From time to time investment promotion agencies need to know:
- How well are we handling investment enquiries?
- Is our approach to investors working to best practice standards?
- How effective is our team approach?
- Is our website up to standard?
- How can we improve our team approach to investment promotion and facilitation?
GDP Global’s IPA Performance Benchmarking Programme 2017/18 provides investment promotion agencies (IPA) with a substantial independent analysis of their agency’s performance with new investors. This programme focuses on the capabilities of national, regional and city investment promotion agencies in dealing effectively with foreign investor enquiries and in promoting their respective regions.
GDP Global established this programme at the request of UK IPA clients in 2001. Since then more than 350 investment promotion agencies worldwide have benefited from GDP Global’s independent feedback of more than 700 performance evaluations. IPA Performance Benchmarking Programme 2017/18 builds on the experience of previous investigations and provides IPAs with a benchmark that is evolving in line with developments in the IPA community and the global market.
The General Evaluation Report is a confidential document for each IPA taking part. In 2017/18 the 13 performance metrics have be overhauled to reflect investor’s more value-driven approach to investment in mature markets. For emerging markets too, the new performance metrics reflect on the intensity of competition and the ever more professional promotion approaches being adopted by IPAs.
The E-communications Evaluation Report, also provides a confidential assessment for each IPA, that independently benchmarks IPA website performance. Internet communications have changed enormously even over the last three years. The 12 performance metrics look into the classic website structure and content issues. But they also provide a sharper focus on findability (search engine optimisation), mobile website effectiveness, also social marketing capabilities – the effective use of YouTube, Wikipedia, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social marketing tools.
The overall results and implications the IPA Performance Benchmarking Programme are presented and discussed at conferences, workshops and training events around the world. Investment Promotion Agencies have two participation options:
How standard IPA Benchmarking works:
- First, register your IPA to take part in the programme, using the registration form.
- GDP Global selects a sector based on your region’s economic profile and your agency’s sector focus.
- Your agency will receive a typical investment enquiry from a foreign investor.
- Your website and your team based enquiry handling procedures are then assessed during the benchmarking period, following the rigorous benchmarking methodology.
What you will receive:
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- You will receive a complete report on the effectiveness of your website and e-communications’ system.
- You will obtain a detailed report on how well your agency team handled the test investor enquiry in comparison with other agencies.
- You will receive a set of recommendations for the improvement of your performance in the coming 12 months.
- You will receive online access to IPAbenchmarking.com, to view and download your reports.
- You will also receive a full set of benchmarks from current and previous benchmarking programmes, for you to make further assessments as you wish.
How Custom IPA Benchmarking works:
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- Customise your evaluation: Custom benchmarking allows you to select one or more sector/team profiles for performance benchmarking.
- Register your IPA: to take part in the programme, using the registration form.
- Choose from more than 20 typical business sectors and more than 15 business activities, and any number of teams/ websites to assess.
- Choose other custom features: such as investment type, language of the enquiry other than English, are also available.
- Select the benchmarking time: Choose when you wish each assessment to be undertaken during the benchmarking period.
- Your agency will then receive a typical investment enquiry from a foreign investor.
- Your website and your team based enquiry handling procedures are then assessed during the benchmarking period, following the rigorous benchmarking methodology.
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What you receive from Custom IPA Benchmarking:
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- Reports: Detailed reports on the effectiveness of your website and e-communications as well a comprehensive report on how well your agency handled customised test investor enquiries in comparison with other agencies.
- Online access: to www.ipabenchmarking.com, to view and download your reports.
- Custom analyses: You will be able to run custom analyses on particular types of agencies, and you will be able to compare with specific performance benchmarking metrics.
- Workshop: Obtain full feedback and expert presentation of results, analysis and best practice ideas in a workshop held at the GDP Global office in London, or at your agency office.
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