Sentis Market Research

What Sentis Market Research does

Sentis Market Research (operating as The Sentis Group) is a Vancouver-based, founder-owned market research and consulting firm founded in 2011 by Adam DiPaula. The firm delivers custom research, consulting, and advisory services to enterprise and mid-market organizations across five specialized verticals: credit unions, energy and utilities, tourism, public sector, and retail. Working primarily with Canadian and US clients — including over 20 credit unions — Sentis combines business advisory, market research, data science, and in-house software development within a single integrated team of approximately 23 professionals based in Burnaby, BC.

The firm's technology stack centers on proprietary tools developed and maintained internally, including Sentis NLP (a custom natural language processing tool for analyzing unstructured verbatim comments), Online Reporting Platforms (customizable dashboards with CRM and single sign-on integration), and consumer-facing widgets such as Snapshot (personalized respondent feedback), Sidebar (chat-like website survey tool), and Navigator (adaptive communication tool). These are layered on top of a multi-modal online survey platform supporting email, SMS, phone, and mail outreach. Sentis also operates two independent longitudinal benchmark products — the BC & Alberta Retail Banking Study (30+ standardized metrics) and the National Workforce Study (40 benchmark metrics) — that generate recurring data assets and structural switching costs among participating organizations.

Sentis operates a project-based professional services model, generating revenue through custom-priced engagements, retainer arrangements, and multi-year tracking programs. The go-to-market motion relies on senior partners, sector expertise, white papers, industry partnerships, and earned media rather than paid marketing spend. Customer acquisition is driven by deep vertical relationships, particularly through credit union associations such as Central 1 and the Canadian Credit Union Association, and by referrals within specialized industry networks. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Name

Sentis Market Research

Legal name

Sentis Market Research

Website

https://thesentisgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sentis Market Research is a Vancouver-based consulting firm founded in 2011 that delivers custom market research and advisory services to credit unions, energy and utilities, tourism, public sector, and retail organizations across Canada and the US, supported by proprietary NLP and survey technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Market Research & Consulting Services

NAICS

Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Syndicated Market Research (Panels, Omnibus, Tracker Studies) (MPAAALAB), Social & Digital Insights (Social Listening, Online Community Research) (MPAAALAK), Product & Innovation Research (Concept, Pricing, Packaging, Conjoint) (MPAAALAI)

Keywords

• Market research consulting
• Customer experience measurement
• Employee engagement surveys
• Brand tracking research
• Data analytics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Consulting Services: The primary revenue stream comes from providing custom market research, consulting, and advisory services to organizations. This includes voice of customer programs, employee engagement surveys, brand tracking, and strategic consulting engagements. Revenue is generated through project-based fees, retainer arrangements, and ongoing tracking programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sentis Market Research is a full-service market research and business consulting firm that designs and runs custom research programs for organizations across credit unions, energy and utilities, tourism, public sector, and retail. Its core deliverables include voice of customer and voice of employee programs, brand tracking, employee engagement measurement, qualitative research, and independent benchmark studies, all delivered using an integrated team of researchers, data scientists, and developers backed by proprietary technology tools such as the Sentis NLP engine, an online survey platform, and customizable reporting dashboards.

Product overview

Sentis Market Research operates as a unified market research and business consulting firm combining proprietary technology tools with specialized research services. The product portfolio centers on five core proprietary tools: Online Reporting Platforms (custom dashboards and interactive reporting), Sentis NLP (proprietary natural language processing for text analytics), Snapshot (personalized respondent feedback), Sidebar (chat-like survey widget for websites), and Navigator (adaptive guided communication tool). These are complemented by research services including quantitative and qualitative research (surveys, focus groups, online discussion boards), workshops, mystery shopping and price audits. Sector-specific offerings include Member Voice and Immediate Feedback for credit unions, Brand Vision and AdScan for branding/advertising, Voice of the Customer programs, Employee Engagement Model and Culture Audits. Benchmark products include the BC & Alberta Retail Banking Study and National Workforce Study providing independent industry metrics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Reporting Platforms Customizable dashboards and interactive reporting sites for tracking metrics, visualizing data, and cascading real-time information across organizational levels, with CRM, social media, and single sign-on integration.
• Sentis NLP Proprietary natural language processing tool that classifies verbatim comments and reviews into themes and gauges sentiment using sector-tuned dictionaries, with the researcher controlling tuning for specific business challenges.
• Snapshot Personalized respondent feedback tool that delivers individual reports of survey results immediately after completion, with trending capability for tracking results over time.
• Sidebar Chat-like on-site survey widget that engages website visitors with surveys while keeping them on the site through movement-based invite bars, easy and secure interactions, and Google Tag Manager integration.
• Navigator Adaptive guided communication tool that bridges the gap between static website content and live agent assistance by stepping users through relevant options and answers in unfamiliar topics or processes.
• Online Survey Platform Modern, engaging, mobile-first omni-channel online survey platform with custom question types and formats that reaches respondents via email, SMS, phone, or mail, adaptive across devices and browsers.
• Qualitative Research Services Focus groups, in-depth interviews, and moderated research conducted online, in-person, or by phone to surface customer stories at the centre of decision making.
• Online Discussion Boards Facilitated 2-4 day moderated online discussions with screened participants that provide candid, in-depth feedback through multimedia capabilities with participant anonymity.
• Workshops Facilitated workshops using dynamic discussion techniques to guide teams through project learnings, decision-making, and implementation of change.
• Mystery Shopping & Price Audits Assessment of service performance across all customer touchpoints and competitive pricing intelligence delivered through mystery shoppers and price audit programs.
• Sentis Member Voice Standardized credit union member experience program measuring relationship health, product performance, share of wallet, and demand for new offerings using banking benchmarks and credit union norms.
• Immediate Feedback Short transaction-based surveys delivered immediately after member interactions, fed into online reporting platforms for real-time cascaded information and closed-loop issue resolution.
• Voice of the Customer Programs Voice of the Customer (VOC) programs that measure customer loyalty, experience by touchpoint, channel performance, share-of-wallet, and competitor usage through periodic relationship surveys or transaction-based feedback.
• Brand Vision Brand health mapping model that positions brands relative to competitors and provides a roadmap for strengthening brand equity across functional, emotional, and reputational dimensions.
• AdScan Advertising campaign evaluation tool that measures message reach, message delivery, and audience connectivity across media channels.
• Employee Engagement Model Organizational engagement framework covering eight pillars (culture, growth, compensation, communications, leadership, management, role clarity, and treatment) to help organizations become Employers of Choice.
• Culture Audits Assessment of organizational implicit cultural norms and mindsets, identifying how these shape staff performance with recommendations for building inclusive, resilient organizations.
• Employee Segmentation Workforce segmentation enabling tailored training, incentive, and HR management systems for distinct employee groups.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Research Research approaches that incorporate DEI principles into quantitative and qualitative practices, addressing challenges of categorical research with inclusive concepts.
• BC & Alberta Retail Banking Study Independent consumer survey providing standardized benchmarks on over 30 retail banking metrics for credit unions in BC and Alberta to assess competitive positioning.
• National Workforce Study Independent survey of Canadian workers tracking job satisfaction and workplace attitudes across 40 benchmark metrics for employer sector benchmarking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 standardized banking benchmarks available for credit unions through independent retail banking study
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Léger: Léger is the largest Canadian-owned market research and analytics firm, offering custom research, brand tracking, and syndicated studies across Canada and the US. Directly comparable as a mid-to-large full-service research competitor with overlapping verticals and methodology.
• Maru Group: Maru Group is a North American research and customer-experience firm with syndicated panels, B2B and consumer research. Comparable to Sentis as a vertically-specialized research provider with proprietary technology platforms and recurring tracking programs.
• Narrative Research: Narrative Research is a Canadian full-service market research firm with deep Atlantic Canada and national reach, focusing on public-sector, financial-services, and consumer research. Comparable to Sentis in service mix and Canadian mid-market positioning.
• Environics Research: Environics Research is a Canadian research firm known for social and public-opinion research, consumer insights, and brand strategy. Comparable to Sentis as a Toronto-based full-service competitor with syndicated studies and sector specialization.
• Angus Reid Group: Angus Reid operates one of Canada's largest proprietary online panels and offers custom and syndicated research. Comparable to Sentis as a panel-and-survey-driven research firm with recurring tracking products.
• Pollara Strategic Insights: Pollara is a Canadian full-service research firm offering custom quantitative and qualitative research, brand tracking, and public-opinion polling. Comparable to Sentis in mid-market Canadian positioning and methodology mix.

Broad incumbents

• Ipsos: Ipsos is one of the world's largest market research firms with deep Canadian operations, where Sentis' co-leader Julie Winram previously worked. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering the full suite of services Sentis provides, but at global scale.

Emerging players

• Alida (formerly Vision Critical): Alida is a Canadian-headquartered customer intelligence platform combining proprietary technology with research services, including a community panel business. Comparable to Sentis as a tech-enabled research and insights firm with overlapping VOC tooling.
• Dig Insights: Dig Insights is a Canadian research-technology firm offering AI-augmented qualitative and quantitative platforms (e.g., DigFI, Insights Manager). Comparable to Sentis as a smaller Canadian competitor investing in proprietary research technology.

Regional players

• Bond Brand Loyalty: Bond Brand Loyalty is a Canadian loyalty and customer-experience consultancy with research, VOC and employee engagement practices. Comparable to Sentis in VOC/VOE methodologies and Canadian mid-market financial-services client overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sentis Market Research