Business Intelligence Awards launched
pharmafile | August 23, 2006 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â BHBIAÂ
The first ever awards for business intelligence and market research in the UK pharmaceutical industry have been launched to recognise the best work in the field.
The Best of Business Intelligence (BOBI) awards is now taking submissions from any pharmaceutical companies and communication agencies which have conducted business intelligence, market research or sales research which has had a significant impact on UK business.
The awards have been organised by the British Healthcare Business Intelligence Association to recognise the achievements of business intelligence professionals and raise the profile of the discipline across the industry and within companies.
A panel of judges will decide on the winners of six awards, including Best Sales/Marketing Effectiveness Research and Best Customer Insight, while four further awards including Best Industry Newcomer is open to votes from anyone who works for a BHBIA member organisation (see below for full list).
"This is a really exciting initiative as it's the first time that UK business intelligence professionals have had the opportunity to receive external recognition for the impact that their work has on the business," said Andrew Cioffi, Market Research Professional with Lilly and a member of the BOBI Awards Steering Committee. Lilly is also one of a number of companies sponsoring the awards.
"Business intelligence continues to be an area of critical importance to pharmaceutical companies and Lilly are proud to be involved as sponsors for these awards. The aim is to recognise outstanding work and create a forum for shared learning, thus raising the standard and profile of UK market researchers and business intelligence professionals," he continued.
The idea for the awards emerged from research into the views of BHBIA members and potential members in 2005 about how the organisation should develop its remit. The feedback revealed that the lack of an awards for business intelligence was a "huge missed opportunity".
A number of senior business intelligence and market research professionals from industry and agencies have volunteered their time and expertise to organise the awards, with a steering committee commencing work in early 2006.
"The BOBIs are a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate the substantial contribution that business intelligence has on the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical industry," said Steve North, director of Red Kite consulting group and chairman of the BOBI Awards Steering Committee
"The awards provide an excellent vehicle for companies and business information agencies to demonstrate how innovative business intelligence can be and provides a competitive, yet supportive, environment to do this.
"Business intelligence is a tremendously fulfilling and attractive career pathway within the pharmaceutical industry, but can be perceived by some as lacking the glamour of, for example, marketing. The BOBIs will help redress the balance by providing a showcase for skills and innovation within the business intelligence community."
Entries to the awards must have the full consent from all interested parties and must relate to work conducted within the last three years.
In the panel-judged categories, the judging will be conducted through a two-stage process. Initial submissions will be reviewed by a screening panel, primarily selected from the BOBI Awards steering committee, who will select three finalists in each category. Finalists will then be asked to submit further supporting information – in particular to produce evidence of success or impact on the UK business.
The entry deadline is Friday, 13 October, and winners will be announced at the awards on Monday, 23 April, 2007.
For the categories open to votes, the voting begins on 1 December via the BHBIA website. This can be found at www.bhbia.org.uk and it also carries further information about the awards and the BHBIA.
Categories:
Best Sales/Marketing Effectiveness Research – Sponsored by Adelphi
Best Customer Insight – Sponsored by Lilly
Most Innovative Approach – Sponsored by Schering-Plough
The More for Less Award – Sponsored by Schering-Plough
Best use of Secondary Data- Sponsored by Cegedim strategic data
Excellence in Communication Research – Sponsored by Brand Health International
