Which organizational topics are reviewed?
Depending on scope: team setup, roles, capabilities, FTEs, responsibilities and whether the agency is appropriately resourced for the agreed tasks.
AUDIT MODULE 01 · AGENCY & COMMERCIAL
An agency audit should review performance, structure and commercials together.
The H.O.T. AG Agency & Commercial Audit examines whether organization, resources, capabilities, cost model, technology, SLAs and contract logic fit the actual mandate. The objective is transparency about performance, cost and operational resilience – not indiscriminate cost cutting.
Which commercials are reviewed?
Fees, personnel-cost logic, technology and third-party costs, service levels, contracts and proposal structure, and the transparency of cost allocation can all form part of the audit.
Is benchmarking simply a price comparison?
No. A robust benchmark considers scope, seniority, market, technology, liability and operational complexity. A lower price is not evidence of higher quality.
Can agency stability be assessed?
Where relevant, client portfolio, dependencies, corporate stability and the ability to deliver over time can be included.
What is the output?
A documented assessment of organization, service model and commercials with prioritized clarification or negotiation points and, where the data allow, benchmarks and recommendations.
NEXT STEP
A concrete task is the best starting point.
We define mandate, scope and responsibilities before the project begins – and clarify whether H.O.T. AG is needed as media consultant or independent audit function.