Data & Analytics

Consulting

The world is generating valuable data every day
 
 
Web content like news and blogs, social media, customer reviews, survey open ends. This data is an untapped gold mine of consumer insights. The challenge is how to coax the meaning from it effectively and efficiently.
 
 
Metametrix meets that challenge with instant analysis revealing the trifecta of insights. Our proprietary technology detects values, emotions, and sentiment in the data, untangling the complexity of WHY we do what we do. Without these behavioral signals, an incomplete analysis is produced.
 
 
In addition, the Metametrix platform lets users upload their own data for instant analysis. And if you’ve always wanted a look behind the data viz, one click lets you download The Data Mine, an extract to analyze and filter your data or public data for an unparalleled level of actionable customer insight—all from your desktop.

Metametrix

For smaller businesses ready to expand their brand reach and online presence

Essentials

United States of America

Metametrix is a text analytic insights platform with three solutions to make efficient and effective use of your data revealing the WHY in the data.

Depending on who you talk to, between 60% and 80% of data collected by companies goes unused. That means that most companies are expending great effort to gather and store valuable information, but don’t have easy access to solutions or tools to make use of it.
At the same time, every year, billions of dollars are spent on costly, time-consuming qualitative and quantitative research despite the time- and cost-saving opportunity that text analytics presents to uncover rich, meaningful insights.
We call this waste.
At Metametrix, we’re changing that scenario. We’ve created an approach that coaxes more and deeper meaning from text, with the unique ability to decipher values, emotions, concepts. We are raising the bar on sentiment, turning it from a binary classification to one that ties the system of values, emotions, and concepts together. With a more nuanced view of sentiment, we can capture drivers of change and identify emerging behaviors. We’ve also added time to the equation, providing our users with a dynamic view of behaviors and attitudes as a platform for projecting market trends. Our system acts like Truth Serum For Big Data.
This capability can complement qualitative studies and quantitative formal surveys in meaningful ways &#8211; or sometimes replace them altogether.
&nbsp;
<h3 class="p4">Proof of concept: Electric vehicles</h3>
To demonstrate this innovative service, we focused on the electric vehicle (EV) category to map its fascinating evolution. It’s been an exciting category to watch over the years, but we wanted to find out what was driving the changes in the market and in consumer perception, in what direction it was headed, and what could keep it moving forward.
&nbsp;
<h3 class="p4">The Data</h3>
We started by gathering 5000 articles from the public web, news source, and blogosphere, all related to electric cars and electric trucks. Then we processed the data through our analytics engine.
&nbsp;
<h3 class="p4">The What</h3>
The typical place to start with text analytics is identifying keywords. We take a deeper, more complex approach to understanding the nature and context of the words and phrases that represent dominant themes or concepts in text. I love this stage. Key themes are where you get a sense for the focus of the content and the subject.
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4">Insight: Our analysis produced these top key themes that started our thinking and will shape our analysis.</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_32898" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32898" decoding="async" class="wp-image-32898" src="https://greenbook.org/mr/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/4-300x31.png" alt="key themes table" width="500" height="52" />METAMETRIX</div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4">Action: Theme identification is only the first step, but you can already see where to start putting your attention.</li>
</ul>
<h3></h3>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="p4">The Why: Values and Emotions</h3>
Next, the Metametrix superpower is to identify Values and Emotions, the why of consumer insights. This is the Truth Serum at work. The Metametrix engine identifies the presence of Values (fundamental beliefs or needs that motivate our choices) and Emotions (psychological reaction to something we’ve encountered) to lend crucial understanding to this stage’s analysis.
<div id="attachment_32947" style="width: 360px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32947" decoding="async" class="wp-image-32947" src="https://greenbook.org/mr/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/chart-1-Values-300x196.png" alt="Values and Emotions" width="350" height="229" />METAMETRIX</div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4">Insight: Even at this early stage, you begin to see drivers of the EV market. For example, as far as Values go, ingenuity and innovation are at the heart of this fast-moving category. EVs empower the pursuit of passions or convictions. In Emotions, trust is essential when depending on a powerful expensive machine. The evolving technology and newness lend a sense of excitement.</li>
<li class="li4">Action: The Values and Emotions identify the drivers of behavior that are key to messaging and product development. Even if you stopped at this point, you would have found more insight than from keywords or a simple word cloud. Adding values and emotions to your analysis allows you to tell a more nuanced story about your findings.  </li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="p4">The Why: Sentiment</h3>
But we don’t stop there. Metametrix drills deeper by tying Values and Emotions to a shift in Sentiment, taking sentiment to another level of meaning and allowing for deeper analysis. First, Values below.
Sentiment Score By Top Values and Year 
<div id="attachment_32948" style="width: 2058px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32948" decoding="async" class="wp-image-32948 size-full" src="https://greenbook.org/mr/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/chart-2-sentiment-on-values.png" alt="Chart: Sentiment Score By Top Values and Year" width="2048" height="815" />METAMETRIX</div>
* Horizontal red line corresponds to ratio value = 1 measuring where the values cross into the positivity range.
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4">Insight: Ingenuity and Empowerment consistently show higher sentiment positivity, suggesting an appreciation for rapidly evolving technology and the sense of empowerment that EVs deliver. Those values became foundational to EVs over the years analyzed.  Value never crosses the red line, an indication that EVs may not appear affordable to most people. Thrill and Novelty start off higher but decline as the early euphoria about EVs become more commonplace. Access had a volatile track, but it’s worthy of note, as consumer interest grows in gaining access to the cars, charging stations, and batteries.</li>
<li class="li4">Action: Now we’re seeing change over time, and we can better understand where to place bets for further research.</li>
</ul>
We also analyze for positivity movement of Emotions.
Sentiment Score By Top Emotions and Year
<div id="attachment_32950" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32950" decoding="async" class="wp-image-32950 size-large" src="https://greenbook.org/mr/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/chart-3-sentiment-on-emotions-1024x395.png" alt="Chart: Sentiment Score By Top Emotions and Year" width="1024" height="395" />METAMETRIX</div>
* Horizontal red line corresponds to ratio value = 1 measuring where the emotions cross into the positivity range.
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4">Insight: Excitement and Admiration show greater positivity even though they decline a bit in the last 2-3 years. In contrast, Trust and Confidence trended up in the later years and appear to become the bedrock emotions that underlie consumer interest. On the other hand, the possibly more ephemeral Emotions like Excitement, Admiration, and Compassion had more of a &#8220;settling down&#8221; effect on sentiment positivity.</li>
<li class="li4">Action: The bottom-line conclusion is that there appears to be greater overall positivity building and a more favorable view of EVs. If you’re messaging around EVs, don’t abandon the expression of Excitement and Admiration &#8211; that’s what moved the category forward. But do tap into Trust and Confidence when communicating &#8211; for instance, that the tech is dependable and that the car and battery won’t fail.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="p4">The Synthesis</h3>
Another Truth Serum skill is to offer more understanding to the core issues for EVs by tying the key themes to values and emotions in order to see how the field is changing and what themes are driving the changes. Our analysis showed that battery is the key theme behind the top values of Ingenuity and Empowerment, and the emotions of Trust and Excitement, more than any of the other key themes. Right behind battery comes climate, which is highly tied to the same top values and emotions.
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4">Insight: Examining the data from this vantage point lined up with our earlier findings and with the volume of news about battery innovation and battery life-defining consumer acceptance of EVs. Further, the renewable aspect of EVs is of major interest to consumers who are committed to environmental issues.</li>
<li class="li4">Action: Understanding the emphasis, interest, and positivity on battery and climate provides clear direction for the category and can aid continued product development and communication with consumers.</li>
</ul>
<h3></h3>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="p4">The Big Picture</h3>
To get a big picture view, we overlayed the sentiment we calculated in the analysis with Google search trends and public sales data for EVs to examine how the results compare with other measures.
<div id="attachment_32951" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32951" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-32951" src="https://greenbook.org/mr/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Chart-4-Big-Picture-1024x389.png" alt="the big picture" width="1024" height="389" />METAMETRIX</div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4">Insight: Casting the trend data as a moving average reveals that these three different measures follow a similar trend. Each graphic shows the direction of the category, but when considered together, we can see that the coincidence of rising sentiment (in a positive direction) and actual sales. While not surprising, this is solid confirmation of how real-world sales may reflect or mimic how people feel about EVs.</li>
<li class="li4">Action: We now have additional confidence in the direction of the category for building out a strategic plan.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="p12">Truth Serum for Big Data</h3>

 <div class="post-related-post">
 <h3>Related</h3>
 <h4><a href="https://www.greenbook.org/insights/market-research-predictions-for-2022-part-1">Market Research Predictions for 2022 (Part One)</a></h4>
 </div>
 
Instead of isolated and fixed keywords and sentiment, our unique approach to extracting and combining Values, Emotions, and Sentiment adds unparalleled depth to text analytics to point your business in the right direction.
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li4">Actionable: Metametrix allows you to make good use of the data you’re already collecting to influence innovation, sales, pricing, messaging, or new product launches</li>
<li class="li4">Efficient: Metametrix enables you to enhance market-based surveys with more functionality at a lower cost to focus more quickly on strategic planning</li>
<li class="li4">Dynamic: Metametrix enables business to move from a limiting static study into a compelling dynamic analysis to investigate and chart the direction of markets, products, and consumer demand</li>
<li class="li4">Flexible: Metametrix can be used across strategic initiatives in social listening, media monitoring, customer service, brand strategy, content strategy, research, and more</li>
</ol>

How Values and Emotions Chart The Direction Of Your Business

Forces of Change is a collaborative effort to help understand the overarching themes of the changes in the consumer and cultural landscape.  A report covering these themes and consumer perspectives on five industry verticals – Healthcare, Shopping, Technology, Financial Services, and Travel and Tourism – is <a href="https://www.greenbook.org/for-suppliers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">available for download here</a>. Several industry leaders contributed their skills to develop a unique perspective on the impact of all the changes happening.  Sincere appreciation goes to BuzzBack, Consensus Point, Converseon, Embee Mobile, Panoramix Global, and Gen2 Advisors for their effort and dedication to make this work available to you.  There was also generous support provided by <a href="https://www.greenbook.org/market-research-firms/full-service">Greenbook</a>, Blue Ridge Insights, and Prodege. The original research was conducted in April of 2020. We have stability in the main themes that we identified, though how the themes are presenting themselves have changed somewhat.
&nbsp;
<h3>An Uncertain Present</h3>
A global pandemic is uncharted territory for everyone, particularly for consumers. People have been forced to adapt to personal restrictions, product shortages and job loss. They’ve experienced new realities when it comes to family, school, work, hygiene and entertainment.
As the days blend into months the uncertainty of the pandemic takes a toll. Buzzback research shows that feelings of restriction, isolation and anxiety are widespread and impact normal activities across all categories—cancelled plans, financial issues, working from home, less exercising, and concerns about the safety of visiting a doctor.
<a href="https://www.greenbook.org/marketing-research/Consensus-Point-Adds-MR-Veteran">Consensus Point</a> research shows that 94% of respondents predict that the most important development to feeling safe returning to normal activity is a vaccine. That’s when it will be safe to go back to offices, schools, stadiums, restaurants, and more.
With no answers in sight, the reality is that our only option is to live with uncertainty. The pandemic will undoubtedly change the world permanently in ways big and small. For marketers thinking about their customer, know that the generation coming of age will be defined by this pandemic and our global society will be scarred by devastating loss. Start redefining your customer profiles now and keep adjusting as new information comes in. Be a source of order and stability. Develop solutions that give customers a sense of control in their lives and in their relationship with your brand.
&nbsp;
<h3>Sticking Together</h3>
Our need for each other, a common enemy and a shared sacrifice reminds us of what’s really important. We long for a coffee shop meet up, a kid’s soccer game and every kind of celebration that’s been missed. The essential workers that keep our lives and communities running have come into stark relief and the outpouring of support and compassion to these people feeds our souls, reminding us of and reaffirming our interconnectedness.
Converseon research revealed the important role that companies play as community leaders in this crisis. There is a heightened sense that companies have a responsibility to do what’s right by protecting the safety of employees and consumers, safe-guarding jobs, sharing sacrifices fairly all the way up to senior leadership, and responding with community relief efforts for those most affected.
A brand’s response to the crisis is a defining moment and companies are being scrutinized on social and traditional media. The 4A’s reported that “40% of consumers want to hear how brands are responding to the outbreak.” Those industries that responded immediately, like airlines and hotels, received positive social media coverage versus QSR that was slower to act. Brands who sit on the sidelines during the pandemic and the protests are called out on social media for failing to act and live up to their corporate social responsibility.
Social solidarity is a potent evolutionary force that will always power us through a crisis. But don’t underestimate consumers. Research shows that they have grown weary of empathetic ads focused on <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-these-uncertain-times-coronavirus-ads-strike-some-repetitive-notes-11587355261">“these uncertain times” </a> Instead, rely on the tested marketing rule of “solve don’t sell.” Make a tangible difference now and focus on selling later. Consumers are already checking to see how brands behaved during the pandemic on sites like <a href="https://didtheyhelp.com/">Did They Help</a>.
&nbsp;
<h3>Protecting Health and Home</h3>
Never has attention to health and safety been more important and top-of-mind. For many, adhering to shutdown orders is complicated by new sanitation needs, changed eating habits, interrupted activity patterns and anxiety from increased isolation and uncertainty. For others, fear was at the center of hoarding and the instinct to protect family and property. Now the pull of racial justice events and where and how to vote is posing additional challenges for how to stay safe.
Research from Buzzback shows that people consider ‘safety is the new currency.’ Brands will need to illustrate and visibly demonstrate how they’re incorporating cleanliness into their day-to-day experiences with consumers, whether it’s via products or product delivery
Embee Mobile app research showed clear evidence that technology has helped keep us safe and one of the biggest changes was the boom of the delivery apps. Staying safe at home also includes distance learning tools such as video conference classes, GoogleClass and school platforms like Canvas and Aspen, so teachers were able to connect, instruct, and assist keeping kids engaged despite the massive change.
Opening the economy is vital to restoring normal patterns, but without a vaccine, consumers will look for safety measures in every space from movie theaters to hair salons and to the workplace. Technology will be a dominant part of the solution. Long term, the focus on healthcare will change the industry and our understanding of public health. Household and personal hygiene will be a lasting habit and technology will be the go-to solution for school, entertainment, touchless payments, room entry and more.
&nbsp;
<h3>Bottled Up</h3>
The limitations on people’s movements, social interactions and work have resulted in heightened emotions and pent up demand. . For some, daydreaming about travel keeps their spirits up. Others, tired of restrictions, have already welcomed loosening guidelines at beaches and parks.
Buzzback has identified an increase in “heightened wants” as the desire for the freedom to travel to any destination, to see and travel with family and friends again and the simple pleasure of planning trips. Also uncovered are “new needs” in services to protect the investments they’ve made in trips, to ensure there is proper disinfecting while traveling, and the awareness to now use more caution and vigilance when planning and traveling.
Buzzback also found a serious change in health-related behavior. People have put off the most fundamental use of healthcare with 2 in 5 people visiting medical professionals less and more than 3 in 10 visit a pharmacy or drugstore less.
On the other side of this equation, Embee Mobile app monitoring analysis tells the story of how technology is helping us fill many needs while we’re staying at home from Netflix to livestreaming to Zoom happy hours – technology is helping us find ways to keep connected.
For the near future life will be limited. However, people are naturally moved to rebuild the lives and freedoms they’ve always known and will gravitate to smart solutions.
&nbsp;
<h3>A Blurred Future</h3>
The future is blurrier than ever. Change is happening so fast that even huge cultural shifts barely register. Adjusting to the pandemic has created new awarenesses, new habits and maybe a few patterns that could yield a few positives.
So, what could happen post COVID? Which changes will consumers embrace going forward?
&nbsp;
Consensus Point research highlighted a few of the ways people predict our behavior will change:
<ul>
<li>Consumers predict ‘visits’ with doctors will include both online and in-office, and mental health therapy needs will increase.</li>
<li>People want to be prepared for the future, so they do not have to “panic” purchase if there is another outbreak. 90% of participants predict that medical supplies will be the types of products people will continue to buy.</li>
<li>Because consumers have control of their vehicles and who travels with them, 96% say that driving will be the transportation activity most likely to return to levels before the outbreak.</li>
<li>95% predict that washing hands and practicing good hygiene will continue to help stop the spread and risk of disease.</li>
<li>For most categories including financial services, the migration to e-commerce and home delivery or curbside pickup will be the new normal.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
The pandemic is an accelerant for changes already underway and will have repercussions throughout the economy and society. 
<ul>
<li>Take control of what you can: Bring your own business’ plan into focus through scenario planning, forward-looking research and keep innovating.</li>
<li>Remote-first workforces will change office real estate, surrounding businesses, infrastructure and the environment.</li>
<li>Virtual healthcare will bring access to underserved communities</li>
<li>Inequalities laid bare will drive boardrooms and the election</li>
<li>Automation and AI will be growing in acceptance for operational and economic realities</li>
<li>Demand for equitable pay and the growth of unions/worker rights is just over the horizon</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
We don’t know where this will end up. But we do know that there is no “getting back” to normal.  When things become more stable, it will be in a different place with different behaviors and different values.
&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.greenbook.org/for-suppliers">Click here to read the full report</a></h3>
&nbsp;
Feel free to reach out if you want to learn more.  Thank you.
<div class="su-row">
<div class="su-column su-column-size-1-2"><div class="su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim">Mary Meehan 
Panoramix Global 
<a href="mailto:mmeehan@panoramixglobal.com">mmeehan@panoramixglobal.com</a> 
</div></div>
<div class="su-column su-column-size-1-2"><div class="su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim">Gregg Archibald 
Gen2 Advisors 
<a href="mailto:garchibald@gen2advisors.com">garchibald@gen2advisors.com</a></div></div>
</div>
&nbsp;

Forces of Change: Exploring Our New Culture of Anticipation

Editor’s Note: This post is a preview of the Forces of Change research that will be presented at <a class="c-link" href="https://www.greenbook.org/events" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-755e794f-868a-4710-855f-d64e9a730aa6">IIEX Forward</a>, an online event curated to give you the tools you need to successfully navigate COVID-19 and digital transformation. The Forces of Change report is now <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.greenbook.org/for-suppliers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">available for download here</a>.
<hr />
We’re three months into the worst health and economic crisis since WWII. Citizens, communities, and brands are grappling with devastating and complex change. The old playbooks are out the window. We’re learning as we go, adjusting daily to an evolving reality. To bring order and expertise to the complexity, Gen 2 Advisors launched a five-member, multi-research project to help brands think strategically about where the culture is going next. The following five themes are drawn from that collective research to provide guidance, pose questions, and start planning for the future.
Team members are: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://buzzback.com/">Buzzback </a></li>
<li><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.consensuspoint.com/">Consensus Point </a></li>
<li><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://converseon.com/">Converseon </a></li>
<li><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.embeemobile.com/">Embee Mobile</a></li>
<li><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://panoramixglobal.com/">Panoramix Global</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>An Uncertain Present</h3>
A global pandemic is an uncharted territory for everyone, particularly for consumers. People have been forced to adapt to personal restrictions, product shortages, and job loss. They’ve experienced new realities when it comes to family, school, work, hygiene, and entertainment.
The question on everyone’s mind: When will this end? Probably not soon. Laurie Garrett, a science journalist and pandemic expert, predicts <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/02/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-prediction-laurie-garrett.html">it will take 3 years to get back to normal</a>. While <a href="https://portal.census.gov/pulse/data/">35% of small businesses surveyed</a> by the Census Bureau don’t think business will be back to normal for more than 6 months. No wonder we’re feeling uncertain.
The invisibility of COVID-19, a constantly changing information landscape, and personal restrictions have been too much for many to handle. To deal with all the change, many of us are looking for “<a href="https://theconversation.com/3-ways-the-coronavirus-pandemic-is-changing-who-we-are-133876">cognitive closure</a>”– “an intense desire for certainty.”  In the absence of certainty, we have turned to baking, cleaning closets, staging indoor Olympics, and planting gardens in efforts to regain control and calm our fears. 
The reality is that the pandemic will change the world permanently in ways big and small. For marketers thinking about their customers, know that the generation coming of age will be defined by this pandemic and our society will be scarred by a devastating loss. Start redefining your customer profiles now and keep adjusting as new information comes in. Be a source of order and stability. Develop solutions that give customers a sense of control in their lives and in their relationship with your brand
<h3>Sticking Together</h3>
Our need for each other, a common enemy, and a shared sacrifice reminds us of what’s really important. We long for a coffee shop meet up, a kid’s soccer game, and every kind of celebration that’s been missed. The essential workers that keep our lives and communities running have come into stark relief and the outpouring of support and compassion to these people feeds our souls, reminding us of and reaffirming our interconnectedness. 
Social solidarity is a potent evolutionary force that will always power us through a crisis. But don’t underestimate consumers. Research shows that they have <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-these-uncertain-times-coronavirus-ads-strike-some-repetitive-notes-11587355261">grown weary of empathetic ads</a> focused on “these uncertain times”. Instead, rely on the tested marketing rule of “solve don’t sell.” Make a tangible difference now and focus on selling later. Consumers are already checking to see how brands behaved during the pandemic on sites like <a href="https://didtheyhelp.com/">Did They Help</a>. 
<h3>Protecting Health and Home</h3>
Never has attention to health and safety been more important. For many, adhering to shutdown orders is complicated by new sanitation needs, changed eating habits, interrupted activity patterns, and anxiety from increased isolation and uncertainty. For others, fear was at the center of hoarding and the instinct to protect family and property.
Opening the economy is vital to restoring normal patterns, but without a vaccine, consumers will look for safety measures in every space from movie theaters to hair salons to the workplace. Technology will be a dominant part of the solution, like, apps that trace contacts with people who have been infected.
On the plus side of health, Google search trends show that searches for free weights, pull-up bars, and in-line skates are experiencing massive <a href="https://lp.thinkwithgoogle.com/index.php/email/emailWebview">year-over-year growth, </a>and more people are buying backyard equipment and games to stay active. 
Experts believe people will gradually overcome fear and, with precautions, learn to live with the virus until a vaccine is available. Long term, the focus on healthcare will change the industry and our understanding of public health. Household and personal hygiene will be a lasting habit and in turn, consumers will require evidence of sanitation in “clean badges” and touchless payments, room entry, and more. Due to a lack, brands have opportunities to fill the leadership void. Edelman&#8217;s research shows that <a href="https://www.axios.com/brands-survey-coronavirus-edelman-307deef2-5ffa-4f6a-93dd-2b8fa4080733.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&amp;stream=top">86% of respondents say that “brands should &#8220;be a safety net,&#8221;</a> stepping in where they are needed and able, to fill gaps in the government’s response to the virus.”   
<h3>Bottled Up</h3>
The limitations on people’s movements, social interactions, and work have resulted in heightened emotions and pent up demand.  People are looking forward to gathering with friends, browsing stores, and returning to work. For some, daydreaming about travel keeps their spirits up. Others, tired of restrictions, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/25/us/memorial-day-weekend-crowds-images/index.html">have already welcomed loosening guidelines</a> at beaches and parks. 
Many birthdays, graduation parties, and more have been postponed. According to CNBC and The Knot “tens of thousands of couples have postponed their weddings this spring and left many vendors scrambling.” “They are still going to celebrate, but over <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/07/thousands-of-weddings-put-on-hold-amid-coronavirus-pandemic.html">95% are just rescheduling for later</a> on this year or later on next year.” Look for an explosion of celebrations when it’s safe to gather again.  
Until there’s a vaccine, life will be limited but people are naturally moved to rebuild the lives and freedoms they’ve always known.
Don’t forget: Consumers aren’t monolithic. Some people will be excited to meet friends for burgers, others will still shelter in place. Customers will be looking for tools to help them imagine and plan for full lives on the other side, and some will need more help than others. 
<h3>A Blurred Future</h3>
The future is blurrier than ever. Change is happening so fast that even huge cultural shifts barely register. And the old ways of living our lives are being replaced. Adjusting to the pandemic has created new awareness, new habits, and maybe a few patterns that could yield a few positives. People are committing to ongoing sanitation, better preparedness, attention to budgeting, and appreciation of their loved ones. Shoppers are embracing e-commerce, patients are trying virtual healthcare and essential workers are in the spotlight. Twitter and Facebook have announced dramatic work-from-home strategies. 64% of Americans have been inspired to <a href="https://www.greenmatters.com/p/coronavirus-inspires-americans-live-sustainably?gm">live more sustainably</a>. Innovations will continue to emerge as demand for them presents new opportunities. 
The pandemic is an accelerant for changes already underway and will have repercussions throughout the economy and society. 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Take control of what you can: Bring your own business’ plan into focus through scenario planning and forward-looking research. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Remote-first workforces will change office real estate, surrounding businesses, infrastructure, and the environment. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Virtual healthcare will bring access to underserved communities</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Inequalities laid bare will drive boardrooms and the election</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Automation and AI will be growing in acceptance for necessity and economic realities
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Demand for equitable pay and the growth of unions/worker rights is just over the horizon</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Read on for ways COVID-19 has directly affected consumer behavior, and what it could look like after.

Exploring Our New Culture of Uncertainty and Anticipation

Metametrix is a text analytic insights platform with three solutions to make
efficient and effective use of your data revealing the WHY in the data. Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America.

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