STRENGTHS

• The company is a leading and highly experienced rental staging company and a provider of professional audiovisual services with an experience of more than 25 years in the industry.
• The company is known for its unparalleled quality and technical expertise and has competencies to cater to a wide array of events such as concerts, festivals and fairs, sporting events, charity events, graduations, proms, weddings, and corporate events for its clients throughout Northern California.
• North State AV has an "extensive inventory of high-end audio, video, and lighting equipment," along with a team of highly experienced and top technicians and engineers of the region that allows it to create events that are "visually stunning, masterfully engineered, and perfectly executed."
• The company has a reliable and wide client base, including most of the area's largest and most demanding organizations, and handles more local events than any other company in the region.
• Another key strength of the company is its ability to custom design large as well as small events for its clients and provide state-of-the-art production packages at affordable pricing.
• It has a wide range of expertise to undertake events as large as Facebook’s company picnic and as small as a backyard wedding. This flexibility of operations acts as a key strength of the company.
• The company is "fully licensed and bonded C-10 Electrical Contractors, certified Riggers and CM Lodestar certified service professionals that allow it to legally and skillfully hang, rig, and connect its systems to in-house grids and power sources." This is a key strength and competitive edge for the company as none of the competitors operating in the region wield such certifications and licenses.
• The company enjoys extremely positive client reviews and ratings and is rated as 5 on Yelp and 4.9/5 on its Facebook Page. It is highly recommended by its clients across the industries and is regarded as a skilled, reliable, and professional company with top-notch equipment and amicable and professional engineers.

WEAKNESSES:

• The company, although it operates as a strong regional player, lacks a national presence and has its operations and presence limited to just Northern California. This limits the revenue potential of the company and also makes it susceptible to national competition.
• The company lacks a stable revenue stream, and as per the information from Zoom Info, the company's top line has been very erratic and unstable over the past quarters and is expected to be more or less static, lacking substantial growth.
• The company is in a cyclical business and lacks any significant operational diversification that hampers its capacity to have a stable stream of cash flows throughout the year.
• The above is corroborated by the fact that its revenues fell from $7.0 million in Q2'18 to $1.6 million in Q3'18 and then rose to $6.2 million in Q4'18.
• In Q1'19 the revenues again fell to $5.4 million and further to $5.2 million in Q2'19. Q3'19 and Q4'19 are expected to generate flat revenues for the company as per estimates from Zoom Info.
• The company lacks an aggressive digital marketing approach and is devoid of any major presence across the various social media platforms. The company's LinkedIn page features no posts and interactions by the company, and its Facebook and Twitter pages have just 700 and 1,400 followers, respectively. This hampers its capability to reach and engage clients at a national level.
• There are no major advertising campaigns or marketing events that could be located for the company either on its social media platforms or in public.

OPPORTUNITIES

• As per the ARA forecasts, the US Equipment and Event Rental industry is expected to witness a consistent growth over the coming years and reach $64 billion in 2022.
• The US party and special event segment, which is most relevant for the company, is expected to witness consistent growth of 6.5% in 2019, 6.2% in 2020, and 1.1% each in 2021 and 2022. Such a growing industry presents an unbridled expansion opportunity for the company.
• The stage lighting market, which is another key operating segment for the company, is expected to reach revenues of approximately $3 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of around 4%from 2017 to 2023 globally with North America leading the growth during the forecast period. This expanding segment again presents an excellent growth opportunity for the company.
• The company has a very strong but limited presence, confined mainly to Northern California and, hence has an opportunity to undertake capital expenditure and expand its operations in the state and eventually nationally either through partnerships or through the M&A route.
• The company also has an opportunity to diversify and enhance its product technology to include modern industry trends such as 'Virtual and Augmented Reality', 'No Control Panels', 'Video of Things (VoT)', 'AV Distributed by IP' etc. Such aggrandization would not only result in enhanced revenues but also enhanced client base, including large organizations such as Fortune 500.

THREATS

• The increasing competition from regional and especially big national players is a major threat to the company. With limited presence and limited expansion capabilities, the company may become a prime target for acquisition by some big national players.
• The company's operations are extremely cyclical in nature as corroborated by its revenue stream, and hence an extended spell of economic or industrial downturn may expose the company to cash flow problems and working capital challenges.
• As per IBIS World, personal disposable income levels are a key driver of the industry revenues, and hence any sharp decline in the same due to expected recession in the US can lead to dwindling revenues for the company leading to bankruptcy threats.

STRENGTHS

• Having been established in 1999, Galaxy Custom Audio Video benefits from being a long-time player in the industry. It has over 20 years of experience in the industry.
• As a member of the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association or CEDIA, the home technology industry's leading trade association, it is certified to provide not only professional guidance and assistance but information on the most current technologies as well. It also has access to the resources and the networking and training opportunities that CEDIA provides. With its CEDIA membership, it can easily convince clients that it is a home technology partner that can be trusted.
• It has the HomeAdvisor Seal of Approval, which informs prospects and clients that it has undergone rigorous screening.
• The owner, Andrew Stricklan, is a California State Licensed Contractor, who undergoes training on a regular basis and holds certifications from businesses such as Yamaha, Universal Remote Control, Wilson, and other manufacturers of home technology products.
• Galaxy Custom Audio Video's specialties span a number of design, sales, installation, and integration services. It has expertise in low voltage wiring, home theaters, whole home audio, home automation, central vacuums, cellphone boosters, custom remote controls, motorized shades, home security, and outdoor living.
• It is an authorized retailer of television service provider DISH Network.
• It is highly recommended by its two reviewers on Yelp. It has a rating of 5 out of 5 on both Yelp and Facebook, although there were only two reviews on Yelp and one review on Facebook. Ten people have recommended Galaxy Custom Audio Video on Facebook.
• Galaxy Custom Audio Video ranks first in Yelp's list of the top ten best audio video installation service providers in Chico, California, where the company is based.
• It also ranks first in Houzz's list of the 15 best home theater and home automation service providers in Chico, California.

WEAKNESSES

• Galaxy Custom Audio Video has a very limited digital presence. Press coverage of the company is non-existent, and it has only two social media accounts, Facebook and Twitter. It has only 157 followers on Facebook and 30 followers on Twitter.
• In Chico, California where it is based, Galaxy Custom Audio Video is second only to Beyond Audio Video Integration, which ranks first in Yelp's list of the top ten best home theater installation service providers in the area. Beyond Audio Video Integration has a rating of 5 out of 5 based on 13 reviews, while Galaxy Custom Audio Video has a rating of 5 out of 5 based only on two reviews.
• Even though it has the HomeAdvisor Seal Approval, it is not among the top 12 home theater service providers in Chico, California that are listed by HomeAdvisor.

OPPORTUNITIES

• Galaxy Custom Audio Video has the opportunity to reach more prospective customers by using more targeted marketing approaches and by expanding its presence on digital media, especially social media.
• Sales of home automation devices in the United States are growing, and the company can take advantage of this continued growth. The highest increase in home automation device ownership has been observed in the 35-54 age group, so the company may develop marketing campaigns targeted at this age group.
• Continued growth in the country's home theater market is expected as well because of the new Wi-Fi- or Bluetooth-enabled home audio and video entertainment devices that manufacturers are introducing. Galaxy Custom Audio Video can learn about these new products, so it can market itself better to prospects and customers.
• The product segment of the home theater market that is expected to grow the fastest is the sound bar segment. Galaxy Custom Audio Video can explore how to take advantage of this trend.

THREATS

•  Security threats and home technology interoperability problems may discourage consumers from availing home automation services.
• The high cost of home theater installation is a hindrance as well, as it may prevent some consumers from having a home theater installed in their homes.
• The company Beyond Audio Video Integration is a threat, as it occupies the top position in Yelp's list of the top ten best home theater installation service providers in Chico, California. Given that Galaxy Custom Audio Video is based in said area, and it is surpassed by a company based in a nearby city, Beyond Audio Video Integration is a competitor that must be taken seriously.

RESEARCH STRATEGY

STRENGTHS

• Leo Gunther Enterprises has been providing sound, video, and lighting systems to northern California for more than 25 years.
• The company operates an online store with the name ‘Pro Audio Blow Outs’ that deals with speakers, power amps, mixers, microphones, repair parts, and racks. Thus, customers can get the benefit of ordering from home without visiting an offline store.
• According to Better Business Bureau, Leo Gunther Enterprises has been given an A+ rating on the basis of reviews of customers who have used the company’s products.
• The company guides and inspires the design, installation, and consulting services. The objective of the company is to help the customers to use their products correctly.
• The company offers consulting services to large and small projects with some of the best acoustics consultants and architects in the business.
• Customers have cited Leo Gunther Enterprises as a reliable choice for quality speakers reckoning with factory kits.
• Other customers stated on Facebook that the company offers quality products and services.
• Leo Gunther Enterprises possesses knowledgeable staffs. The company assigns only factory-trained technicians for every repair work.

WEAKNESS ES

• The major weakness of Leo Gunther Enterprises is its inactivity on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. 
• On Facebook, the company's last post was on February 6, 2014. Post and prior to that, there were no frequent posts.
• Likewise, the company’s last post on Twitter was on 29 Nov 2012. The company didn't post anything after that.
• Leo Gunther Enterprises is a small company (25 employees on ZoomInfo). Therefore, its staffing levels might not be sufficient for very large projects.
• The company charges 7.25% CA sales tax from California buyers which might hesitate California buyers to purchase products from LGE.

OPPORTUNITIES

• With the increasing penetration of the internet worldwide, the digitization of the music industry, including speakers and other electronic products are increasing.
• According to high-end audio market statistics, a high proliferation in the sale of high-end audio equipment is likely to be observed, as end-users such as educational institutes are adopting better audio visual solutions.
• The corporate sector has also emerged as the most significant end-user in t he audio market. With an increase in the competition, the corporate industry and institutions are increasingly adopting AV equipment to ease and manage the workflow at workplaces which gives the opportunity for players like Leo Gunther Enterprises to penetrate more into the market.
• The global pro speakers market is expected to reach $2 billion, growing at a CAGR of approximately 3% from 2018−2024.
• The speakers market has a wide range of end-users such as corporates, large-venue event organizers, educational institutes, government and military, studio and broadcasting, hospitality, and others. The corporate segment occupies nearly one-third of the market due to the growing demand for sound reinforcement and video conferencing solutions among corporates. The segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 3% during the forecast period.
• The US market has the large potential for sound reinforcement solutions due to the growing music industry, increasing commercial construction activities, and increasing retail expansion which gives the opportunity for companies such as Leo Gunther Enterprises to survive.

THREAT S

• The emergence of smart technology is expected to affect the sale of speakers significantly. Thus, the market of audio equipment such as speakers, woofers, and video projectors are affected.
• The audio and video (AV) industry is experiencing a shift from analog to digital medium which is a major threat to companies like Leo Gunther Enterprises.
• The startups are competing with established vendors which is expected to decrease the market shares of major manufacturers in the future.

STRENGTH

• With 44 employees, Mike Gunther Industries generates revenue of about $8.8 million. While its revenue can not compare with those of top players in the industry, steady revenue growth from about $1.6 million in the third quarter of 2018 to almost $9 million in the third quarter of 2019 shows the rapid growth of the company.
• With over 20 years of experience serving customers in Northern California, Mike Gunther Industries offer sales and solutions for a "complete surround sound home theater experience, plasmas, LCDs, DLPs and projector systems that are easy to use and operate." The company also offers "smart home" wiring, central lighting systems, cell phone antenna booster systems, and central vacuum systems.
• Although the company has sold and installed custom home and commercial audio and visual equipment worth millions of dollars, it takes pride in its ability to serve its clients both large and small.
• The company is licensed under the California license board. 

WEAKNESS

• A major weakness of Mike Gunther Industries is its lack of social media presence and press coverage. Extensive research did not identify any advertising campaign or marketing events that have been organized by the company.
• The company only has one location which speaks volumes of its size. This is another weakness of the company which limits its potential of adding to its client base.

OPPORTUNITY

• The North American commercial audiovisual (pro-AV) industry is projected to hit $71.4 billion by 2023 from $59.2 billion in 2018.
• Experts predict that a "high proliferation in the sale of high-end audio equipment is likely to be observed as end-users such as educational institutes are adopting pro AV Solutions."
• Furthermore, there is an increasing demand for high-quality audio and sound system in the U.S. with over 40% of the U.S. households having a home cinema system. This, also, increases the demand for home theater in the U.S.
• Over the last five years, there has been a steady rise in the U.S. per capita disposable income. Therefore, the U.S. population is more likely to spend on consumer products offered by Mike Gunther Industries.
• These trends represent an opportunity for Mike Gunther Industries to expand its business reach and client base.
• Digital marketing presents an opportunity for organizations to improve their audience reach and market their products to potential clients. Social media is a great place to start this campaign. Mike Gunther Industries can exploit this feature for a greater audience reach.

THREAT

• Analysis of reliable third-party review websites reveals that Mike Gunther is overshadowed by other players in the industry. The company is not listed among the top installers of home theater nor lighting equipment in Northern California on Yelp. Also, it does not have any review on Yelp.
• The company is not recognized among the top suppliers of audio and visual equipment in California. Therefore, the potential for expansion from the Northern California market may be hindered by the more recognized players in the state.

STRENGTHS

• Tec-Com specializes in commercial and industrial cabling. They are C-7 licensed.
• Their installation staff is certified and receive ongoing training to stay current.
• They are able to offer high levels of service yet at competitive rates.
• The company offers end-to-end solutions from design, testing, documentation and installation.
• Their installations can be warrantied for 25 years or more against parts, labor and defects.
• Their capabilities and product range are quite diverse, meaning they are able to offer value to a wide variety of customers.
• They are certified contractors for Sierra County, Natomas Unified School District, Nevada Joint Union High School District, Shasta Union High School District, Los Rios Community College District, Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, Bakersfield City School District and the City of Healdsburg, among others.

WEAKNESSES

• Obviously, their lack of current website is a major inhibitor to business.
• A website/web presence is considered essential for small businesses. Utilizing this increases trust, enables relationship building, enhances accessibility and is able to access a wider range of customers.

OPPORTUNITIES

• Many of their past projects have been for schools, so Tec-Com can continue to expand and even specialize in municipal projects, which is a market that will always have robust demand.
• They have been a registered federal government contractor since 2014, though no specific projects have been listed as won/complete. There is huge opportunity to develop that side of the business for Tec-Com.

THREATS

• Ongoing changes in the regulatory/commercial environment can make it difficult for companies to stay up-to-date and deliver constant employee training.
• If Tec-Com try to focus more on commercial installations, a reduced economy or slowdown in commercial residential growth could threaten the company's profits.
• Similarly, if Tec-Com fail to comply or do the right things to win public sector RFPs, they could lose or decrease their municipal projects portfolio, affecting profits.

RESEARCH STRATEGY

STRENGTHS

• WT&S offers a wide range of services, including telecommunications, surveillance systems, access control systems, fiber optics, voice and date cabling, as well as dial tone and internet services. The services are intended to save customer's time and stress in dealing with multiple contractors.
• They offer free unlimited user training.
•  WT&S technicians are professionally qualified and possess various certifications and qualifications. These include AMAG Security Management System Fundamentals Training Course, AMAG Certificate of Continued Qualification, Belden IBDN + CDT, and BICSI Member—Copper Products Installation, Berk-Tek Network Cabling Systems Installer, etc.
• WT&S has a BBB A+ rating and has been accredited since April 16, 2008 
• WT&S has been in business for over 18 years.

• The company claims to have partnerships with virtually every carrier in the US.

WEAKNESS

• WT&S is a sole proprietorship firm. Hence, it can be an uphill process to raise investment capital and obtain credit loans for expansion.
• WT&S is located in Redding California and serves only to businesses in California. It lacks a national presence, and this limits the revenue potential of the company and also makes it susceptible to a national competition.
• WT&S has minimal social media activity. On Twitter, it has 12 followers and 51 tweets from 2011 when the page was created, its Facebook page does not exist, and the Linkedin page has only one post with no interactions. This means the company is not actively marketing digitally and will not be able to reach as many people as its competitors who are active on social media.

OPPORTUNITIES

• There is an increased reliance on network connectivity for business internet services. Today's internet customer requires businesses to embrace the digital age. Hence, many small businesses will publish business websites, engage on social media, and accept online payments.
• The video surveillance market is projected to reach $87.36 billion by 2025, registering a growth of 14.2% (CAGR) from 2018 to 2025.
• The need for safety in governments, enterprises, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, small, medium, and large scale businesses has led to a dramatic increase in the demand for security applications such as video surveillance.
• Some factors driving the demand for video surveillance include conversion to IP cameras, integration of IoT, development of smart cities.
• Additionally, the access control market is expected to grow from $7.5 billion to $12.1 billion (2018-2024), registering an annual growth of 8.24%.
• Some promising growth opportunities in the market include ACaaS implementation, mobile integration, smart cards, proximity monitoring, manned security conversion, operations optimization, and maintenance contracting.

THREATS

• The investment cost in data storage technologies is high, and a lack of professional expertise in handling IP cameras is expected to impact the demand for video surveillance negatively, thereby threatening the growth of surveillance companies.

• The growth of the world telecom and surveillance access control market can be challenged in the future due to less awareness about advanced security solutions among users.

RESEARCH STRATEGY

STRENGTHS

• Ray Morgan Company (RMC) is able to meet the demands of their clients because they have the necessary resources, such as financial stability, with over $150 million in annual revenue and strategic geographical location in California and Nevada.
• Since its establishment in 1956, the company has grown to be the largest independent Canon dealer and the fastest growing Ricoh dealer in the US.
• RMC can reduce client cost and increase productivity by "monitoring output cost technology and personnel charged with the responsibility to look for and communicate, possible cost and process improvements in an ongoing basis" with their customers.
• RMC has worked with over 55,000 organizations worldwide.
• RMC's partners in the Multifunctional Device (MFP) space have excellent records in manufacturing and engineering and are global technology innovators. These partners are Ricoh, Canon, and HP.

WEAKNESSES

• RMC is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• The company presents management shortcomings in terms of nepotism, high turnover in some departments, unavailability, among others.
• Their staff complains about hostile and toxic work environment, little opportunity for advancement, and sales pressure.

OPPORTUNITIES

• RMC will be able to "focus aggressively on acquisitions in both the copier and IT channels." This is because of its merger with UBEO, which is a portfolio company of Texas-based private equity firm Sentinel Capital Partners.
• "Managed IT services represent a big part of the future of growth," for Ray Morgan.
• Ray Morgan's competitive partnership with UBEO is described as "an ideal strategy for expanding both geographically and vertically," and will "provide additional capital for RMC to become an aggressive player in the acquisition game."

THREATS

• A possible threat for Ray Morgan is the need for resources and investment in its managed IT area. The path to success in this area is long, painful, and expensive.

STRENGTHS

• They have a good social media presence with Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Yelp, and YouTube pages.
• They were formed in 1991, the same year the internet as we know it was born. This shows that they will most likely have extensive knowledge in IT.
• Their revenue is good, at $5.6 million. This is similar to their competitors of similar size.
• They've won awards such as being ranked on the MSP 501, which recognizes top Managed Service Providers based on their growth, revenue, and other factors.
• They have one of the largest IT teams in the region because they offer generous benefits and compensation to their workers.
• Their employees enjoy working at the company, and they have perfect customer ratings on Facebook and Google.
• They seem to have a sound social media strategy on Facebook.

WEAKNESSES

• For a company that has been in business for nearly 30 years, their revenue is not much different or better than some competitors that are younger.
• Their headquarters is in Redding, CA, which is in a very remote location north of Sacramento. This may make it hard for prospective clients to reach them, especially large ones.
• Even though they have IT heavyweights like Microsoft, Dell, and Cisco as partners, they don't seem to have other important partners such as HP, Intel, Comcast, Lenovo, NetGear, etc.
• Their main offices are in two beautiful but relatively small and remote towns. They may have monopolies in these cities, but they may have trouble expanding since they won't be used to larger cities.

OPPORTUNITIES

• They should think of moving their headquarters to Sacramento or in a major city south of Redding. Even though it is a very beautiful city, this city of less than 100,000 people won't have the opportunities that a metropolis like San Francisco or Los Angeles would have.
• They should partner with other large IT Services companies like HP and Intel. Having multiple partners will make help them sell themselves better to potential clients.
• Even though their social media strategy is sound, they don't seem to have an Instagram. Instagram is a way they could show potential clients that they are not a faceless company. Showing the human side through photos could attract many new clients, especially millennials.

THREATS

• There are upstarts in Redding that are growing at a rapid pace and could steal clients away from Apex. One of these is Axiom Technology Services, which already has over $7 million in revenue. They already have 36 employees and they serve many cities and counties.
• Like Apex, Axiom divides their offerings by industry, showing a suite of services rather than showing them individually.

STRENGTH

• Stratti offers a "comprehensive array of IT Services — including managed services, end-user remote support, technology consulting, online backup and disaster recovery planning — that are tailored to specific industry requirements."
• The company has an impressing client retention rate of over 90% and is recognized as a leading IT provider in Northern California.
• In partnership with top technology companies such as "Microsoft, Cisco, HP, and Dell", Stratti serves over 400 clients.
• With about 24 years of experience, Stratti's IT solutions cover a wide range of industries including "financial services, manufacturing, medical, software and technology, non-profit and consulting services."
• Brent Largent — founder and CEO of Stratti — is an expert in electrical architecture which he adopts to design and develop computer systems.
• Christopher Sumner — chief technological officer, business development, and marketing at Stratti — has over 20 years of experience in management and "17 years of technology experience concentrating in business operations, IT solutions, VoIP, strategic direction, profitability, and project management."

WEAKNESS

• Stratti does not have a good social media presence. The company only has Facebook and LinkedIn accounts with very poor followerships.
• With about 32 employees, the company has an estimated annual revenue of about $6.4 million which reflects the size of the company.
• Stratti has only one location.

OPPORTUNITY

• The U.S. IT service industry is predicted to worth about $350 billion by 2020, a significant rise from $300 billion in 2016. This represents an opportunity for Stratti to tap into the growing trend of this market and expand its business reach and client base.
• Experts have hinted that as "innovations in product offerings stimulate private investment in computer systems, demand for industry services rises. Private investment in computers and software is expected to increase." This represents a potential opportunity for companies in the U.S. IT consulting market including Stratti.
• Digital marketing presents an opportunity for Stratti to improve its audience reach and market its products to potential clients. Social media is a great place to start this campaign. Stratti can improve its activities on its existing social presence and also exploit other social platforms for a greater audience reach.
• There is also an opportunity for the company to leverage digital marketing by including more content to its website such as customer success stories which gives visitors to its website an idea of how using the company's services would benefit them.

THREAT

• An industry report by IBISWorld reveals that the rise in the consumer price index (CPI) in 2019 poses a threat to companies in the U.S. IT consulting industry. The report hints that "when the CPI rises, consumers must use more of their disposable income on everyday goods. As a result, they have less disposable income to spend on IT systems and the services behind these products."
• The U.S. IT service market is dominated by large players each having thousands of clients. Some key players in this industry include IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, SAP, Accenture, and others. The domination of the market by these key players could be a hindrance to the growth of Stratti.
• There was no mention of Stratti among the top IT services and consulting companies in California.

VistaNet, Inc. SWOT Analysis

Strengths

• VistaNet is "Northern California’s most established and trusted technology company."
• VistaNet has serviced hundreds of clients, including nonprofit, corporate, government, and education entities.
• The company is an established IT firm that has been in business since 1996.
• According to the company, it "offer[s] a complete line of products and services to meet the technology needs of every organization."
• Customers have cited VistaNet's good customer support and services.
• One customer stated the following in a Google review: "Great IT support service. Patient and willing to help."
• A customer stated the following in a Yelp! review:" Vista Net is awesome! They have been providing quality IT services and support for our business, installing and supporting routers, switches, security systems, network-attached storage devices, etc. for many years. They are prompt, reasonably priced and really know their stuff. Jeff W. is our go-to guy. The team at Vista Net come highly recommended!"
• Another customer on Yelp! stated the following: "These guys are awesome! I worked primarily with Steve and he was extremely helpful and patient with me."
• VistaNet has an expansive vendor network comprised of "exclusive partnerships with hundreds of vendors" that are able to get customers the parts they need for a good price.

Weaknesses

• An apparent weakness of VistaNet is that it maintains an infrequent presence on social media (Facebook and Twitter).
• On Facebook, the company's last post was on July 30, 2019. Prior to that, posts were also infrequent.
• On Twitter, the company happened to post today, but prior to that, the last post was on July 31, 2019. Furthermore, the company didn't post on Twitter in April, May, or June.
• VistaNet is a small company (10 employees on Linkedin), so its staffing levels might not be sufficient for very large projects.

Opportunities

• The growth of cloud computing represents a strong opportunity for the company.
• Companies are planning to invest significant money in their cloud capabilities. According to a CNBC article, "enterprises predict they'll invest on average $3.5 million on cloud apps, platforms, and services" in 2018.
• In further regard to opportunities presented by the cloud, the State of California's Chief Technology Officer said in 2019 that California needs to modernize its legacy systems so that cloud adoption can happen. This represents an opportunity for VistaNet because the company is based in California and its clients include governmental entities.
• The State of California's proposed budget for 2019-2020 included a $14.6 million annual budget for a newly-created Office of Digital Innovation. Information technology was one of the listed priorities for that office. This represents an opportunity for VistaNet because the company is based in California and its clients include governmental entities.
•  Big data storage and collection, plus information security also present opportunities for the company, as those segments are growing in the U.S. per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• California has a new data privacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act, that will become effective at the start of 2020. This law is expected to result in companies spending $55 billion to become compliant with such. This presents an opportunity for California-based VistaNet because companies that do business in California will continue to need to address their technological requirements in light of this legislation.

Threats

•  Many companies have decided to retain their applications and data in-house and thus manage those elements on their own. That could inhibit companies' likelihood of using Vistanet's (and other IT firms') services.
• Though the growth of information technology in the U.S. presents strong opportunities for VistaNet as an IT company, the employment growth within IT could be viewed as a threat. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, information technology jobs are expected to increase by 12% between 2018 and 2029, which is "must faster than the average for all occupations." During that forecast period, the number of new IT jobs added is anticipated to total approximately 546,200.
• The aforementioned growth in IT employment in the U.S. could present a business threat to VistaNet because as more employees enter the IT field, companies could hire more IT staff in-house, thereby lowering demand for services from outside providers. Also, more IT employees could join IT companies who compete with VistaNet, thereby strengthening those competitors' service capabilities as a result of increased staffing, and additional competitor companies could be created that might directly compete with VistaNet.

Research Strategy

STRENGTHS

• PCI Business Services, LLC offers a wide range of web development services, ranging from basic website services to custom web- and e-commerce services.
• PCI specializes in CMS-type websites, which allows owners to effortlessly manage website information such as the calendar, event lists or news headlines.
• PCI also provides service discounts for non-profit sites and has customized pricing options, depending on the size and scale of web projects.
• The company offers equipment estimates, including the total cost of installation estimate which includes equipment, software, installation and data transfer.
• PCI's business technology support packages are priced either by monthly support contracts or per hour. These include process rationalization, cloud&storage strategies and data optimization, among other offers.
• The company also offers expert support for software in the veterinarian, agriculture, law, catering, education, retail and healthcare industries.

WEAKNESSES

• PCI only has one brick-and-mortar location, at the Garden Walk Mall in Chico, California which indicates the company's presence is small. Additionally, the company is public but only employs between 1 and 10 people, which is below average. The company is absent on social media, with an inoperative Facebook page.

OPPORTUNITIES

• The global managed services market is expected to witness a rise in demand for information services and managed mobility and is expected to reach USD 296.38 billion by 2023, witnessing a CAGR of 11.32% during the forecast period from 2019 to 2023.
• The global managed services market is expected to see an increase in demand for services by small and medium enterprises.
• Over 90% of small- to mid-sized businesses are likely to consider employing a managed services provider if their cybersecurity offer was persuasive, while 50% would pay 20% more for a well-presented solution. 77% of SMBs anticipate that 50% of their cybersecurity needs will be redistributed towards outside providers in the next five years, while 78% are planning to increase their cybersecurity investments in the following year.

THREATS

• Numerous small businesses are already using outsourced cybersecurity services, which decreases the current demand.
• The increase in consumer demand has already enhanced the player portfolio in the managed services market, which means the competition in the field has increased.
• The managed services market could face challenges in the near future, in that there is a high need for skilled manpower and initial investment, combined with rising privacy concerns worldwide. Organizations and businesses often distrust managed service providers due to privacy reasons.

RESEARCH STRATEGY

Matson & Isom Technology Group

• Matson & Isom Technology Consulting is one of Northern California's leading IT consulting service providers located in Chico, California.
• They offer a portfolio of services that include IT managed services, project management, website design, custom app development, and other IT professional services.

STRENGTHS

• They have a strong, dynamic team of consultants who focus on partner-driven service that has allowed them to build trust and long-lasting relationships with their clients and continually raise the bar of excellence.

• MITC focuses on providing clients with all aspects of internet solutions, network solutions, and business solutions such as website design, network security, digital marketing, custom application development, and much more.
• The success of the company relies on experience and expertise, distinctive in the computer industry, which includes several high-level industry certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and Citrix.
• MITC has been featured in the Elite150 of managed service providers 500 of 2018, an annual list released by CRN that recognizes North American solution providers with cutting-edge approaches to delivering managed services.
• The MSP Elite 150, identifies large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on-premise and off-premise services and MITC's wide portfolio of IT services makes it an ideal choice for this listing.
• The company hosts a series of workshops to share its up-to-date knowledge of the latest trends and techniques in the tech industry with the ClearIT Partner Program.
• The popular productivity series (where they show you how to be more productive through various tools and techniques).
• The new digital marketing workshops (where they demonstrate how to grow your business by utilizing the latest strategies and platforms) and other community outreach or volunteer work.

WEAKNESSES

• Matson & Isom Technology Group is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) though it has been in service for 19 years.
• The new hires expressed concerns on the lack of new hire orientation process, training, and lack of a competitive compensation package since it's a small company/

OPPORTUNITIES

• The demand for mobile-optimized websites will continue to fuel the web design industry growth. Since the clients of Matson & Isom Technology Group are scattered all over the US and web design is one of its internet solutions, there is a huge growth opportunity in this segment.
• New businesses commonly use industry services to set up a website. In an increasingly digital world, websites are very much required for businesses to connect with customers and draw in sales. 
• These services include developing online stores, complete with security features and shopping carts. The number of businesses is expected to rise in 2019, representing an opportunity for this industry and the company.
• Matson & Isom Technology Group's internet services portfolio that includes web application development, website design, and e-commerce solutions can explore opportunities with new business, offering them a complete internet solutions package.

THREATS

• There is high competition within the industry, especially since leading market players are constantly engaged in upgrading and customizing their services.
•  The increase in consumer demand has already enhanced the player portfolio in the managed services market, which means the competition in the field has increased.
•  Organizations are concerned about entrusting business processes and operations on MSPs.

STRENGTHS

• NCTCS has the relevant technology and capability to offer a broad category of services such as managed IT services, data-backup solutions, and security solutions.
• NCTCS has friendly and knowledgeable staff. They offer responsive, professional as well as friendly local computer/network support.
• NCTCS has strategic partnerships for the ability to "competently evaluate all" of an organization's information technology needs and also design effective IT solutions.
• NCTCS was founded in 2006. It has thirteen years of experience and can offer specialized solutions in health care technology, HIPAA compliance, and small business tech consulting. Other specialties of NCTCS include Microsoft server administration, cloud services implementation, Microsoft Office, Office365, remote connectivity, Network/WiFi hardware, network security & firewalls, PC/server hardware, and data protection, backup, and disaster recovery.
• The solutions of NCTCS are reliable, scalable, as well as cost-effective.
• NCTCS offers free (no-obligation) network analysis as well as security assessment.

WEAKNESSES

• NCTCS is a sole proprietorship. Consequently, NCTS inherits the weaknesses and disadvantages of a sole proprietorship. These hidden costs include unlimited personal liability, difficulty when raising investment capital, challenges when seeking a business loan, or credit, among other challenges.
• NCTCS charges flat-fees for its managed services maintenance agreements. Unfortunately, some experts believe this type of billing system "can lead to poor work quality." NCTCS service plans base on a flat monthly fee model and aims to give business organizations budget-friendly IT billings.
• NCTCS claims to offer cloud-based solutions but does not have more than ten employees. Other competitors also offering cloud-based solutions include AWS, Google, IBM, VMware, RackSpace, Salesforce, and several others.
• Salesforce has about 600 employees within the Atlanta area and over 32,000 employees across the globe. Thus, NCTCS is weak in terms of its workforce when compared to other cloud-based service providers such as Salesforce.

OPPORTUNITIES

• NCTCS specializes in the provision of cloud-based solutions and other services in the IT sector. The global cloud-based solutions market size is projected to grow from US$272.0 billion as of 2018 to US$623.3 billion by the year 2023, at a CAGR of 18.0%. Most of the companies driving this growth are from the United States; this means there will be more opportunities to earn from this sector for several companies, including NCTCS.
• The services offered by NCTCS are scalable. Thus, they can be easily expanded to accommodate future growth opportunities.
• The cloud computing segment of managed IT services presents several opportunities to SMEs and large enterprises. North America has the largest market size along with Asia Pacific (APAC) and will grow at the highest rate (when compared to other regions of the world) between 2018 and 2023.
•  Expertise is expected to offer more growth opportunities for cloud computing service providers during the forecast period. NCTCS has the expertise to deliver several managed IT services, including technology consulting, service planning, and mobile computing. Other competencies of NCTCS include email services, backup & remote data, disaster recovery, among other services.

THREATS

• NCTCS operates in an IT environment that is full of cyber-threats. Cyber terrorists often use ransomware to infects Master Boot Records, preventing company computers from booting up. They usually request for ransom to restore access.
• NCTCS operates in a field that is threatened by critical business processes, several vulnerabilities, and pain points which require frequent threat analysis to determine business risks.
• The risks that businesses in the IT sector (including NCTCS) will be attacked is increasing. As of 2018, about 70% of business organizations had encountered some form of a cybersecurity attack. More than half of them had also been affected by a data breach.
• Over 60% of small businesses close within six months of experiencing a significant cyberattack. Consequently, a cyberattack is a threat to NCTCS.
• Data breaches, as well as network security threats, are expected to increase in 2019. Although the threat types aren't changing, threats distribution is changing. NCTCS appreciates these "pain points and vulnerabilities." Third-party risk analysis reveals that cyberattacks can affect both clients and service provider companies at the same time.
• The managed IT services market is highly competitive. To maintain their market positions and drive market growth, various organizations and new entrants often form a competitive landscape.

RESEARCH STRATEGY

STRENGTHS

• Network Innovation is superior to managed IT services.
• The company designs, installs and maintains computer systems for businesses, schools, non-profit groups and government agencies.
• They guarantee availability to respond when support or training is needed in order to reduce computer network downtime.
• They provide solutions including managed services, network security, data backup and disaster recovery, cloud computing and IT consulting.
• The company has a culture and environment that put customers first.
• The company was formed in 1998 which shows they have extensive experience in IT especially since both their founders, Robert Reynolds and Daniel Watson, were previously working for a large provider.
• They acquired certification for Cloud and Managed Services from MSP/Cloud Verify™ program.

WEAKNESSES

• Network Innovation has no reviews in their Yelp listing that will hinder the customers' impression on how the company works and provide solutions.
• The company does not have a large social media presence. As shown in their social media accounts like Facebook, the company has only 4 likes and followed by 10 people. In addition, updates and articles published by Network Innovation that are posted in their Facebook account have no interactions with their followers and customers and receives zero likes and shares.

OPPORTUNITIES

• A projected increase of small to midsize businesses (SMBs) that would consider hiring managed services provider (MSP) for security. It is anticipated that 78% of SMBs are planning to invest more in cybersecurity in the next 12 months.
• Banks and other financial institutions are turning to managed services to address different concerns like market and regulatory change, technological change, and talent scarcity.
• It is anticipated that there will be increased demand for outsourcing management functions from the cloud and Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

THREATS

• There is high competition within the industry especially since leading market players are constantly engaged in upgrading and customizing their services.
•  Lack of expertise in advanced technologies such as cloud based technology is a concern.
• There are some concerns of organizations to entrust business processes and operations on MSPs.

RESEARCH STRATEGY:

Strength

•  EngageIt provides IT service to businesses in North California and their messaging is clear and precise, targeting small companies that are concerned about their IT expenses and that have a small budget.
•  The company's small size allows them to offer personalized services to clients, and they seem capable of finding a solution for even companies with limited IT budget through their managed services and IT support solution.
• The fact that they offer full service IT solution that includes managed services, cloud computing, data backup and recovery, network security, and VoIP services is also a strength.
• EngageIt offers a free consultation that enables them to attract clients. The consultation form also enables them to collect email leads of potential clients they can follow up on.
• The company has some blog posts aimed at informing its target customers and attracting them to their website. This seems to be part of a content marketing strategy aimed at improving their search engine ranking, which is poor at the moment.
• The company has a 5/5 rating on Facebook from two reviews, with one of the reviewers leaving a very positive review stating, "if you are looking for a business with strong customer service principles and the ability to provide leading edge solutions from small to large networks and everything in-between, look no farther. Engage I.T. has the resources and capabilities to help your business succeed with any and all I.T. needs."

Weakness

• EngageIT has a limited presence online with just its website and Facebook account. They have no other social media account and there doesn't seem to be any third-party website or database discussing the company or listing its offerings.
• The company's name, EngageIT, is not unique, and there are several IT firms with the same name (such as this, this, this, this and this) that drown out the company's online presence. When searching for the company's name ("EngageIT"), other IT firms with the same name are the ones that show up, and the company only shows up on the third page of Google.
•  The company only appears on the first page of google when its domain name ("goengageit") is used as the search term. However, there is no third-party website or any other reputable database such as Zoominfo, Crunchbase, or Owler that has any data about the company.
•  EngageIT offers IT services in northern California, however, the company doesn't appear in the first 10 pages of Google for the keyword "business IT service northern California". The poor SEO is a key weakness because about 62% of businesses say a web search is one of the first three resources they consult to learn about a solution and about 92% say they search online at some point when looking for solutions.
• A search for EngageIT in the news didn't yield any results. Neither the staff of the company nor the company is visible in the news. While this suggests the company has not been involved in any scandal, it also means that the company has very little visibility.
• The company has only 26 likes on its Facebook page and has no engagement on its post. Although the company has positive reviews on Facebook, there are just two reviews and potential customers researching the company may doubt the credibility of the reviews.
• They have no presence on other social media channels such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
• The company also has very limited online traffic as it doesn't even appear on Similarweb, a traffic estimating database. Alexa, another traffic estimating database, notes that two websites are linking to the site but there are no other details about the site because there isn't enough traffic on the website.

Opportunity

• The company's limited presence online suggests that it has a huge potential for growth if proper marketing and branding are undertaken. Online marketing, search engine optimization, press releases, interviews of key executives, and case studies of successful IT interventions for its customers are examples of efforts that can be made to improve its profile.
• The company operates in the IT service industry, and the industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% until 2025. This suggests that EngageIT has tremendous growth potential in the coming years.
• They also have the opportunity to expand outside northern California, especially because they offer cloud computing services that can be offered remotely.

Threat

• The increasing competition from regional and big national players is a major threat to the company. With limited presence and limited expansion capabilities, the company may become a prime target for acquisition by some big national players.
• The U.S. IT service market is dominated by large players, each having thousands of clients. Some key players in this industry include IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, SAP, Accenture, and others. The domination of the market by these key players could be a hindrance to the growth of EngageIT.
• An industry report by IBISWorld reveals that the rise in the consumer price index (CPI) in 2019 poses a threat to companies in the U.S. IT consulting industry. The report hints that "when the CPI rises, consumers must use more of their disposable income on everyday goods. As a result, they have less disposable income to spend on IT systems and the services behind these products."

STRENGTHS

• Their employees have 120 years of combined IT experience serving the Bay Area and Northern California. This means they are in the heart of Silicon Valley, the tech capital of the world.
• They serve a 75-mile radius which includes major cities like the San Francisco Bay area, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, etc.
•  They offer many services including IT solutions, data storage and virtualization, cloud migration and hybrid cloud implementation, financial software support (Peachtree, Quickbooks), hardware consulting, IT audits, etc. They seem to be a one-stop-shop for every information technology need of an organization.
• Their service has perfect ratings on Google and Yelp.
• They have over 100 small and mid-sized clients.
• They have two offices: one in Campbell and one in San Jose.
• ITque partners with Information Technology heavyweights such as Cisco, Acer, Citrix, Dell, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, HP, etc.

WEAKNESSES

• They are a rather young company with under 10 employees, which shows that their growth doesn't experience a Silicon Valley effect.
• Even though they have over 100 clients, they don't seem to have any large clients, which may explain their small size.
• Their revenue is just $1.3 million, which along with the number of employees they have, shows that the work they do for these companies may be menial.
• Their service is only confined to Northern California. They don't seem to do any out-of-state businesses or anywhere else in California.
• They don't seem to have won any awards.

OPPORTUNITIES

• The company is yet to have any presence below Northern California. A major metropolis like Los Angeles shouldn't be ignored.
• Their social media strategy is lacking any coherent plan or direction. They seem to post once every two months or so, and they make the same posts on all their social media accounts. Getting a better social media strategy will help the public know about the public some more, which will result in more growth.
• ITque should get more of their clients to leave a rating on Yelp and Google. Even though the ratings are perfect, ratings were left by only 3 people in total.
• Their Campbell office and San Jose office are very close to each other; less than a 15-minute drive. They should think about just consolidating their efforts from their San Jose office until they can expand into another large metropolis such as Los Angeles.

THREATS

• There is a fierce competition for tech talent in Silicon Valley, so companies are handing out many incentives that companies like ITque cannot afford to give out. This means that they will have problems attracting and keeping talent when they plan to expand.
• They are also a very small company that is competing with very large IT Services companies like Cisco, Citrix, HP, etc. that already have offices in Silicon Valley. They partner with many of these companies, but they still could be thrown out of business.
• The company doesn't come up at all when searching for IT services near San Jose. Bad SEO means that you don't even register to potential clients, and they are not searching for you.

RESEARCH STRATEGY