The five-step process of selection has been developed to ensure a 360-degree evaluation by all stakeholder groups viz. customers, channel partners and the marketing community.

After the initial round of self-nomination, the nominated brands move to the second stage called 'Brand wagon' and go through a stringent screening based on the parameters mentioned in the nomination form. The short listed entries then move onto the next stage called 'Brand Microscope' for a detailed quantitative evaluation amongst different sets of stakeholders, informed an official release.

After a cumulative evaluation across the entire selection procedure, the highest scorer will win the coveted title of the CII Brand of the Year 2005 at Brand Finale scheduled in February 2005 at Chennai.

The call for entries for the first-of-its kind CII Brand of the Year 2005 award has started. The last date for receiving the entries is 30 December 2004.