The New Information Research Industry

International corporate downsizing, coupled with the information explosion brought on by the Internet, has created a new industry – the information research industry. It involves finding specific information for a client company, and then arranging the information in a form that is useful to the client. The majority of people and companies that are doing this work are one person operations, working from home offices. Often they are people with extensive experience and/or knowledge in a particular area, who have been downsized, or recently retired.
Companies around the world depend on information to stay in business and prosper. They need information on new technology, components for manufacturing, software, markets, competition – the list is almost endless. They have to find and evaluate the information, but this can be time consuming and costly for them. So the new information research industry is evolving that does this work, because these specialists can be hired to do the work much more cost-effectively than companies can themselves.
Information research consultants are often one-person operations, working from their homes, in a specific information area. Usually, through previous employment, they have acquired specialized knowledge in a particular field. More importantly, they know where to go to get more and updated information for their clients.
Of course, their main source of information is the internet, but they do not limit their investigation to just using key words and search engines. To validate the information and obtain more details, they also look in places like relevant on-line magazine articles, company products lists, company annual reports, press releases, etc. Anywhere that will provide them with the detailed information that their clients have requested. This is the new information research business.
The information required by companies varies with the company and within the company. Manufacturing companies rely heavily on information to improve their products, increase their productivity, and market their products profitably. They need information on new designs, new developments, production methods, component suppliers, markets, competition, distribution, etc. An information research consultant can save the company considerable time and money by acquiring the required information for them, verifying it, and presenting it to them in easily usable form.
The service industry also needs information. Some of the industry segments that can use the services of information research consultants are investment firms, lawyers, engineering and architecture firms, business and trade organizations, and even individuals needing information.
The three levels of government require considerable information, and often contract out for help in this area. The contracting process sometimes is a bit cumbersome, but it could lead to considerable ongoing work.
Some companies subscribe to specialist information services that keep them up to date on their particular information requirements, but in most situations the companies get the information themselves. Larger companies may have a dedicated research department to provide the information for them, however, this can be a heavy expense on the company and certainly not one that can be afforded by most companies. So usually the people within the company who require information are forced to get it themselves. This is a very time consuming effort, because these people are not experienced information miners. They usually just punch some key words into an internet search engine and use what comes up.
This basic internet search method is very popular, but there can be some negative consequences. For example, the inexperienced searcher stands a chance of overlooking some vital information, or worse, obtaining some false information. However, the big negative is the time this employee spends looking for the information. This is time that should be devoted to profitable company assigned tasks. So it can cost the company dearly, particularly if for example a high priced engineer spends days searching to see how other companies solved a particular design issue. Here is where a contracted information researcher can save the company money by acquiring the information cost-effectively, and freeing up the company staff to do their primary job functions.
For people with reasonable knowledge in a particular area who are looking for work, or retirees looking for a lucrative hobby, the information research business is worth exploring. Gerhard W. Kautz has been running such a business for over ten years. “I started my information or internet research business as a retirement project when I retired”, said Kautz. “Within a few years, as my business grew, I realized I was no longer retired. I do almost all of my work from my home office, and I do the work when I want to. It’s lucrative and a lot of fun, because in effect, I am being paid to surf the net to keep up to date in the technology developments in my specialty, even though I am technically out of the workplace.”
Kautz has subsequently written a book on how to Start & Run an Internet Research Business, which is published by Self-Counsel Press. The book is intended to help people start and run an information research business of their own. It covers all of the aspects required for any business, but aimed specifically at the information research business. In addition to explaining how to do the work, readers will also learn about setting up a company, pricing their services, marketing, and getting contracts.
Practical examples of information research businesses are used through the book to illustrate the instructions given. In addition, there are several appendixes and a CD enclosed with the book, which contains examples and templates that can be adapted to the reader’s business. Start & Run an Internet Research Business is available in most major bookstores, or can be obtained from www.self-counsel.com.