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Fifth Step: The Production Software
The transparency of the data production using Pollux guarantees the integrity and standardisation of the system for all Clients.
Pollux, the proprietary production software of AGB Nielsen Media Research, is a full-featured, integrated and reliable TAM data retrieval and production system, which combines international standardisation with transparency, by means of extensive and flexible reporting at all phases of data production.
Pollux is AGB Nielsen Media Research’s guarantee of quality and the best assurance of integrity for auditors of TAM systems. All source codes of the software are maintained by the AGB Nielsen Media Research Corporate Support Centre, and within the software, a complete historical record of all insertions and amendments is maintained.
This ensures that AGB Nielsen Media Research and any Auditor appointed by a Joint Industry Committee (JIC) are able to access a complete history of any changes or updates made to the databases within the software. This includes, for example, the Household Master files, which contain a history of all communication between AGB Nielsen Media Research and each panel home. This ensures complete transparency and control of all stages of the production process.
The underlying principle of integration within Pollux (all databases reside within a single software that manages the complete production process), allows an unsurpassed level of reporting. Any panel home may be tracked from the moment of receipt of the Establishment Survey database, through recruitment, installation, polling and production. Integrated reporting features ensure that any exceptions are easily investigated and their source identified quickly and efficiently. All reports are created automatically, each day, and form the basis of the work carried out by Production & Panel Management personnel.
The functionality of Pollux covers the areas of Panel Recruitment and Management, Polling of the peoplemeters, Data Validation, Data Expansion and Production, and the generation of Application Software databases. Extensive quality control reports exist for each stage of the process.
Pollux is the heart of the AGB Nielsen Media Research TAM system. Developed and maintained by Corporate Support Centre, it is currently installed in all of AGB Group companies and will become the standard in all of the AGB Nielsen Media Research joint venture companies, providing an efficient management tool and guaranteeing quality and transparency of data production, for clients.
Each step of the TAM system is managed by modules within Pollux, from the selection of homes for recruitment from the Establishment Survey database, to the production of the final elementary database
The flexibility of Pollux ensures that the software can easily be adapted to meet local market requirements, including algorithmic changes and local validation procedures. Continuous development of the software also ensures that new modules and reports are developed and included in new versions.
Pollux enables AGB Nielsen Media Research to offer complete transparency, through the immediate access to the authorised ‘auditor’ to all reports pertaining to the selection, recruitment, installation, polling and validation of the peoplemeter panel, within the Production software.