Often problems are only discovered too late. Whatever the remedy available in law, the problem can still sink a business sat at the wrong end of a bad deal.

While rapport building can be good customer care, it can also be a smokescreen to cover deep problems (just look at Enron). The answer is to trust a skilled outsider: accounts are professionally audited, so why not relationships? A company check reveals the critical facts about an organisation before you enter into binding relationships.

Isn't it all online?

While open source intelligence is a valuable tool in the investigative arsenal, it is only a collection tool. A company check is an intelligence product that follows the intelligence cycle (the overarching framework investigators use to manage their workflow).

The intelligence cycle

The intelligence cycle can be broken down into four stages, and it is always followed when formulating any reporting, whether a general is working with military intelligence or a small company is checking out a potential supplier. It's stages are direction, collection, analysis and dissemination. 

Direction

This is the initial conversation where the investigative team learns what the topic of interest is and why it's of interest. Many forget the "why" at their peril, as missing the rationale behind the investigation can lead to vital information going unreported.

Collection

Once a requirement is identified and understood, the investigative team swings into collection mode. At this stage of the cycle as much information as possible is collected about a subject. Some of the information may be publicly available, but the skill is knowing where to look.

Analysis

The investigators really earn their money at this point. They sift through the haul of information, looking for veracity, spin and relevance to compose a final report on their findings.

Dissemination

Finally, the client is presented with a finished intelligence product that meets the requirements laid out at the start of the process.

Are there any questions?

Following an approved cycle (as used by the police, military and other agencies) should give clients security and confidence that they can ask anything and get a quality answer. At 1st Call Detectives, we specialise in company checks. If you're not sure about the agreement you're entering into, give us a call today.