The IAB has contracted the services of Relationship Audits and Management (RAM) for their Relationship Radar tool. This is a value add from the IAB to all its member agencies via the discounted prices being offered. IAB SA provides a platform for over 200 members to engage and constructively address digital issues. The provision of Relationship Radar is aligned to this vision.

Positive client-agency relationships are a critical catalyst to digital innovation in South Africa. Clients need agencies to communicate their message effectively across digital platforms, while agencies need clients to trust them to implement campaigns that resound with their target audience as they break new ground. Marketing can only thrive in the digital economy if it has the buy in and investment of those using it to communicate.

Relationship Radar provides an agency’s senior management with a regular snapshot of the health of their client relationships. It enables the business to quickly identify issues and act to resolve problems before they escalate. RAM has recognised that this client feedback needs to be tracked on an ongoing basis. This allows agencies to tackle small problems before they become big issues and seize potential opportunities. It also enables senior management – who is ultimately accountable for the success of the business – to be closer to each client and privy to issues that usually get stuck in middle management. As one chief executive recently said, "It’s the problems you don’t know about that get you fired."

Relationship Radar has reduced the feedback process for time-strapped clients and agencies. They have distilled the information required from clients to 11 simple questions: nine quantitative and two qualitative. Clients set up the tool via their PC or smartphone and, in less than five minutes, are able to provide information-rich data that can be analysed brand, region, client seniority and/or influence, as well as the agency’s account managers. This data is accessed on a user-friendly dashboard, as well as a full word report.

RAM is offering the IAB the opportunity to license the tool and pass this discount onto their member agencies. The prices are based on the number of client respondents and have been adjusted for digital agencies. In addition to the aforementioned benefits of the tool, there is now also opportunity for member agencies to benchmark themselves against other IAB agencies on all 11 KPI’s.

Contingent upon this discount is the participation of 20 IAB member agencies and the contribution of R5000 each that will then entitle them to the 40% discount. This discount will allow unlimited use of Radar over a three year period.

The following IAB agencies have committed to using Radar to date: Native, OgilvyOne/ Gloo/ Neo and Quirk with numerous others in the process of joining.

Ann Nurock concludes, "Radar is a tried and trusted tool being used around the world and across Africa with enormous success. It truly delivers the most granular output from just 11 questions where in our twitter based lives, time is the scarcest resource."

For more information, visit the IAB SA website. Alternatively, connect with the bureau via Facebook and Twitter.