What is a lens

What is a Thematic Lens?

A Lens is a way to combine one or more datasets and analyze them together with a single, unified set of themes. Instead of looking at each data source separately, a Lens lets you see the bigger picture across all your feedback in one place.

The problem Lenses solve

In Thematic, each dataset has traditionally been tied to its own set of themes. If you have an NPS survey, a CSAT survey, and app reviews, each one gets analyzed independently with its own themes. To compare insights across those sources, you would need to manually combine the data or switch between datasets and try to piece the story together yourself.

Lenses remove that limitation. They break the one-to-one relationship between a dataset and a theme set, so you can bring multiple data sources together under one roof.

What can you do with a Lens?

Analyze feedback from multiple sources at once. A Lens pulls together data from different datasets so you can see trends, themes, and insights across all of them. You can still drill down into a single source when you need to.

Compare data sources side by side. Place any datasets next to each other for instant comparison without needing to export data or do manual wrangling.

Reuse themes across datasets. When you add a new data source to an existing Lens, it automatically picks up the Lens's themes. No need to create themes from scratch each time you bring in new data.

Create purpose-built views for different teams. The same underlying data can be referenced by multiple Lenses, each with themes tailored to a specific audience. For example, one NPS dataset could feed into a Support Lens, a Product Feedback Lens, and a Marketing Lens, each surfacing the insights most relevant to that team.

Example use cases

Cross-survey analysis. Combine your NPS, CSAT, and post-purchase surveys into a single Lens to understand overall customer sentiment rather than reviewing each survey in isolation.

Store or regional feedback. Create a Lens that brings together feedback from multiple locations or channels so store managers or regional leads can see what matters most for their area.

Team-specific insights. Build a Product Lens that surfaces feature requests and usability issues from across all your feedback sources, while a separate Support Lens focuses on service quality and resolution themes from the same data.

Onboarding new data sources. When you start collecting feedback from a new channel, add it to an existing Lens and the established themes are applied automatically, saving setup time.