To know what to include in your capability statement to make it successful, you must first understand what a capability statement is, its major objectives, and its purpose.
A capability statement is a document that is also known as a business capability statement, company capability statement, capability brochure, or capability document.
The main objective of a capability statement is to get clients to go into business with you. It is sometimes used alone or as part of a tender process.
You should ensure that your business’ capability statement is updated at all times, making it ready for use at any time the need arises.
Factors to Consider When Writing your Capability Statement
You should tailor your capability statement according to 3 major criteria:
- The operations and needs of the potential clients
- The industry you operate in
- The operations of your company or business
It is an obvious fact that the operations of the company are the main factors.
Below, we teach you how to write a capability brochure or statement and the right details to insert about the business. However, before going into those details, you should think of the remaining factors first.
It is excellent to start by getting the capability statements of your competitors in the industry. With this, you will have a rough idea of the types of capacities offered by your competitors and the methods they use in pitching that information.
Though it is a good idea to have a ready-made capability statement, on the other hand, you may need to adapt your capability statement for the tender process or a particular client.
One way to do this is to recognize your major capabilities and value to the client, then focus on your strength.
Depending on the factors, a capability statement can range from just a page to five or more.
You must get an accurate balance between offering your prospective client enough information and not tainting your statement with too much detail. Thus, contacting a professional capability statement designer may be the thin line between winning the tender or not.
What to Include in a Capability Statement
Below are the major points that need to be included in a capability statement:
- A means by which you can be reached
- A catalogue of your services and products
- A list of prominent previous and current clients and key projects you have handled for them
- A list of important personnel, including a short outline of their expertise and skills
- List your core capacities with a short outline of each
- A fundamental description of your business and its operations
The structure of these sections may vary from one company to another. For instance, you may outline just one essential capability in a paragraph or use most parts of the capability statement to highlight how you’ve helped former clients.
You may even have a core capability with different applications across different operations and industries. In this situation, you’ll require more time outlining your services in such a way that it would be perfect for that particular industry.
Do not forget to include a strong CTA (call to action) on the capability statement. This is to convert your client’s interest to action.
Capability Statement Design Features
Always ensure that your capability statement is readable. Remember that the client you are presenting to may have hundreds of other statements to read before making a decision. To stand out, you must ensure that your capability statement can be absorbed in a glance.
