Product update : Qualitative Research Logistics, now without the side hustle

If your qual projects routinely involve hunting for backroom links, nudging moderators to press “Record” and piecing together observer notes from five inboxes, this one’s for you. This edition focuses on the unglamorous – yet mission-critical – bits of project execution: session logistics, reliability of data capture and getting stakeholder inputs onto a single system of record. Less friction. More context. Better analysis. Here, we obsess over the behind-the-scenes logistics, so you don’t have to. This time, we’re handing moderators, ops managers, and solo researchers three powerful tools to take the chaos out of qual project execution.

One dashboard to rule the Backroom

Backroom chaos… meet Clarity. Meet our new Backroom Dashboard; which functions as your command center for Observer Management. Instead of fetching links one-by-one or juggling spreadsheets to track who joins when, you now get a single view of every session, its observer links and timings. Think of it as a “session manifest” that keeps Project Managers (PMs), moderators, interpreters and clients aligned; minus the usual chaos. With this release, flowres gives you one centralized space to:

• View all observer links (no more email hunts)
• Monitor upcoming session times
• Track who’s joined, when and where

Forget juggling spreadsheets or relying on last-minute WhatsApp/Slack messages. Whether you're an agency PM or a client-side research lead, the Backroom Dashboard ensures everyone’s exactly where they need to be; without 7 follow-up emails and a “Resending link!” subject line.

Typical use-cases:

• Healthcare researchers: Coordinate observers with medical backgrounds who join different sessions.
• Media & Automotive researchers: Orchestrate concept tests where different stakeholder groups need differentiated access.
• FMCG researchers: Run multiple packaging tests across locations, with centralized session tracking.
• Agencies: Avoid panicked 9am “Where’s my link?!” calls from clients.

“The one (feature) where you realise you don’t need to dig through emails for the backroom links anymore”

Automated Zoom recordings (because humans can forget!)

We all love moderators, but also know they’re only human. Enter auto-recording for Zoom. Once enabled, recording starts on its own… no extra clicks, no “oops” moments, no lost openers (where the richest rapport is often built).

Why this matters:

• Zero-gap data-capture à Higher integrity of insights: The “hello” that sets tone, the spontaneous first reaction are all captured. Early minutes often carry unguarded, high-signal feedback; now it’s always on record. Captures every moment, including those crucial warm-up exchanges.
• Operational reliability à Risk reduction: Fewer re-contacts, fewer “Can we restage that?” requests. Minimizes dependency on moderator memory or manual reminders. Less dependence on individuals leads to more reliability on a scalable process.
• Cleaner audit trail: Consistent session artifacts, from start to finish. Reduces post-session scramble for missing footage.

“Moderator forgot to hit ‘REC’. Yet, flowres already did… so, no worries!”

Observer Notes, exactly where they belong

That sharp, relevant client observation shared mid-session, shouldn’t get marooned in an email thread. Observers can now log their insights directly inside flowres, right after the session ends. So, commentary stays attached to the session, not scattered across docs and inboxes.

No more:

• Bouncing between Google Docs, Slack threads, or email drafts
• Copy-pasting comments from client emails
• Struggling to remember which client uttered what, during which session
• Copy-Paste collage of client observations during debrief week, to complete your report

Typical use-cases:

• Media Clients: Capture moment-by-moment reactions to storyboards, trailers, storylines, character arch options
• Automotive Teams: Record real-time commentary on consumer reactions to design cues
• Healthcare Stakeholders: Note patient language and physician response nuances, while they're fresh. 

“Client observations… not buried in inboxes anymore”

Bonus tip: Export all meetings (links included), in one go

Planning to send session details to moderators, observers, or recruiters? Use Export Meetings to generate a pre-filled file with all session details (links included)… no copy-pasting required. Create your distribution list, click once, done.

Ready to ditch the spreadsheet hustle?

flowres isn’t just about making Qualitative Research possible online. Instead, it’s about making it easier to run, seamless to observe and simpler to manage at every stage. The next time you’re planning a study, let flowres handle the logistics, so you can focus on the research. 👉 Start your free trial, because logistics shouldn’t overwhelm your sanity.