research team improved with every single round. We could see their improvement from round one to round six, which was amazing. They ended up delivering everything on time, even the bills. Everyone on our side was happy with our collaboration.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They always made the time and extra effort for things to work the way we wanted them to. Some vendors charge for every change or can’t accommodate. Meanwhile, Teak Research was very accommodating in every aspect of the project, which distinguished them from other vendors. 

I was also impressed by their drive for improvement. They considered our feedback to improve through every single round, which was amazing. 

Additionally, Teak Research made a lot of effort to contextualize their findings. We ideally travel to understand how the context impacts our insights whenever we deal with global research. Since we could not travel because of COVID-19, Teak Research always communicated with me and told me how our research was seen within their context. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re still a small company, so there might be some administrative issues when dealing with numbers. They could also improve their expertise and interpreting services. I realized they weren’t used to projects like the one we brought them, which was really large.

However, if they keep having these sorts of projects, they’ll organically improve, and it’ll come naturally to them. They have the disposition, which is the most important thing. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Treat Teak Research as part of your team. Whenever they feel confident and trustworthy, communication will flow naturally, and things will get done. You can also expect them to improve; if they make a mistake, just tell them about it, and they’ll improve for the next round.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior project director at a research, strategy, and brand consulting firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Teak Research Company?

We’ve hired them as research partners on multiple occasions, but for piecemeal translation and recruiting services and as equal research and interview partners doing on-the-ground analysis and reporting in foreign markets.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’re very hands-on in briefing them to help grow and understanding of our clients’ objectives in terms of timelines, recruiting specifications, and clarity on the relationship. When they’re a full partner, they identify qualified interview subjects, conduct the interviews in native, local languages, and then provide after-the-fact analysis informed by historical, cultural, and other contexts.

What is the team composition?

Adisorn (Partner & Director) and Sawyer (Partner & General Manager) are our two primary contracts. We work with them during initial outreach on costing out the scope and their availability. They then assemble a team for the project and hand us over to a core team lead that varies by project.

How did you come to work with Teak Research Company?

I had a personal connection from when I worked with founder at a previous company.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $25,000–$50,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since June 2021. Even though we don’t have an ongoing work with them currently, they’re a preferred partner.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Everything we do is qualitative, as our research isn’t based on survey’s or anything numerical. Our evaluation to date is super positive. They find qualified, engaged people to interview, and our clients are very complimentary of Teak Research’s work, citing it as empathetic and able to align with narrative-driven strategic outputs.

As we’re working with local languages, we’re flying blind to some degree. Everyone offers translation services, but Teak Research provides analysis they gather from their eyes and ears on the ground. They’re great at distilling the story, and make sure that everything is translated into our storytelling in a nuanced way.

How did Teak Research Company perform from a project management standpoint?

I rate them super high in this area. We give them timelines and recruiting specifications and they’ve never had an issue hitting deadlines. They’re communicative during the recruitment process, which usually takes a couple of weeks, and they excel and scheduling and executive the interviews. We’re asking them to handle a hands-off research project and always make sure it’s buttoned up.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Rather than simply reporting what they’ve heard, Teak Research is good at delivering the context of the research. This makes them a strong strategic partner, rather than just a moderator for hire. Local context is impossible to get without good partners on the ground.

Additionally, they’re good at seamless contracting and expanding to fit our budget. Flexibility is a stand-out quality for them. They’re a tight-nit team with great internal communication. Rather than being handed to a junior account manager, we get to work with a lot of super talented people.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind, as every project is different. If they were to expand beyond Thailand they could work with us more, but they’re also good because they don’t overextend themselves.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Put an emphasis up front on establishing both recruiting criteria and client goals, as well as the softer cultural context and background. This will help them deliver all they can as a partner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an innovation strategy consulting firm and we were helping a large global MNC on their emerging markets growth strategy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

Market Research in Thailand

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were refered by a professional network

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Teak helped us in the Thailand field research where we wanted to generate insights from various stakeholders in the metal industry on their unmet needs around using abrasive products

What was the team composition?

Partner, 2 Managers and few field team members

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The insights from Teak research helped our clients to understand how workers use compensating tools to achieve the outcomes they want and not necessarily the tools that are intended for the job because of various barriers from skill, affordability and time. It is now helping our client to rethink product development.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent. They laid out the plan, the metrics and ensure that there is constant reporting. They were also raising the red flags immediately and making adjustments while keeping us in the process as they made decisions

What did you find most impressive about this company?

• The team always had a smile even after a hard day's work.
• Clear communication. Always seeking clarity.
• Disagreements expressed maturely and handled sensibly.
• The founder was actively involved in the project and unlike many agencies where managers were deployed, he personally joined every call, handled every detail and that gave us a lot of confidence.
• Very professional team.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

There were some minor language related gaps especially with the field team which I am sure is unavoidable in a non-english speaking country but the team leading it always were forthcoming and ensuring that our needs were always met

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the co-founder and CEO of a 60-person digital consulting firm based in Bangkok, Thailand. We help established organizations digitally transform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

One of my teams were helping a new international school do requirements gathering from its digital infrastructure (e.g., Student Information System, Learning Management System), and they wanted to solicit feedback from would-be parents. Teak was commissioned to run co-creation sessions with prospective parents with the aim of identifying unmet needs.

What were your goals for this project?

My team wanted insights into the wants and needs of would-be customers; insights that could help us define a best-in-class digital infrastructure for the school.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Teak was the only vendor considered for the project. Primarily because they are one of the few, if not the only, provider with the expertise and experience to provide these types of services in Bangkok, Thailand. My team subsequently recommended Teak to our client, who summarily accepted our recommendation.

Describe the project in detail.

MAQE approached Teak about doing research to inform the design of the B2C learning management system (curriculum and assessment) and student information system (admissions and general information) for parents and teachers of children attending VERSO, an international school that will be beginning enrollment in 2019 and opening for its first semester in 2020.

Teak would propose a co-creation session with parents and MAQE from Verso as well as members of the MAQE design team where participants would be asked to design a hypothetical system for learning and student information management and help prioritize and refine MAQE’s and Verso’s initial concepts. Researchers would then analyze and synthesize the data from sessions, develop insights, frameworks, and design recommendations to inform the design of the learning and student information management systems.

What was the team composition?

All in all, the research project involved five people, two of whom came from Teak. The remaining three were part of my consulting team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

At the end of the project, Teak submitted a 40-page report with detailed and tangible recommendations with which to inform our requirement gathering.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I have no complaints. The teams worked very well together.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Teak was very flexible and accomodating despite several delays from the customer side.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Teak is not cheap. But they are flexible and accomodating when it comes to research scope and delineation of labor.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director at Think Solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

We were looking to hire a team with good insight and a strategic foundation to research with us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Over the past several years, the team at Teak Research Co., Ltd. worked on 4–5 projects. Their team does in-depth, insightful marketing research. In one project, they set up foundation research to formulate a long-term strategy for a brand in a food service company. They also work on the design aspect. The team provides external graphic research, focusing on human activity more than the product.

What is the team composition?

Adisorn (Founding Partner & Director) was the main point of contact. We also dealt with Sawyer (Partner & General Manager).

How did you come to work with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

I knew Adisorn from when he worked with a different US company.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $480,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement started in January 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

On the lead project, we worked together from scratch. Their team did a lot of research to support that project. The client adopted the ideas we presented to them. It was a large-scale project, and since then, we’ve worked with a lot of well-known design companies.

How did Teak Research Co., Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

They do an excellent job. We have a system to ensure that everything is going in the right direction before submitting a project. Their team always meets deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team is full of pioneers in their field. They put a lot of effort into listening and understanding their clients’ needs. They don’t use a template for their research, but rather look at each project individually and figure out the best approach for each client. Adisorn is able to marry his US experience with his understanding of local culture.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They may want to think of how to scale in order to handle multiple projects at the same time without losing quality.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of Palo-IT, a consulting company that helps clients transform their organization from a traditional business model to a digital business model.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

One of our clients asked us to support them in the creation of a disruptive insurance mobile app. For this project, we needed to come up with a proof of concept (POC) and create clickable wireframes from scratch. Our main pain point was research. 

We had two consultants from Hong Kong and two from Thailand. However, our Thai employees didn’t have any research experience and those from Hong Kong couldn’t speak Thai. 

We were looking for a company that had research expertise to fill this gap by joining us at the beginning and the end of the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the beginning of the project, they helped us interview the stakeholders and users of the future product. 

The team also created questionnaires and conducted censuses for them, drafting up a transparent research analysis report. Later in the project, they then came back and tested the prototype with the users.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a researcher, who was a part of our team, and a director who supervised the censuses.

How did you come to work with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

We contacted several companies through our network and ended up talking to Teak Research Co., Ltd. I don’t remember how we initially began our discussions, but they were a good fit. We then talked to one of their employees who was later onboarded onto the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Teak Research Co., Ltd. from June–July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The research reports they created were very well done. They helped us with the stakeholder facilitation workshops because, after the research was conducted, we were able to compare our stakeholder and user research reports.

Their prototype testing also allowed us to write a final research paper which was crucial for the development of the project.

How did Teak Research Co., Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via email and they were also on-site with us but our team handled project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of commitment to the project was impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything that needed to be improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don’t know the full package that they offer because we were running the whole project ourselves but they do well with research. We very much appreciated their collaborative nature and it felt like they were a part of our team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the global strategic research lead at INSITUM, an innovation consultancy company. We help different companies in different sectors solve complex problems. We do a lot of qualitative and technographic research globally.

Through different methodologies, with an agile approach, we come to different potential solutions that would validate the users again and that we would make sure they are viable for our clients to implement. We have seven offices around the world. We were recently acquired by another company and are in the process of a merger to facilitate a more global reach. From the office I work at in Barcelona, we manage projects in Asia and Africa as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

We needed research staff, which we usually outsource. For example, if we have a project in Thailand, we do not know the local nuances of the sector we are researching or the project we are doing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with them for the projects we did in Thailand. We trust that Teak Research will have access to the local nuances we were looking for and that they will have the professionals to contact as if we were on the field. Sometimes we travel there and sometimes we don’t because we trust them a lot as they are super professional. After the research, we can trust that Teak Research will get the insights from that research as well as we would do it.

We start by getting a request for a proposal which we send to them and get a quote back. We are the intermediary with the client. Usually, when we do work with Thailand, we also have a global manager who works on things from our side. They help us understand if what the client wants is feasible or not feasible. The team also helps us get a quote for what we need to do, as well as a timeline, they organize activities and take care of the whole quoting process.

If we win the project, then they will allocate a project manager to the project that will work with us on making sure we are hitting the right deadlines, that we have everything on order, and that all the activities are happening when they need to happen. We also work with them through fieldwork and then analyses and insight which they usually do on their own. Sometimes we can provide a template for them to deliver those and sometimes we don’t; it depends on the client. We have one main contact person throughout the project who makes sure that we get what we need.

What is the team composition?

We usually work with two to three members of the Teak Research Co. team, with one main point of contact. Sometimes we have multiple teams doing research and they have to allocate more people. We also have at least one moderator and one notetaker, and sometimes even an interpreter. It can be anywhere from four to eight people; it just depends on the magnitude of the project.

How did you come to work with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

They were recommended to us by one of the directors at one of our offices. The owner of Teak Research went to school with him and knew him personally and recommended him to us. The first time we had a project in Thailand, we contacted them because it was suggested to us.

That first project was so successful that they are now our main partner in Thailand. If they cannot do a project because the timeline doesn’t work for them, we will just reject the project as we do not have other partners in Thailand. That is how much we trust them.

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with them in June 2016, and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We have built a very personal relationship with them and consider them our partner and not our vendor. We measure how happy the client is with the end result and what we deliver from Thailand which is usually just amazing.

For example, I was supposed to travel to Bangkok but something happened with the flight and I never got there and couldn’t be there with the client and with Teak Research. I just called them up and they totally took care of everything. The client called me and told me how wonderful everything had been. Client satisfaction is always on point with them.

How did Teak Research Co., Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

Teak Research Co. is perfect with deadlines and they are very good at anticipating any problems. If I send them an RFP and they see that something is not going to be feasible, they don’t wait until that happens to tell me. They tell me it could be a problem in case I want to flag that to my client.

If we are already working on a project and they find difficulty with something such as recruitment or moderation guide or translation, they always tell me in advance so that we can find a middle ground and make sure everything is okay.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were impressed by the quality of their deliverables and how much they know their local market. For us, when we have a partner in a country we don’t know and where we don’t have an office, it is super important that the people we trust there are very knowledgeable on the local nuances and that they are able to express what they find in a compelling and clear way for our clients to take action. They always deliver on that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really to be honest. They are super accommodating to everything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

In general, have everything in writing and make sure everything is super clear before starting. We have discovered that everything must be clear from the get-go so that in case there are any misunderstandings later on, you know what you agreed on.

With Teak Research Co., there hasn’t been a need because they already do that for me. Any time we have a call, they write it down and send it back to me. They are super informed with everything they do, and it is almost like having our office in Thailand which is amazing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the Director of G lab social innovation consultant arm at a university. My roles were project management and business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

To help conduct User research related to service design for the project.

What were your goals for this project?

To deliver a total passenger experience for the new tourist train project for the State Railway of Thailand

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Teak is the only credible design/innovation consultant in Thailand. That I trust due to personal relationships and talks Adisorn gave at conferences.

Describe the project in detail.

The project involved the study of potential user behaviours to design services for the soon to be established SRT tourist train routes. The project TEAK was involved in includes the consultant of in-depth user research, idea generation and prototyping.

What was the team composition?

The team composed of myself as the project manager. TEAK's involvement was as the project adviser where Kanatip (Employee of TEAK) advised a team of three design researchers through out the project. She was also involved in client engagement in the form of presentation to the client in certain areas.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We completed the project in late 2018. It is still in the internal process of SRT.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Since all of us were designers. we did not really have a "clash of cultures" .

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I'm impressed with their high level of knowledge and the tools they use. But importantly the mindset in how to develop products and services that did not just stick to "what the too said to do" mantra and use them or modify them according to the context.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nope the representative of the company was very knowledgeable , diligent and accommodating.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Gilbreath Research, Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Consumer research

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Teak Research Co., Ltd. to accomplish?

• Understand Thai gamers

SOLUTION

How did you find Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

Referral

Why did you select Teak Research Co., Ltd. over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Teak Research Co., Ltd. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Recruit participants, host and moderate focus groups, real-time translation and local management of project

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Fully recruited and executed groups with specific participants

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Delivered results with exceptional timing and strength of communication

What was your primary form of communication with Teak Research Co., Ltd.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The project had the full support of the Teak team throughout the 3 week project

Are there any areas for improvement or something Teak Research Co., Ltd. could have done differently?

The Teak team handled all aspects of the project professionally and in a timely manner.