Introduction
Material is a global consulting firm that combines strategy, insights, design and technology to help brands grow. Within the organization is Material Spotlight, a team that runs short, focused studies built for moments when speed and clarity matter most.
To meet rising demand for fast insights, Spotlight needed a partner that could keep pace without losing rigor. They chose Walr, forming a partnership shaped by speed, clear communication and a shared belief that human expertise drives better work.
The Challenge
Spotlight focuses on short concept tests, directional reads and quick checks that turn around in days rather than weeks. Internal systems, however, weren’t built for this tempo, and processes designed for larger studies slowed the team. Routine steps like programming, QA and table spec creation took longer than they needed to.
Tom Dianora, Director of Spotlight Insights, explains that even simple five-minute surveys created long workflows. This led to stretched timelines, extra pressure and reduced flexibility, as well as a growing risk of missing key moments for clients.
Building a Partnership for Speed
From the first project, the change in pace was clear. Walr’s human-in-the-loop model meant survey building, fieldwork, cleaning and tabulation were handled by a dedicated team working as an extension of Spotlight.
Tom describes the shift as moving from managing every detail to working with a team that stays a step ahead. Walr’s team flagged issues early, suggested options when incidence looked risky, turned around programming and tables in hours, and worked in Spotlight’s existing formats instead of pushing new ones.
“It’s refreshing to feel like the client,” Tom said. “I send specs in the way that works for me. Walr just gets it and moves.”
How Walr Sets Spotlight Up for Success
Faster Turnarounds
Programming and tab specs that once took hours were completed in minutes. The automated setup in the Walr Platform, supported by expert checks, allowed Spotlight to launch and field studies much faster.
A Human Team Behind Every Project
Walr’s service model ensured steady communication and real-time updates. The team kept everything moving without Spotlight needing to follow up or double-handle tasks.
More Time for Storytelling
With programming, sampling and data cleaning handled, Spotlight had more time to focus on narrative-led deliverables. For a recent major enterprise concept test, the mix of fast delivery, clean data and consistent support meant Tom could prepare slides early and add in final data as soon as fieldwork closed.
The client’s response: “You made magic happen.”
The outcome was a repaired relationship and a fresh pipeline of briefs.
The Impact of Combining Speed and Human Expertise
Spotlight’s partnership with Walr delivered:
- Noticeably faster end-to-end delivery
- Consistent, verified data that made analysis straightforward
- Greater confidence for client teams presenting fast-turn insights
- A renewed relationship with a key enterprise client and repeat work
Walr’s mix of automation and human oversight gave Spotlight reliability at every stage, with fewer late nights and no unexpected issues.
The Future of the Partnership
As demand for agile studies grows, Spotlight and Walr are exploring deeper collaboration. Tom sees the opportunity for more support in analysis and strategic interpretation during busy cycles.
Both teams aim to keep improving the process, find efficiencies and bring more strategic value to fast-moving clients.
Walr’s Service Experience in Three Words
Balancing speed and quality.
Want Faster Insights? Let’s Work Together.
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