Bespoke Benchmarking

Commercial companies and professional firms can now benchmark important activities such as winning business, building key account relationships and purchasing. Completing a questionnaire enables them to compare their own approaches with those of their peers and most successful competitors as recorded in the database of a continuing investigation led by Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas. Participating companies receive a bespoke report and confidentiality is observed.

Winning business activities and performance can be compared with companies in general or specific sectors. Professional firms can compare themselves both across and within particular professions. Related research reports identifying critical success factors for winning business in sectors such as engineering and manufacturing and IT and telecoms can help participating companies to take appropriate action. If required, more extensive reports can be commissioned with further commentary and guidance.

There are also winning business benchmark reports covering seven professions – management consultancy, IT and Telecoms consultancy, engineering consultancy, PR and Marketing consultancy, advertising, accountancy and the legal profession – compare performance at 128 activities. Each benchmark analysis is structured so that it is easy to use while studying the related winning business report. Following hints on how to interpret the ten pages of statistical tables, comparisons are made with all other firms in the database and those that are the most successful at winning new business.

To help users pinpoint the issues which are really important for their firms, the benchmark reports contain a ‘top ten action checklist’ which highlights where the particular firm falls furthest behind the most successful. This can enable firms that are already successful to identify and address particular weaknesses. The comparisons are equally valid for small and large firms because the issues covered are relevant for all those seeking new clients.

The purchasing benchmark covers 137 issues and again the resulting report includes comparisons with the average for all companies in the database and those that win most benefits from their purchasing functions, as well as a top ten action checklist’. The building strategic and key account relationships with customers benchmark examines 110 factors in eight areas ranging from selection to locking out competitors.

For further information and to purchase contact Colin Coulson-Thomas