New verification system for print ad placement

This means that advertising agencies as well as media companies will be able to obtain payment for appearance of print advertising much faster than the present paper based system. Currently, agencies have to wait longer than necessary after appearance date in order to receive the tear sheet, which is then submitted with the relevant invoice as proof of appearance thus ensuring payment.

Charl Meyer of SOS comments, "Ad agencies and media companies will be able to immediately improve their cash flows through this system as we will supply X-RayAds on CD, monthly, according to the media schedules supplied by the agencies."

He goes on to add some further benefits:

• each ad will be indexed on brand, product, publication, date of publication, page on which it appeared, colour and size
  
• agencies will be able to scrutinise the position and place where the ads appeared which may result in rate discount negotiations
  
• indications are that there will be cost savings for firms that use this system as the need for a team of staff to page through printed media will be eliminated
  
• X-RayAds is audited by the ABC (Audited Bureau of Circulation)
  
• the monthly subscription rate is a mere R 2 500,00 excluding VAT

Subscription to the service can be done on line via the SOS web site on www.strategicoutsourcing.co.za and a confidentiality agreement will be signed by SOS for each contract.

Leading media agency, MediaCompete has already signed up for the Ad Verification component of X-Ray Ads, while ABSA Marketing Intelligence, RoverSA and Woolworths have subscribed to the Competitive Ad Database.

The Competitive Database consists of indexed ads from the 146 major dailies, weeklies and community papers as well as consumer and business to business magazines and is already available in CD or DVD format and will be online in a few months.

Concludes Meyer, " Cash flow is critical to the success of any business and the advertising and media industry is no exception. X-RayAds is the first of its kind in South Africa and we have only seen one other system like this working in overseas countries. This pioneering product will revolutionise the old fashioned print tear sheet system in this country."