ECD - Technology Trends Survey 2015 50% of survey complete. Question Title * 1. What is your main job function? Apprentice Consultant Electrical contractor Electrical engineer Owner/MD/CEO Purchasing officer Wholesaler/Reseller Other (please specify) Question Title * 2. How many employees does your company have? 1–50 51–250 251–500 501–1000 1000+ Question Title * 3. Which of these fields do you consider will offer the best growth opportunities for your business in the next 2 years? (Select a maximum of THREE) Battery storage Construction Data centres Energy infrastructure Home and building automation HVAC Industrial automation Lighting Manufacturing Mining NBN Networking and telecommunications Security Solar Television and radio Other (please specify) Question Title * 4. Which key activity do you generate most revenue from? Installation Maintenance/service Selling products Upgrades/refits Other (please specify) Question Title * 5. What is your primary business focus? Datacomms contracting Electrical contracting Electrical engineering Electrical+Data+Comms contracting Telecommunications Other (please specify) Question Title * 6. How old are you? <25 25–40 41-55 56+ Question Title * 7. How long have you been in the electrical and communications industry? <5 years 5-15 years 16-30 years More than 30 years Question Title * 8. Do you influence product purchasing decisions? Yes, I am the key decision maker Occasionally No Question Title * 9. What types of products will your business be purchasing in the next 6–12 months? (Select the main THREE) Cables Connectors Energy storage products Home automation and control HVAC Industrial automation and control Industrial Ethernet Lighting and control systems Networking equipment Power supplies Process control and automation Safety equipment Security and surveillance systems Solar panels Surge protection Switchboards Switches, enclosures and racks Test and measurement equipment Other (please specify) Question Title * 10. What are the main areas you currently manage or work in? (Select a maximum of THREE) Battery storage Data centres Energy infrastructure market Home and building automation HVAC Industrial automation Lighting Manufacturing Mining NBN Networking and telecommunications Security Solar Television and radio Other (please specify) Question Title * 11. What type of supplier do you mainly buy from? Direct from manufacturer Electrical wholesaler or distributor Hardware chains None – I am a supplier Overseas suppliers (direct order) Overseas suppliers (online) Question Title * 12. Who are your most preferred wholesalers? (Select your top THREE) Rexel L&H Group John R Turk Pacific Datacom Ideal Electrical CNW Electrical Wholesale & Energy Solutions MM Electrical Other (please specify) Question Title * 13. In which area is it particularly difficult to attract and/or retain skilled workers? (Select THREE) Appliance installation and repair Cabling Data networks Electrical fitting Hazardous areas High voltage Industrial Instrumentation and control systems Maintenance Refrigeration/air conditioning Security Servicing Solar Question Title * 14. Looking at the next 12 months, do you expect the outlook for the communications industry to: Improve Deteriorate Remain the same Question Title * 15. What content would you like to see more of in ECD Solutions magazine and on www.ECDsolutions.com.au? (You may tick more than one item) Case studies Industry commentary Product items Standards and regulations updates Technical application articles Training courses Other (please specify) Question Title * 16. How often do you visit www.ECDsolutions.com.au? Daily Fortnightly Monthly Every few months Never Question Title * 17. How do you reach the website if/when you visit? (You may tick more than one item) Type in the URL manually Via a bookmark Via the ECD Solutions eNewsletter From a web search (eg, Google) Link from another website Referral from the magazine Don’t visit Question Title * 18. How long have you been reading ECD Solutions (or previously Electrical Solutions or Voice+Data) magazine or the ECD eNewsletter? Less than 12 months 1–4 years 5–10 years 10 years + Question Title * 19. Which social media tools do you use for your business? Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Other (please specify) Question Title * 20. Which of the following industry magazines do you read in addition to ECD Solutions? NECA News Magazine Critical Comms Security Electronics & Networks What’s New in Electronics Circuit What's New in Process Technology Technology Decisions Government Technology Review EcoGeneration The Master Electrician magazine Electrical Connections Other (please specify) Question Title * 21. With regards to the communications industry, in which areas do you expect growth opportunities? (Select maximum of THREE) Defence Education Healthcare Mining Transport Other (please specify) Question Title * 22. What impact is the Internet of Things and the connected enterprise having on your business at present? None – it's business as usual Minimal – upgrading some of our technology and systems Plenty – we are doing a a major restructure on the technology side Next