IT Connection Market Assessment reports are a helpful tool to assist buyers in determining the key drivers in a given market. These reports include a Ratings Table snapshot comparison of the key suppliers in that market which is particularly helpful in creating an RFP short list. Click here to view sample reports.
Enterprise Routing Branch office consolidation continues to be a main market driver for the installation of modular branch office routers in the market today. (7/7/2008)
Enterprise Switching Ethernet switch vendors are on the road to owning all network traffic including voice, video, storage and traditional network traffic. Higher performance, greater security and integrated solutions are some of the enhancements happening now. (6/4/2009)
Enterprise WLAN Enterprise wireless networks trudge forward to reach the ubiquity of their wired brethren, providing new challenges and opportunity for WLAN vendors. (7/2/2008)
Market Definition
A summary of the types of products/services are covered in the market, including definitions and brief desciptions of the technologies and solutions offered.
Market Review
A review of the significant events shaping the market including product rollouts, new service offerings, significant M&A activity, corporate announcements, court judgemensts and regulatory changes.
Near-Term and Long-Term Market Drivers
These two secttions look at what will likely be responsible for growth or decline in the market. The focus is on competitive, technological, and customer issues. What features will customers (e.g., service providers, enterprises, consumers) require in the future, and how that impacts the market.
Market Ratings
The Market Ratings table lists the players in a market, and how each compares to their competitors in key areas (see metrics below).
Publication date: Market Assessment reports are updated every six months
Overall company assessment relative to competitors across all markets in which they compete.
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Very Positive: Company has strong position now, or on way to certain success if continue to execute as planned. Leader in multiple areas (e.g., product quality, market share, distribution channels, lower cost)
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Positive: Positive opinion on firm, technology, products/services and/or management team. Well-positioned now and could be strong competitor in the near future.
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Neutral: No strong opinions regarding the company. Can occupy niche or segment that is relatively stable.
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Negative: Losing ground in multiple areas, must take corrective actions immediately in order to prevent total failure (e.g., bankruptcy).
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Very Negative: Decreasing sales, slipping market share, delayed product or services cycles. Can’t overcome current problems within the next 12 months.
Market Tier
Relative position of the competitor against other competitors.
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Tier 1: Market leaders, at or near the top of market share, shape the direction of the market.
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Tier 2: Challengers to the top tier; those that have the ability to get to the top tier if they execute properly but lack market share at this time to be considered a dominating vendor.
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Tier 3: Smaller competitors that are either at the bottom of the market share pool and/or are considered niche players only.
Market Status
How long (relative to other competitors and to the life of the market) the competitor has been active.
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Mature: In business long enough to have legacy product/ service base, and stable customer base.
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Established: Stable product and/or service base – and stable customer base – can survive market turmoil.
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Emerging: Delivering actual product but still a relatively small player in the market.
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Startup: Pre-product or service.
Momentum
General direction of the company relative to others in the industry.
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Very Positive: Quickly establishing a market-leading position in both sales and industry-buzz.
Neutral: Holding steady, no real gain or decline in market movement.
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Negative: Beginning to lose market share and market leadership (perceived or actual).
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Very Negative: Steep decline in market share or industry leadership (perceived or actual).
Vision
How well the company understands the direction of the market, including customer requirements, business and social changes and innovation.
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Very Positive: When company talks, market listens carefully. Offers innovations consistently and management team respected for ability to shape markets.
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Positive: Clearly communicates overall vision and plans for the market, occasionally offers ground-breaking direction to the overall market.
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Neutral: Neither market leader nor follower, company’s communication of vision is uninspiring.
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Negative: Poor communication and/or execution of strategic vision. Changes “vision story” frequently, appears indecisive on how to approach market(s).
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Very Negative: Consistently follows the market leaders, fails to communicate strategic vision, very little understanding of customer and market requirements.
Available Market Assessments