Expert In-House Consultants

• Our consultants are experienced and highly motivated.

1. Deep Market Knowledge

   • They possess combined expertise on agency people, culture, capabilities, and strengths across the entire market.

2. Perfect Agency Matching

   • This enables IAS to identify agencies that perfectly match — and exceed — your specific requirements.

3. Client Anonymity & Control

   • The IAS approach guarantees your anonymity throughout the process.

   • You remain in complete control of the decision-making at every step.

• Informed Decision-Making

  • Your own insights and information are combined with our local South African experience.

  • This is further supported by AAR’s 40+ years of international expertise.

  • Together, this ensures you make informed and considered decisions every time.

• International Capabilities via AAR Network

  • As a member of the AAR international network of associate companies, IAS can assist South African clients needing advertising and creative services in other countries.

• Global Coordination

  • We brief our trusted counterparts in the relevant countries based on your initial brief to us.

  • Our knowledge of agency networks and affiliates worldwide positions us equally well to handle international requirements.

agency selection/PITCH MANAGEMENT

Importance of Agency Selection

• Choosing a new agency is a critical corporate and personal business decision.

1. Potential Risks of Poor Management

   • If handled poorly, the process can become highly time-consuming, expensive, and exhausting.

2. Diversity of Agencies in the Market

   • There are literally hundreds of agencies operating across all communication disciplines.

3. Range of Agency Specializations

   • Agencies vary from those specializing in one core skill to others providing multi-discipline, media-neutral solutions.

AGENCY Ecosystem Management

Recent Trend in Agency Model Reviews

• In the past few years, a large number of companies and brands have been actively examining and reevaluating their agency operating models.

1. Key Driving Factors

   • Increasingly complex operating environment for marketing — driven by rapid changes in digital channels, technology (e.g., AI and automation), data proliferation, and evolving consumer behaviors.

   • Budget pressures — including tighter marketing spend, procurement demands for cost efficiency, economic uncertainty, and the need to demonstrate strong ROI amid slower growth.

   • Overarching need to simplify — many brands now face a complex ecosystem of multiple agency partners with overlapping remits, leading to inefficiencies, fragmentation, and management challenges.

2. Consequences of Complexity

   • The proliferation of agencies, vendors, and tools has created overlapping roles and remits, making coordination difficult and increasing operational overhead.

   • This has prompted brands to seek consolidation (e.g., fewer partners, streamlined rosters), insourcing certain capabilities, or shifting to new models like performance-based or outcome-focused arrangements.

value benchmarking

Definition of Benchmarking

• Benchmarking is the systematic process of measuring a company’s key business metrics and processes.

• It compares these against those of peer businesses within the same industry to identify performance gaps, best practices, and opportunities for improvement.

1. IAS Agency Benchmark Audit Service

   • IAS provides a dedicated Agency Benchmark Audit.

   • It delivers a comprehensive evaluation covering all relevant agency-related costs and performance indicators (e.g., fees, scope of work, deliverables, efficiency, ROI metrics, and value alignment).

2. Unique Market Differentiation

   • The Agency Benchmark Audit is a unique, first-to-market product in the South African advertising and marketing consultancy landscape.

   • No equivalent offering of this depth and specificity currently exists locally, giving IAS a clear competitive edge.

marketer:agency RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Definition of Benchmarking

• Benchmarking is the process of measuring a company’s key business metrics and processes.

• It involves comparing these against those of another business (or businesses) in the same industry.

1. IAS Agency Benchmark Audit Overview

   • IAS offers a specialized Agency Benchmark Audit service.

   • It provides a comprehensive evaluation of all relevant agency-related costs and performance indicators.

2. Unique Market Positioning

   • The Agency Benchmark Audit is a unique, first-to-market product offering in the South African market.

   • No comparable service of this scope and focus currently exists locally.

Media Assurance AudiT

Extensive Combined Expertise

• IAS brings over 50 years of combined experience in agency and media consultancy.

1. Positioning for Media Advisory

   • This depth of experience positions IAS ideally to advise clients on the optimum management and control of media expenditure.

2. Collaboration with Client Teams

   • IAS works directly with advertisers’ marketing, procurement, and digital teams.

3. Core Focus and Outcomes

   • The primary goal is to drive tangible, measurable gains in media performance.

   • Emphasis is placed on improving the overall effectiveness and efficiency of advertising spend.

4. Structured Service Offering

   • IAS provides a structured suite of services specifically designed for this purpose.

5. Ongoing Commitment

   • These services are geared toward the continuous pursuit of media excellence — supporting long-term optimization rather than one-off fixes.

SHORT LIST FOR PROJECTS

Demand for Specialized Support in Challenging Times

• Interesting / complex times require specialized assistance.

• IAS recommends engaging experts to navigate these challenges effectively.

1. Purpose of the IAS Shortlist Process

   • Specifically designed for marketers seeking to engage various Communication Partners on a project basis (rather than long-term, full-service retainers).

2. Typical Project Areas Covered

   • Crisis communications

   • Employee engagement and internal communications

   • Social media management

   • PR and reputation management

   • Digital requirements

   • E-commerce

   • Market research

   • And similar specialized or tactical needs