That's an insightful question. Thanks.
"Highly probable (debatable) that people will be searching for new jobs in a new industry."
You are quite the optimist :) though you may be accurate...
Fewer manufacturers and, more importantly, fewer innovative products are definitely bad for IPVM, as it is bad for integrators as well.
There are a number of things we are already doing to adapt / expand beyond covering new products. Specifically:
- Software / Tools: The Calculator, Finder, Comparison Tool, BestMatch, all help integrators and users better select and design cameras. They have been well received and we are continuing to invest more on improving them and adding new ones.
- Online training: We have a unique training offering, with lower costs and easier access than traditional on-site classroom training. They are doing well, the IP networking course phenomenally well, and we plan to continue to invest and do more courses.
- Surveys: This has become a much more important part of IPVM, as our broad reach across the industry has enabled us to gather and reflect the concerns of the industry better than anyone has done previously (e.g., Security Sales Forecast 2015, #1 Threat 2015 - China, our favorite and worst reports, etc.)
All that said, our customers are primarily integrators so if these moves hurt them (and I think it will), it hurts us. In a downturn, we will position / emphasize how IPVM provides a lower cost way to get information, make decisions, learn, etc.
What are your thoughts on our approach?
[note: there was a few joke comments prior to me posting about Canon or Avigilon buying us, but I removed them so I could first provide a substantive answer.]