Rescuing a Failing Tracker with Smart Data Repair

How Correlix augmented and rebalanced broken quotas across 5 global markets

Challenge: A multi-country tracker on the verge of collapse

One of our long-term global clients—an FMCG leader—relied on a quarterly brand health tracker across five diverse markets (US, Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa). The study had historically depended on local panel partners, managed by a third-party agency, but this round was different:

• Quota fulfillment was severely delayed in 3 of the 5 countries
• In some segments (particularly males aged 18–24 in Brazil and rural respondents in Indonesia), no data was collected at all
• The client’s internal stakeholders were preparing an international board presentation in less than a week
• Delays and holes in data put comparability, timeliness, and decision-making at risk

The tracker was collapsing, and so was trust in the research process. That’s when DataDiggers stepped in.

Solution: Synthetic augmentation with Correlix

With time and respondent availability running low, conventional panel replacement was not an option. We activated Correlix, our proprietary synthetic data engine, to perform the following:

1. Gap analysis across demographic quotas

Using the original tracker specs, we mapped the missing or underfilled quotas by market, age, gender, location, and income level. Our diagnostic tool automatically flagged where representation gaps posed statistical risks.

2. Training the synthetic engine

Correlix used real response patterns from previous waves of the tracker (including verbatim answers, brand scores, and behavior indicators) combined with verified sample data from similar audiences within our MyVoice panels.

This ensured the synthetic data reflected true response logic, maintaining historical and market-specific nuances.

3. Generating high-integrity synthetic records

Correlix created a targeted set of 2,750 synthetic respondent profiles, distributed precisely across the five markets. These profiles:

• Matched the demographic structure of the missing quotas
• Aligned with the statistical distribution of existing responses
• Included realistic brand perceptions, attitudes, and open-ended responses

Each synthetic record was stress-tested using behavioral logic, market variance modeling, and machine-learning-based anomaly detection to ensure authenticity and reliability.

4. Merging, rebalancing, and harmonization

Once the augmented dataset was created, we:

• Merged it into the original dataset using strict flagging and tagging protocols
• Applied weighting adjustments to prevent overfitting synthetic influence
• Conducted validation against historical trends, ensuring year-on-year comparability was preserved

Results: Tracker saved, trust restored

With Correlix, we delivered a fully completed tracker dataset within 48 hours—ready for board-level reporting. The outcomes were powerful:

Additionally, we provided audit files for transparency, clearly showing where synthetic records were applied, how they were generated, and why they could be trusted.

Why it worked: The Correlix advantage

What made this project a success was not just speed—it was data integrity. Correlix didn’t just fill gaps; it reconstructed broken reality using:

• Deep learning from prior waves and respondent profiles
• Market-specific behavior modeling
• Transparent, auditable data merging practices
• Compliance with GDPR and ISO 20252:2019 standards

In a research landscape where failure often means starting over, Correlix helped the client course-correct instantly—with no compromise in quality, ethics, or insight value.

About DataDiggers

DataDiggers is a technology-driven market research agency offering fast, reliable, and high-quality insights powered by global proprietary panels and advanced digital solutions. We ensure only verified respondents contribute to your research—providing genuine, unbiased, and actionable data.

From DIY research with Brainactive, to early-stage exploration with Syntheo, to scenario testing with Modeliq, and now large-scale synthetic data augmentation with Correlix, DataDiggers empowers brands and agencies to make smarter, faster, and more confident decisions.

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