Market Research from an Insider

Regular interviews with 250+ practitioners.Real insight into what they want.Confidence in your next decision.

Get the data you need to make the right choices.

What do you want to learn?
Choose your solution:

Vendors

Why aren't practices buying your products?

Consultants

Help your clients with confidence

Investors

Prevent bad investments

DSOs

Understand your market better

About

Bad decisions are made from hunches, anecdotes, and assumptions.After 27 years at Carestream Dental, I understand something most researchers don't: both vendor strategy AND what practitioners actually need.At Ackerman Research, I interview 250+ practitioners directly to give you real data.

Services

Market Research Projects
Access & Intelligence
Substack Newsletter
Custom Intelligence
Product Management Consulting

Why Aren't Practices Adopting Your Product?

You're investing millions.
Get the data first

  • Vendors build on assumptions, not data

  • Practices don't adopt and ROI disappears

  • Millions wasted on products nobody wants

Work with Ackerman and increase your rate of success

  • Ackerman interviews real practitioners

  • Real data provides actionable results

  • Detailed research reports explain the potential gains

Why This Works

I spent 27 years at Carestream managing products. I understand
how vendors think AND what practitioners actually need.I can tell you the truth—even when it's not what you want to hear.

Services for Vendors

Market Research Projects
Timeline: 4-6 weeksWhat's included:

10 INTERVIEWS - $12,000

  • Single pain point research

  • Research report (10-12 pages)

  • Key findings and recommendations

  • 1-hour presentation

  • Best for: Quick Validation

15 INTERVIEWS - $18,000

  • Multi-topic research

  • 15-19 page report

  • Competitive context included

  • 1-hour presentation + Q&A

  • Best for: Strategic Planning

20 INTERVIEWS - $25,000

  • Comprehensive market research

  • 20+ page report

  • Segment-by-segment analysis

  • 1-hour presentation + follow-up

  • Best for: Major Decisions

Let's discuss your research question.
I'll recommend the right scope and an estimate within 24 hours.

Help your Clients with Confidence

Your clients need answers. You need data.

  • Clients ask: "Should we switch systems?"

  • Clients ask: "Is this tool worth buying?"

  • You need credible market data to advise them.

Work with Ackerman to strengthen your advice.

  • Get market data you can cite to your clients

  • Provide recommendations backed by real research

  • Expand your service offering with research packages

Why This Works

I understand both sides: vendor strategy AND practitioner needs.I can help you advise your clients with confidence because I give
you the market data most consultants struggle to find.You stay focused on business consulting. I handle the market research.

Services for Consultants

Access & Intelligence Packages
Timeline: 2-4 weeksWhat's included:

5 PRACTITIONER INTERVIEWS
$12,000-15,000

  • I conduct 5 interviews with relevant practitioners

  • Based on your specific research questions

  • Anonymized findings (descriptive roles, not names)

  • Complete context and analysis based on goals

  • Best for: Strategic client projects

10 PRACTITIONER INTERVIEWS
$20,000-25,000

  • I conduct 10 interviews with relevant practitioners

  • Based on your specific research questions

  • Deep market analysis and findings

  • Full research report with strategic recommendations

  • 1-hour presentation of findings

  • Best for: High-value client engagements

CUSTOM RESEARCH
PRICING BY SCOPE

  • Your question

  • Your scope

  • Your timeline

  • I interview relevant practitioners and deliver findings

  • Ad-hoc presentation of findings

  • Best for: new endeavors, large group practice customers, DSO coordination, whatever you can think of.

I can give your clients market data backed by 250+ practitioner
relationships—so you can advise them with confidence.Tell me about your current client project.I'll recommend the right package and send pricing today.

Before You Invest Millions in Oral Health Technology

You're evaluating a major investment, but do you know what practitioners really want?

  • You're assessing a dental tech startup

  • Vendors claim "huge market demand"

  • You don't know if that's real or marketing hype

Get real market data before you commit capital

  • Interview 15-25 actual practitioners (not vendor testimonials, not simple surveys)

  • Understand real demand, not vendor claims

  • Assess competitive positioning and go-to-market viability

  • Get a clear recommendation: Go or No-Go

Why This Works

I spent 27 years inside the oral health technology industry
managing products, seeing what works, and understanding why
vendors succeed or fail.I know what practitioners actually want vs. what vendors claim they want.I can tell you the truth about market demand, competitive positioning,
and implementation viability. That's what prevents $10M mistakes.

Services for Investors

Custom Intelligence for Investment Decisions
Timeline: 8-12 weeksWhat's included:

INVESTMENT DUE DILIGENCE
$25,000-35,000

  • 15-20 interviews with target practitioners

  • Assessment: Is there real market demand?

  • Competitive positioning and threat analysis

  • Go-to-market viability assessment

  • Implementation challenges and adoption barriers

  • Final recommendation: Investment potential (High/Medium/Low)

  • 2-hour presentation + strategy call

  • Best for: Evaluating a dental tech company for investment

PORTFOLIO SOLUTION ASSESSMENT
$25,000-35,000

  • 15-20 interviews with your portfolio practices

  • Evaluate solutions for your specific needs

  • Implementation complexity and timeline

  • Integration requirements across your platform

  • ROI and adoption likelihood

  • Specific recommendations for your portfolio

  • 2-hour presentation + implementation strategy session

  • Best for: DSOs and practice groups optimizing technology decisions

COMPREHENSIVE MARKET ANALYSIS
$35,000-50,000

  • 20-25 interviews across multiple practitioner segments

  • Market sizing (TAM, current penetration, growth trajectory)

  • Competitive landscape and positioning

  • Segment-by-segment analysis (solo, group, DSO, specialty)

  • Technology adoption barriers and drivers

  • Strategic recommendations and go-to-market insights

  • 2-hour presentation + follow-up strategy session

  • Best for: Major portfolio decisions or significant investment bets

Evaluating a dental tech investment?Tell me about the decision you're facing.I'll recommend the right research scope and send you pricing
and timeline within 24 hours.

Know Your Partner Practices Better Than Your Competitors

You promise value to your members but how do you know what they need?

  • You invest in technology and solutions and tell members these will improve their business, but do members actually agree?

  • Your members are comparing you to other DSOs asking: "Does this DSO understand my needs?"

  • If the answer is no, they leave

Understanding your members isn't optional;
it's a competitive advantage.

Gain member trust by understanding what they actually care about

  • Interview your members directly about their challenges

  • Learn what technology/solutions would improve their business

  • Understand what makes them stay vs. what makes them leave

  • Use insights to improve your value proposition

Your members feel heard, you keep them longer. You earn their loyalty.

Why This Works

I spent 27 years talking to oral health practitioners—
understanding their real challenges, their frustrations,
what keeps them up at night.Your partner practices will tell me things that they won't tell you directly.I can help you understand your affiliated practices so you can serve
them better. I'll help you build loyalty and competitive advantage.

Services for DSOs

Member Understanding & Advisory
Timeline: 4-8 weeksWhat's included:

MEMBER INSIGHT RESEARCH
$8,000-12,000

  • 10-15 interviews with your member practices

  • What are their biggest challenges?

  • How satisfied are they with current solutions?

  • What would improve their business?

  • What gaps do they see in your offering?

  • Detailed findings report

  • 1-hour presentation of insights to your leadership team

  • Best for: Understanding member satisfaction and needs

STRATEGIC MEMBER ADVISORY $4,000-6,000/month

  • Quarterly member feedback research (3-5 interviews per month)

  • Ongoing insights into emerging member needs

  • Competitive intelligence (what other DSOs are doing)

  • Recommendations for improving member value

  • Strategic validation: Test your assumptions against my network

  • Quarterly reports and strategy calls

  • Best for: Ongoing member intelligence and competitive advantage

MEMBER RETENTION & COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
$12,000-15,000

  • 15-20 interviews across your member practices

  • Why are practices staying? Why are some leaving? Perform a full satisfaction deep-dive

  • Competitive assessment (how do members view other DSOs?)

  • Feature/solution gap analysis

  • Strategic recommendations for retention and growth

  • 2-hour presentation + retention strategy session

  • Best for: DSOs concerned about member retention or growth

Want to understand your members better than your competitors?Tell me about your member base and your biggest challenge.I'll recommend the right research approach and send you
pricing and timeline within 24 hours.