2014 Systems Contractor News Future Trends Reader Survey Question Title * 1. Please provide your name, company, and email address (for verification purposes only — not for publishing). Name: Company: Email Address: Question Title * 2. How many years has your company been in the AV business? 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 20+ Question Title * 3. How many employees does your company have? 1-20 20-50 51-100 100-200 200+ Question Title * 4. How many projects will your company complete in 2014? 0-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100+ Question Title * 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 Corporate >1 Corporate 1-3 Corporate 3-6 Corporate 6-9 Corporate 9-12 Corporate 12+ Education Education >1 Education 1-3 Education 3-6 Education 6-9 Education 9-12 Education 12+ Sports Sports >1 Sports 1-3 Sports 3-6 Sports 6-9 Sports 9-12 Sports 12+ Hospitality Hospitality >1 Hospitality 1-3 Hospitality 3-6 Hospitality 6-9 Hospitality 9-12 Hospitality 12+ House of Worship House of Worship >1 House of Worship 1-3 House of Worship 3-6 House of Worship 6-9 House of Worship 9-12 House of Worship 12+ Government Government >1 Government 1-3 Government 3-6 Government 6-9 Government 9-12 Government 12+ Healthcare Healthcare >1 Healthcare 1-3 Healthcare 3-6 Healthcare 6-9 Healthcare 9-12 Healthcare 12+ Retail Retail >1 Retail 1-3 Retail 3-6 Retail 6-9 Retail 9-12 Retail 12+ Question Title * 6. Are you planning to hire permanent employees in 2014? Yes No Question Title * 7. If yes, for which departments are you going to hire: Sales Installation Service Management IT Other (please specify) Question Title * 8. Have you formed a business partnership with another company? Yes No Question Title * 9. If yes, which type of company(ies)? Electrical Contractor Another AV Integrator AV Consultant AV Staffing Firm Architecture Firm Other (please specify) Question Title * 10. Permanently or on a project basis? Permanently Project Basis Question Title * 11. What is the number-one factor impeding your company’s growth? Question Title * 12. Which technology is the most difficult to keep up with? Question Title * 13. What has changed for the worse in the past year? Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 18. What products are your clients requesting most? Loudspeakers Flat Panel Displays Distributed Audio Healthcare Interactive Collaboration Cloud Mobile Device Integration Other (please specify) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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 Houses of Worship Increase Houses of Worship Flat Houses of Worship Decline K-12 K-12 Increase K-12 Flat K-12 Decline Higher Education Higher Education Increase Higher Education Flat Higher Education Decline Museums Museums Increase Museums Flat Museums Decline Corporate / SMB Corporate / SMB Increase Corporate / SMB Flat Corporate / SMB Decline Large Enterprise Large Enterprise Increase Large Enterprise Flat Large Enterprise Decline Stadiums/Arenas Stadiums/Arenas Increase Stadiums/Arenas Flat Stadiums/Arenas Decline Retail Retail Increase Retail Flat Retail Decline Restaurants Restaurants Increase Restaurants Flat Restaurants Decline Clubs Clubs Increase Clubs Flat Clubs Decline Hotels Hotels Increase Hotels Flat Hotels Decline Convention Centers Convention Centers Increase Convention Centers Flat Convention Centers Decline Performing Arts Venues Performing Arts Venues Increase Performing Arts Venues Flat Performing Arts Venues Decline Digital Signage Digital Signage Increase Digital Signage Flat Digital Signage Decline Government Government Increase Government Flat Government Decline Healthcare Healthcare Increase Healthcare Flat Healthcare Decline Question Title * 22. What was the percentage of your company’s revenue growth in 2013? Question Title * 23. What percentage revenue growth are you estimating for 2014? Question Title * 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% Question Title * 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 Question Title * 26. What more could distributors do to help you? Done