DIY research platforms like Remesh are increasingly popular for innovation research. They offer flexibility, speed, and direct access to consumer voices – all critical elements for brands aiming to stay competitive. But as useful as these tools are, many teams run into unexpected challenges when using them for multi-stage innovation studies.

Losing Continuity Between Phases

A common issue in multi-stage innovation work is inconsistency. For example, insights from an early-stage idea screening round might not directly inform the structure or focus of a later concept validation phase. When different people run different stages – often without a central point of integration – insights can become siloed, important user context gets lost, and decisions start relying on fragmented data.

Unclear Research Objectives

Without the guidance of experienced insights professionals, teams may enter sessions with too-broad objectives. DIY tools often simplify how sessions are set up, which can lead users to underthink deeper research goals. That can result in sessions where valuable time is spent gathering surface-level reactions that don’t get at the “why” behind consumer preferences.

Too Much Data, Not Enough Direction

Remesh and similar platforms excel at gathering large volumes of verbatim feedback in real time. However, having more data doesn’t automatically make insights clearer. Inexperienced teams may struggle to extract patterns, prioritize themes, or link findings back to business objectives – especially when running multiple sessions across different phases.

Common problems teams face with DIY multi-phase research tools:

• Difficulty synthesizing learnings across sessions over time
• Inconsistent research design across phases
• Lack of expertise in managing qualitative research data at scale
• Uncertainty about best practices for engaging participants repeatedly

These challenges can lead to missed opportunities during product testing or flawed conclusions during concept validation. The result? Innovation efforts that stall – even with the right tools in hand.

Why Expert Support Can Make the Difference

SIVO’s On Demand Talent helps bridge the gap between flexible DIY tools and robust research execution. Our experienced professionals ensure continuity across each stage of your study, helping teams set clear objectives, moderate rich discussions, and connect findings throughout the innovation journey. With flexible support that fits your timeline and budget, On Demand Talent gives companies the research expertise they need – right when they need it – without the commitment of hiring full-time or relying on fragmented freelance help.

Remesh stands out among market research tools thanks to its ability to simulate moderated, group-style qualitative research – in real time and at scale. These unique capabilities make it ideal for innovation research, where fast, iterative learning is essential. When used strategically, Remesh can power meaningful feedback loops across multiple phases of idea development, screening, and validation.

The Value of Real-Time Consumer Insights

One of Remesh’s core strengths is its interactive conversation model. Researchers can ask open- and closed-ended questions, probe responses, and adapt in the moment – all while engaging dozens or even hundreds of participants at once. For innovation teams, this means:

• Instant input on early product ideas or positioning concepts
• Efficient concept testing without waiting weeks for results
• Deeper exploration of consumer motivations and language drivers

Whether assessing multiple innovation ideas at once or refining winning territories based on feedback, this quick turnaround enables teams to act while momentum is high.

Flexibility Across Product Testing and Concept Validation

From early exploration to final testing, the Remesh platform supports iterative research phases. You might start with broad idea screening in session one, then narrow down based on clarity and consumer enthusiasm. In following sessions, you can present refined concepts or new value propositions, validating their resonance in real time.

This flexibility is essential during go-to-market planning, where brands need to assess both emotional appeal and functional benefit quickly and iteratively. The same participant base can be re-engaged (when planned properly), offering a continuity that builds richer insight over time.

Why the Right Expertise Unlocks the Platform’s Full Potential

While the technology is powerful, navigating multi-phase work with Remesh still requires research expertise. Designing strong session guides, crafting engaging prompts, and interpreting unstructured qualitative responses all benefit from trained insight professionals – especially when trying to ensure consistency and coherence from one phase to the next.

SIVO’s On Demand Talent brings this capability to life by helping teams:

• Design each session to build on prior insights and maintain alignment
• Optimize question phrasing based on real-time response dynamics
• Facilitate smarter segmentation and targeting of future sessions
• Surface themes and consumer language that strengthens messaging and idea development

Our professionals understand best practices in Remesh group session design and can help guide strategy from start to finish – whether you need support for just one phase or the full multi-stage journey. By helping teams fully leverage Remesh’s real-time capabilities, SIVO ensures you get not just quantity of feedback, but meaningful insight you can confidently act on.

One of the biggest hurdles in multi-stage innovation research is maintaining continuity from phase to phase. Whether you're refining early ideas or validating final product concepts, insights need to build upon each other in a thoughtful, strategic way. Unfortunately, continuity often breaks down when internal teams are stretched thin, or when different people manage different research phases with DIY tools like the Remesh platform.

This is where On Demand Talent becomes invaluable. These experienced consumer insights professionals act as a bridge between research phases, ensuring that key learnings, frameworks, and objectives are carried through upfront ideation, mid-stage product testing, and final-stage concept validation.

Why Continuity Matters in Innovation Research

Consistency doesn’t just avoid duplication – it deepens decision-making. Without clear continuity:

• Insights from one phase may be misinterpreted or forgotten in the next
• Research questions might shift off-objective midstream
• Brands risk launching under-tested or misaligned product concepts

For example, a fictional CPG brand testing new snack bar ideas may start strong with early exploration in Remesh, but by the final validation stage, the messaging may no longer reflect their consumers’ actual pain points discovered earlier. This disconnect can lead to missed opportunities or flawed go-to-market strategies.

How On Demand Talent Maintains the Thread

Our On Demand Talent experts bring clarity, consistency, and strategy by:

• Developing a cohesive roadmap from initial idea screening to final validation
• Documenting decisions and insights across each research phase
• Ensuring new Remesh group sessions build intelligently on earlier findings
• Translating qualitative research into meaningful, applicable consumer insights

By staying anchored in the larger innovation journey, these experts help avoid starting from scratch at each stage. The result? Smarter investments in platform tools like Remesh – and more confident go/no-go decisions rooted in a continuous learning loop.

Even with powerful platforms like Remesh, conducting multi-stage research is not without its challenges – especially when relying solely on in-house teams or attempting a DIY approach. While real-time feedback and fast execution are huge benefits, common pitfalls can hinder results, from unaligned objectives to analysis overload.

Expert support from On Demand Talent offers a smart, flexible way to solve these problems before they threaten your outcomes. These professionals don’t just operate the tools – they lead with strategic purpose, optimizing every touchpoint across the research process.

Common Issues Research Teams Face

Some of the most frequent problems when navigating innovation research on platforms like Remesh include:

• Too much data, not enough clarity – Real-time concept testing can yield hundreds of comments. Without qualitative expertise, key themes may get lost.
• Inconsistent learning objectives – Teams may approach each phase with new questions, instead of refining the same ones over time.
• Misuse of Remesh capabilities – Remesh group session best practices aren’t always followed, leading to lower engagement or irrelevant outputs.
• Time and bandwidth constraints – Lean teams may not have the resources to manage, analyze, and apply insights swiftly between stages.

How Expert Support Bridges the Gap

Bringing in On Demand Talent offers immediate access to experienced innovation research professionals who know how to get the most from DIY tools. They can:

• Design and moderate Remesh sessions that go beyond surface-level responses
• Guide idea screening in early phases and structure data for decision-making
• Ensure each research phase ties directly back to business goals
• Synthesize large volumes of feedback into actionable stories
• Support cross-phase continuity to avoid “resetting” your project each time

Ultimately, On Demand Talent functions as both strategic partner and hands-on contributor – bringing the expertise to strengthen the research process and surface insights that drive innovation forward, not sideways.

Knowing when to bring in additional research support can be the difference between a well-executed project and one that barely gets off the ground. Whether you’re piloting new ideas or refining ready-to-launch products, timing matters in innovation research. And strategically engaging On Demand Talent ensures you’re not just using platforms like Remesh – you’re maximizing them.

Signs It’s Time to Bring in Extra Support

Here are some telltale moments when tapping into flexible research professionals can make a significant impact:

• You’re moving fast, but not learning deeply – Rapid rounds of real-time feedback are valuable, but without expert synthesis, you may miss critical insights.
• Internal team capacity is stretched – Core team members are managing multiple priorities, delaying progress or risking inconsistent execution across research stages.
• Too many tools, not enough strategy – You’ve invested in DIY platforms like Remesh but aren't confident you're using them effectively for your product testing or concept validation needs.
• You need strategic continuity – If different team members are running different phases, key themes and decisions risk being lost.

Start of Project vs. Mid-Stream: When Expertise Matters Most

Some businesses bring in On Demand Talent at the start – during planning, idea screening, or exploratory qualitative research. Others realize during execution that they need help with analysis or connecting phases more cohesively. Both approaches are valid – it’s about identifying where your current team needs the most support.

For example, a fictional DTC brand launching a skincare line may begin with internal brainstorming and early consumer input. But as they move into real-time concept testing with consumers and preparing for final product validation, they may need deeper research expertise to maintain momentum and align stakeholders around confident decisions.

The Best Part? Flexibility

With access to SIVO’s wide network of insights experts, you get the right fit – fast. Whether you need short-term support or ongoing guidance, On Demand Talent can step in exactly when, where, and how you need them to. There's no lengthy hiring process. And unlike consultants or freelancers, our professionals integrate quickly and stay focused on your team’s goals from day one.

Think of it as always having a seasoned research pro in your back pocket – ready to turn uncertainty into clarity, anytime you need it.