InfoComm Research Shows Challenges Ahead
InfoComm released its new January Economic Snapshot Survey. The survey's focus is normally on InfoComm's Performance Index, a 1-10 rating of respondents' feelings about their companies' health. Looking ahead six months, the average rating was 6.46 (10 is the highest), which is down from 7.1.
Recently InfoComm released its new January Economic Snapshot Survey. More than three times as many AV pros weighed in on their business challenges than did when Info-Comm fielded the survey in September 2008. The survey's focus is normally on InfoComm's Performance Index, a 1-10 rating of respondents' feelings about their companies' health. Looking ahead six months, the average rating was 6.46 (10 is the highest), which is down from 7.1.
But we've dug through the report for other data points that paint a picture of the AV industry's self-described business prospects. For instance, more layoffs may be expected, though maybe not as many as in other industries. About 34 percent of end-users surveyed expect their AV expenditures to dip in the coming year (up from 22 percent). And in general, 22 percent said they're worse off than before. But considering the circumstances, there are silver linings galore in this study.
Strategic Reactions to Market Conditions | ||
| Jan. 2009 | Sept. 2008 | |
| We've not filled vacant positions | 27.3% | 16.2% |
| We're hiring, but have hired fewer people than planned | 24.5% | 24.8% |
| We've delayed or decreased planned pay increases | 18.6% | 12.2% |
| We've outsourced tasks rather than hire staff | 16.2% | 20.7% |
| We've cut staff training budgets | 10.0% | 4.5% |
| We've increased staff training budgets | 9.6% | 18.9% |
| We're hiring, and have hired more people than planned | 9.3% | 15.8% |
| We've laid off or let staff go | 9.0% | 9.5% |
| We've increased staff salaries or benefits | 7.9% | 19.8% |
| We've cut staff salaries or benefits | 7.6% | 2.3% |
| We've boosted pay increases or provided bonuses | 3.1% | 9.9% |
