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We discover the technology insights that matter – delivering 70+ projects for 200+ global clients, every single year.

We’re Interact Analysis. IA, not AI.

We’re not some automated platform, content to pull a thousand online data sources in under an hour and hope they stick. Our research roots run deep. Individually, each team member has over 15 years of experience in white- glove technology research. Collectively, we’ve been doing this for centuries, working with some of the largest and most respected companies on the planet.

With offices spanning the UK, US and Asia, we’ve grown to become the go-to partner for international market research. But we have not lost the agility and close attention of a small boutique. By keeping our firm nimble and personal, we’re able to take the time to build your research into what it deserves to be, which means greater awareness for you.

Our Team

Meet our senior team.

ADRIAN LLOYD | CEO

Adrian is an industry veteran with a long and illustrious pedigree. As a research authority, he has pioneered many data analysis techniques that are used widely by analysts today. As a strategy advisor, he has mentored hundreds of executives on the trends shaping a diverse array of electronic markets. His roster of global clients includes ABB, Siemens, Bosch Rexroth & Rockwell.

Before joining IA, Adrian was part of the senior management team at IMS Research, which under his leadership grew to 140 staff. Following an acquisition by IHS Markit, a global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries, Adrian continued his leadership as the Senior Director for Competitive Intelligence, Strategy & Strategic Partnerships.

Adrian is the CEO of Interact Analysis. Ask any client, and they’ll tell you that he knows his stuff, understands business, and is about the nicest guy on the planet.

ASH SHARMA | MANAGING DIRECTOR

As the managing Director of IA and lead for our Robotics and Warehouse Automation Division, Ash is responsible for uncovering the hard-to-pinpoint data that gets to the heart of what’s driving behaviour in this sector. He strategizes, collaborates and consults on a wide range of mission-critical intelligence initiatives for clients at almost every major robotics and automation company in the world.

Before co-founding IA, Ash spent 5 years as the Senior Director of Technology Research at IHS Markit, managing a research team of 90+ analysts based in Europe, USA and Asia. He has been at the leading edge of technology research for close to 20 years, specializing in industrial automation, smart manufacturing, solar power, drones and robotics, medical technology and building automation.

Outside IA, Ash is a keen traveller and often combines that with his other passion – craft breweries. He’s as dedicated to beer discovery as he is to driving growth for our clients.

TIM DAWSON | SENIOR RESEARCH DIRECTOR

Tim has been observing and commentating on the technologies shaping industrial, factory and process automation since 2000. As one of the world’s leading industrial researchers, he helps forward-thinking manufacturing companies identify revenue growth opportunities with cutting-edge market intelligence.

Tim co-founded IA after 12 years at IMS Research and 4 years at IHS Markit, where he headed up the Industrial Automation and Manufacturing Technology teams. He has presented to hundreds of senior executives throughout his 20+ year career, bringing critical insights and disciplined analysis into their decision making — in particular, the business impact of those technologies. Based in our UK office, Tim heads up our Manufacturing Automation division. He’s a frequent speaker on all things research at conferences and industry trade shows across the country.

He’s also our resident golf enthusiast. Somewhere in a parallel universe Tim is taking the Master’s Trophy from Tiger Woods.

ALASTAIR HAYFIELD | SENIOR RESEARCH DIRECTOR

As the Senior Research Director of our Commercial Vehicle Division, Alastair wears two research hats. First, he is the knowledge expert for all things vehicle electrification. Second, he researches the new simulation tools being developed to test and validate autonomous vehicles. With the drive towards net zero, there is a major opportunity for vehicle manufacturers and OEMs to capitalise on rapid market growth.

Over the last 15 years, Alastair has worked globally with major companies like BMW, GM, Bosch, Siemens, Panasonic and Apple, as well as pre-revenue startups and SMEs to support their strategic and product-planning needs. With a focus on primary research, Alastair has conducted many thousands of exploratory discussions with senior executives, engineers, sales managers and others to understand competitive pressures, new technologies and market growth.

Alastair takes his role in transportation very seriously. At the weekends you’ll find him caravanning with his ever-patient family.

JAN ZHANG | SENIOR RESEARCH DIRECTOR – CHINA

With a 20-year background in industrial design and strategic research leadership, Jan brings a deep and diverse set of research skills to IA. From competitive analysis to market sizing; product development to forecasting, her knowledge of high-growth, technology based industry is nothing short of multifaceted. Jan is focused on finding the gaps between what we knew yesterday and what we know today and bridging them.

Before joining IA, Jan cut her teeth as a product designer for General Motors Shanghai, later joining IMS Research as a Research Director in the Asia Pacific Industrial Automation division. There, she headed a large team of analysts covering such areas as operator interfaces, industrial PCs, industrial Ethernet, machinery production, motor drives, motion control equipment and DCS.

Jan heads up our APAC operations and is a Senior Research Director for our Industrial Automation and Robotics research groups. She’s literally head and shoulders above the rest, working from our offices in the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China.
Jan Zhang

What makes us different?

200
Years of experience
200
Global clients
70
Projects conducted each year
1000
Interviews each year
100
Data points analyzed
INTELLIGENT INSIGHTS

For us, it’s not about delivering insights, it’s about delivering the insights — the ones that move the needle for your business. We deliver exactly what we’d want in your shoes.

FIRST-HAND SOURCES

We go directly to the source to gather real-time inputs from the field. Surveys and interviews bring entirely new data into play. Where critical trends are occurring, you’ll be the first to know.

COLLABORATION

Your success is our success, and ours is a nimble approach in which ambitions and challenges are shared. By working together in partnership, we can break down your specific objectives and develop tailor-made solutions.

UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY

IA is built on a reputation for quality. It’s our mission to be better than our competitors – and we’re delivering. Our insights are timely, relevant, and energetically accurate. That’s the key to our success.

Real data and a rigorous research methodology means you get technology intelligence based on facts, not opinions. Put our proven methodology to work for you.

Our Process.
Meticulous market intelligence.
No hacks. No shortcuts.

1

EXPLORE

We meet with you to explore your goals, drivers, challenges and ambitions. This helps us to create the right roadmap for your research and a customised plan of attack.
2

ANALYSE

We use surveys, meetings and interaction with key figures across the value chain to gather sound insights into industry changes as and when they happen. These combine with data from authoritative published sources to raise the impact of our research.
3

ENGAGE

We don’t push flavour-of-the-month ideas or waste your time tinkering around the edges of a market. Our modelling techniques are systematic and transparent. We share findings and encourage you to talk with our research teams. Engagement delivers superior results — helping leaders gain a competitive edge.
LATEST RESEARCH

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Electrified Truck and Bus Powertrain
Commercial Vehicles

Electrified Truck and Bus Powertrain Components

Accurate and up-to-date report on market sizes and prices for electric trucks and buses powertrain…
Industrial Automation

Power Conversion Systems in Battery Energy Storage Systems

An in-depth analysis of power conversion systems (PCSs) used in battery energy storage projects.
Industrial Automation

Machine Vision – 2023

A report providing insight and analysis into the machine vision market.