For many consumer insights and market research teams, pre-planning projects are vital—but they rarely feel urgent. These are the kinds of projects that set the stage for future launches, product roadmaps, or go-to-market strategies. They might include exploratory research, concept testing, whitespace analysis, or foundational segmentation studies.

The problem? These projects often align with Q3 and Q4 timelines, the same period when teams are finalizing budgets, supporting end-of-year reporting, and navigating multiple in-progress initiatives. When capacity is tight, pre-planning tasks become the first to get pushed aside.

Common reasons these projects don't get off the ground

• Limited team bandwidth: Internal insights professionals are often managing multiple major stakeholders and can’t take on additional forward-looking work.
• Competing priorities: Business-critical deliverables and reactive requests take precedence, even if they’re less aligned with long-term strategy.
• Lack of flexible staffing: Hiring new talent can take months, and traditional market research agencies may not offer quick turnaround or embedded support.
• No immediate ROI pressure: Because results aren't immediately tied to revenue impact, pre-planning projects may be seen as "nice to have" rather than essential.

This delay often isn’t due to lack of recognition. Most teams know these projects should be prioritized—but don’t have the resources to act. That’s where On Demand Talent can provide a critical bridge. By leveraging temporary research help or fractional insights experts, companies can scale their teams quickly and flexibly to meet pre-planning needs without delaying or sacrificing other core responsibilities.

Consider a fictional scenario: A mid-sized CPG brand wants to explore consumer perceptions ahead of a 2025 product refresh. The research would shape messaging, packaging, and positioning, but the core insights team is deep in Q3 planning. Without access to temporary market research staffing or fractional hiring options, they feel forced to table the project—potentially losing first-mover advantage. A well-matched On Demand Talent professional could step in, guide the work independently, and deliver in time for the refresh timeline.

With the right support model in place, important work doesn’t have to wait. Outsourcing pre-planning research projects to skilled experts helps maintain strategic momentum even during the busiest times of the year.

Saying no to important research requests—especially pre-planning initiatives—may seem like a harmless or necessary decision in the moment. But over time, these missed opportunities can add up, affecting everything from stakeholder trust to business growth.

Turning down strategic projects due to capacity constraints isn’t just a bandwidth issue. It impacts how insights teams are perceived by leadership across the organization. When key partners regularly hear that their requests can’t be supported, they may start to question the team’s ability to respond to business needs or proactively drive value.

Key risks when insights teams turn away important projects:

• Decreased stakeholder confidence: When non-urgent research is repeatedly deprioritized, stakeholders may look elsewhere for insight—either making their own assumptions or seeking external advice not grounded in data.
• Missed windows for innovation: Many strategic projects are time-sensitive, even if they don’t appear urgent. Postponing foundational research can lead to misaligned product development or missed category shifts.
• Under-leveraged budgets: Some departments allocate funds specifically for research during budgeting cycles. If projects aren’t executed, that budget may be reallocated, limiting future opportunities.
• Reduced influence: Teams that don’t stay responsive to evolving needs may lose decision-making buy-in, becoming more reactive than strategic over time.

Let’s say a fictional case team at a tech company is asked to evaluate a new user segment ahead of a potential service expansion. The ask doesn’t align with their Q3 deliverables, so it’s postponed. Meanwhile, a competitor moves forward with similar targeting, launching ahead of schedule. The research delay results in a lost business opportunity and a missed learning moment that could have shaped go-to-market success.

Fortunately, there are flexible solutions that help teams stay agile without compromising core responsibilities. Leveraging experienced On Demand Talent allows teams to say yes to these types of important requests—whether they call for quick-turn consumer insights support, short-term market research resourcing, or seasonal expertise. This alternative to full-time hiring means teams can remain responsive and credible, even during pressure-filled planning periods.

In today's fast-paced business environment, it’s not just about what gets done—it’s about when. On Demand Talent helps insights teams deliver at the right time, keeping strategic projects on track and stakeholders engaged.

When planning season is in full swing and strategic requests start flooding your team’s inbox, staying responsive can feel impossible without overloading your core insights team. Many organizations face this exact challenge – too many high-impact pre-planning projects, not enough bandwidth.

This is where On Demand Talent becomes essential. These seasoned consumer insights professionals can quickly step in, offering temporary market research support tailored to your team's goals. They don’t require onboarding sessions or hand-holding. Instead, they jump in, contribute immediately, and help keep your momentum strong.

Adapt Quickly to Seasonal Research Needs

On Demand Talent allows you to flex your team up or down depending on your Q3 or Q4 research load. Rather than turning down valuable pre-planning initiatives, you can scale your capacity with experienced professionals who are equipped to lead or support strategic research work.

Reduce Burnout While Meeting Stakeholder Needs

Piling priority projects on an already stretched team risks burnout and inconsistent performance. By bringing in temporary research help, you balance workload distribution while maintaining your team’s mental bandwidth. Your stakeholders still receive high-quality results – without delays or cut corners.

• Insight teams stay focused on core initiatives while ODT handles pre-planning requests
• Short-term experts plug in quickly and align with existing workflows
• Specialized knowledge is available when niche segmentation, competitive mapping, or concept testing is needed

For example, a fictional CPG insights team we’ll call FreshCo faced five strategic research requests during a peak planning cycle. Rather than delay or decline internal stakeholder asks, they engaged two On Demand Talent experts – one specializing in shopper behavior and one with a background in segmentation. Both integrated within a week, coordinated with existing vendors, and delivered deep insights that helped FreshCo confidently shape their FY planning roadmap. Their internal team was able to focus on executive presentations without sacrificing quality on any fronts.

This kind of resilience isn’t just nice to have – it’s becoming expected. When insights teams can say “yes” to the right projects without internal strain, they protect their reputation and keep a seat at the strategic table.

When looking for outside support during high-volume planning cycles, many teams weigh the differences between fractional hiring and freelance options. While they may seem similar at first glance, the right fit for strategic research projects often lies in the details – and choosing the right support model can make or break your outcomes.

Understanding the Key Differences

Freelancers often bring general marketing or research skills. They’re flexible, but can vary widely in experience levels, availability, and familiarity with corporate research environments. Meanwhile, fractional insights experts – like those in SIVO’s On Demand Talent network – are purposefully matched based on domain expertise, industry fit, and strategic capabilities.

Think of it this way: hiring a freelancer can work well for tactical execution (transcribing interviews or fielding a quick survey), but aligning with a fractional expert is better suited for insights leadership, cross-functional stakeholder engagement, and strategic study design.

Where Fractional Support Delivers Greater Value

• Higher caliber experience: Fractional hires are seasoned professionals with proven track records in consumer insights, often coming from client-side roles or leading research agencies.
• Embedded collaboration: They work more like extended team members – attending meetings, advising peers, and ensuring research is aligned with business strategy.
• Speed and impact: On Demand Talent can ramp up in days, not weeks or months, delivering rapid insight without the lag of traditional recruiting.

Freelancers can certainly be helpful for simple, short-term tasks. But when you’re scoping pre-planning research that shapes business direction or influences strategic investments, the stakes are higher – and expertise matters.

Whether you need to fill an insights leadership gap, drive a segmentation refresh, or facilitate stakeholder workshops, fractional hiring ensures you get professional-level thinking that translates into confident business decision-making.

Timing is everything when it comes to planning season. Knowing when to use On Demand Talent for research can help you anticipate bottlenecks before they derail key initiatives. While every company’s planning cycle varies slightly, a few common indicators can guide your decision.

Recognize Early Warning Signs

Are team members already juggling too many internal requests? Is leadership asking for fresh insights that your internal team doesn’t have time to source? These are clear signs you may need extra market research staffing support. Don’t wait until requests go unanswered or timelines slip – anticipate the inevitable rush before burnout hits.

Here are moments when bringing in On Demand Talent offers the most value:

• You’re entering Q3 or Q4 and project intake has begun increasing
• Strategic initiatives (like brand tracking, white space exploration, or global segmentation) are asked for, but lack immediate owner
• You have unfilled full-time roles but cannot delay upcoming stakeholder requests
• Workload peaks temporarily – during product portfolio resets, budget planning, or consumer deep dive initiatives

For instance, a fictional health & wellness brand noticed a sharp increase in leadership requests related to shifting customer behaviors. Their in-house insights team couldn’t take on the additional work in time – so they brought in two On Demand professionals for a 10-week window. The result? On-time delivery of three strategic research efforts that directly informed 2025 messaging plans and shelf strategy.

Build for Agility – Not Just Capacity

Think of On Demand Talent not only as a backup when bandwidth is low, but as a way to build insights team agility by design. When business needs shift – as they often do around Q3 planning – you’re ready with experienced professionals who contribute fast without the long-term hiring commitment.

Your internal team remains focused and energized. Stakeholders get the insights they need. And the organization moves forward with confidence.