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2014 Systems Contractor News Future Trends Reader Survey
1.
Please provide your name, company, and email address (for verification purposes only — not for publishing).
Name:
Company:
Email Address:
2.
How many years has your company been in the AV business?
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
20+
3.
How many employees does your company have?
1-20
20-50
51-100
100-200
200+
4.
How many projects will your company complete in 2014?
0-10
10-20
20-50
50-100
100+
5.
What is the average sales cycle time (in months) for each of these vertical markets:
>1
1-3
3-6
6-9
9-12
12+
Corporate
>1
1-3
3-6
6-9
9-12
12+
Education
>1
1-3
3-6
6-9
9-12
12+
Sports
>1
1-3
3-6
6-9
9-12
12+
Hospitality
>1
1-3
3-6
6-9
9-12
12+
House of Worship
>1
1-3
3-6
6-9
9-12
12+
Government
>1
1-3
3-6
6-9
9-12
12+
Healthcare
>1
1-3
3-6
6-9
9-12
12+
Retail
>1
1-3
3-6
6-9
9-12
12+
6.
Are you planning to hire permanent employees in 2014?
Yes
No
7.
If yes, for which departments are you going to hire:
Sales
Installation
Service
Management
IT
Other (please specify)
8.
Have you formed a business partnership with another company?
Yes
No
9.
If yes, which type of company(ies)?
Electrical Contractor
Another AV Integrator
AV Consultant
AV Staffing Firm
Architecture Firm
Other (please specify)
10.
Permanently or on a project basis?
Permanently
Project Basis
11.
What is the number-one factor impeding your company’s growth?
12.
Which technology is the most difficult to keep up with?
13.
What has changed for the worse in the past year?
14.
What has changed for the better in the past year (check as many as relevant)?
Revenue Increase
Personnel Growth
Sales Pipeline
Prospect-to-Project Conversion
Products Solving Problems
Manufacturer Tech Support
Other (please specify)
15.
What is the greatest improvement to your way of doing business in the last year?
CRM Software
BIM / IPD
Technology Improvements
Personnel Expertise
Industry Training
Reading SCN Magazine
Other (please specify)
16.
What technology or trend will see the MOST growth in 2014?
Digital Signage
The Cloud
Conferencing
Collaboration
Unified Communications
Wireless AV
AV Networking
Other (please specify)
17.
What more could manufacturers do to help you? (Check all that apply)
Improve Tech Support
More Design Assistance
More Field Assistance
Listen to Product Requests
Expedite Ordering
Financial Incentives/Programs
Other (please specify)
18.
What products are your clients requesting most?
Loudspeakers
Flat Panel Displays
Distributed Audio
Healthcare
Interactive
Collaboration
Cloud
Mobile Device Integration
Other (please specify)
19.
What are the main vertical markets that your company serves (check as many that are relevant)?
Houses of Worship
Corporate
Healthcare
Education
Museums
Sports/Arenas
Hospitality
Clubs
Performing Arts
Other (please specify)
20.
What are the vertical markets that your company is looking to expand into (check as many that are relevant)?
Houses of Worship
Corporate
Healthcare
Education
Museums
Sports/Arenas
Hospitality
Clubs
Performing Arts
Other (please specify)
21.
What do you predict will be the business trend in each of the following vertical markets in 2014 (select one for each)?
Increase
Flat
Decline
Houses of Worship
Increase
Flat
Decline
K-12
Increase
Flat
Decline
Higher Education
Increase
Flat
Decline
Museums
Increase
Flat
Decline
Corporate / SMB
Increase
Flat
Decline
Large Enterprise
Increase
Flat
Decline
Stadiums/Arenas
Increase
Flat
Decline
Retail
Increase
Flat
Decline
Restaurants
Increase
Flat
Decline
Clubs
Increase
Flat
Decline
Hotels
Increase
Flat
Decline
Convention Centers
Increase
Flat
Decline
Performing Arts Venues
Increase
Flat
Decline
Digital Signage
Increase
Flat
Decline
Government
Increase
Flat
Decline
Healthcare
Increase
Flat
Decline
22.
What was the percentage of your company’s revenue growth in 2013?
23.
What percentage revenue growth are you estimating for 2014?
24.
What percentage of your product purchasing was done through distributors as opposed to direct from manufacturers in 2013?
0-10%
11-20%
21-50%
More than 50%
25.
What single factor most influences your choice of one distributor over another?
Design Services
Tech Support
Training/Education Offerings
Vendor Showcases
Shipping Speed
Financial/Budget Considerations
26.
What more could distributors do to help you?