Why central repositories are key to scaling research with Kate Towsey

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“How can your team make better decisions if they can’t find the insights they need?” That’s the challenge Kate Towsey, research operations expert and author of Research That Scales, addressed during her recent appearance on the Insights Unlocked podcast with UserTesting’s Lija Hogan.

Kate highlighted a major gap in many organizations: the lack of a central repository for research knowledge. While collaborative “campfires,” or informal spaces for sharing ideas, are valuable for fostering creativity, they often lack the structure necessary to preserve insights long-term. “Without a proper system, you end up with a wealth of knowledge that’s inaccessible or lost,” she explained.

A central repository, Kate argued, provides the consistency and scalability that research teams need as they grow. “When someone joins a project six months later, they need to be able to find relevant data without relying on tribal knowledge,” Kate said. By implementing a structured, well-maintained repository, organizations can make their research a strategic asset rather than a scattered collection of reports.

 “Having a central repository means your research doesn’t just serve the present—it becomes a tool for the future. It’s one of the most valuable investments a team can make..” — Kate Towsey

Kate emphasized the importance of clear tagging, standardized processes, and a long-term mindset when building these repositories. This approach ensures that insights remain actionable and accessible for years, allowing teams to uncover trends and perform longitudinal analyses.

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“Repositories aren’t just about storage—they’re about enabling decisions,” she said. Towsey encouraged organizations to invest in building these systems early, noting that they pay off exponentially as research scales.

“Having a central repository means your research doesn’t just serve the present—it becomes a tool for the future,” Kate concluded. “It’s one of the most valuable investments a team can make.”

Listen to the full episode to hear more of their conversation.

We want to hear from you! 🎤 How does your organization manage research knowledge? Do you use a central repository, or are you exploring new ways to scale your research operations? Share your thoughts, challenges, and successes in the comments—we’d love to learn from your experiences and start a conversation about making research more impactful!