About 600 are currently making it through the initial cut to join the Maori Business Facilitation Service programme.

QLBS.com’s role began when it first customized its Q100 platform to help identify better those who should be selected to enter the programme. Tim Mulcare, manager of TPK’s Business Services, says over the past two years QLBS.com’s tools have made a big difference for both clients and advisors.

The testing is now consistent and transparent and the results help establish credibility for the selected businesses.

Once selected, clients are then helped with QLBS.com’s Q Mini Fitness tool. This helps them develop their business knowledge and work up an action plan for further development.

Not all make it through this stage, but the around 300 who do are well aware of what they need to do to help themselves succeed. From this point they are referred for guidance to one of the 2000 or so Maori business mentors throughout the country.

More recently, QLBS.com has helped TPK utilise the data collected from clients to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the businesses. TPK business analyst Matilde Tayawa says strengths displayed include the fact that there are no limitations on the desire to do business, good growth potential for those that make it on to the programme and systems in marketing, distribution and supply are established.

More recently, QLBS.com has helped TPK utilise the data collected from clients to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the businesses. TPK business analyst Matilde Tayawa says strengths displayed include the fact that there are no limitations on the desire to do business, good growth potential for those that make it on to the programme and systems in marketing, distribution and supply are established.

However, common weaknesses are most clients lack planning skills, necessary levels of funding and they have rarely done any meaningful competitor analysis.

‘’Initially we went to QLBS.com to seek an improved system to measure the impact of our services on Maori businesses. It was also important to me to ensure a consistent approach to assessment of new potential businesses. To assist this, QLBS.com designed custom-built criteria and supported the deployment of a number of Q100 licenses among our TPK offices around the country.

As a result of the use of the software, my account managers have a uniform way to assess our clients and have a much clearer picture of the needs of the client base. The work of staff and the consultants we use can be captured “before” and “after” to measure the “value-add”. Account managers find using the software highly productive and a great compliment to their own consulting styles. The platform is robust and easy to use, and extensive analytical options put timely, accurate business intelligence data at our fingertips, giving us an improved ability to make informed decisions. TPK was impressed with preliminary results and is now expanding the use of the Q100 platform into related departments and sub-units of the organisation in the area of social and cultural facilitation.”
-Tim Mulcare, Manager, Business Services