Qualtrics

Qualtrics. It is a major American experience management and survey software company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2002, the company provides a cloud-based platform used by organizations to collect, analyze, and act on data related to customer, employee, product, and brand experiences. Its technology is widely utilized across academia, government, and the Fortune 500 for market research and data analytics.

History

The company was established in 2002 in Provo, Utah, by Scott M. Smith, a professor at Brigham Young University, and his sons Ryan Smith and Jared Smith, along with Stuart Orgill. Initially focused on providing sophisticated survey methodology tools for the academic research community, it quickly expanded into the corporate sector. A significant milestone occurred in 2012 when the firm received a major investment from Accel Partners and Sequoia Capital, fueling rapid growth. In 2018, the German enterprise software giant SAP announced its intent to acquire the company for $8 billion, a deal completed in early 2019. In 2021, under the leadership of Ryan Smith and the investment firms Silver Lake Partners and CPP Investments, it was spun off from SAP in a landmark initial public offering on the NASDAQ under the ticker "XM". Shortly after, in 2023, the company was taken private again in a deal led by Silver Lake Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

Products and services

The core offering is the Experience Management (XM) Platform, an integrated suite of software products designed to capture and analyze feedback across four primary domains: Customer Experience (CX), Employee Experience (EX), Product Experience (PX), and Brand Experience (BX)]. Key applications include Qualtrics XM Discover for analyzing unstructured data from sources like social media and customer support interactions, and Qualtrics XM Directory for managing participant data. The platform leverages advanced predictive analytics and artificial intelligence, specifically through its iQ engine, to generate actionable insights. It is commonly used for conducting employee engagement surveys, net promoter score (NPS) tracking, voice of the customer programs, and concept testing for product development. Its tools are integrated with many major enterprise systems, including those from Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and Oracle Corporation.

Acquisitions and partnerships

The company has grown its capabilities through strategic acquisitions. In 2018, it acquired the customer feedback startup Delighted to bolster its Customer Experience (CX) tools. The following year, it purchased the employee engagement platform Clarabridge, enhancing its text analytics and voice of the customer offerings. A significant partnership was formed with Microsoft to integrate its experience data with the Microsoft Azure cloud and Microsoft Teams platforms. It also maintains a global network of implementation and consulting partners, including major firms like Deloitte, Accenture, and Bain & Company, to help clients deploy its technology. These alliances extend its reach within the enterprise software ecosystem and deepen its functionality in specialized areas like human resources and marketing analytics.

Corporate affairs

The company is headquartered in the Smith Tower in downtown Seattle, with additional major offices in Provo, Utah, and Dublin, Ireland. Its workforce comprises over 5,000 employees globally, with a significant presence in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The firm is known for its distinctive corporate culture, which emphasizes transparency and employee empowerment, often highlighted in studies by Great Place to Work. It runs the Qualtrics X4 Summit, an annual experience management conference in Salt Lake City that attracts leaders from companies like Microsoft, Adobe Inc., and Walmart. The Qualtrics Foundation focuses on funding initiatives in education and community development. Following its privatization, the board of directors includes executives from Silver Lake Partners and representatives from the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

See also

* SurveyMonkey * Medallia * SAP * Market research * Customer relationship management * User experience

Category:American companies established in 2002 Category:Software companies based in Washington (state) Category:Market research