5 Top Challenges For Growing Integrators (Statistics)
140+ integrators told IPVM the top challenges to growing their businesses.
In this report, IPVM examines the results and explains the 5 main themes, including detailed quotes from integrators about the challenges they face.
Related, in this series, How To Stop Integrator Technicians From Quitting, Integrator's 5 Most Significant Long Term Risks, Integrator's Top 6 Sources For Losing Money
*******
*** * **** ****** ********** ******* cited ** *********** ****:
- ***** ******:****** */* ** *********** **** **** finding *** ******* ********* ** ******** existing ********* ***** ********* ** *** customers *** ********** *** *** **** significant *********. **** *** **** * common, ********* ***** *** *-* *****.
- ******* ********** / ********:*********** **** **** ******** *** ******* growth, ** * *********** ******, **** consistent ******* *** ****** ***** *** the ******* *********.
- ********* / ******* **********:*********** ********* **** *********' *******, ******** expectations, *** ******* ******* **** *** biggest *********.
- ***********:*********** ******** ***** *********** ** ********** to ****** ** * ************* ***** rate **** *****, **********, *** *********. Those **** ***, **** ******** ********* a **** ******* ** ***** *********** and/or "'***-****" ****.
- ****** *****:***** **** ** *********** ******** ****** chain ****** ** *** ******* ********* to ******* ***** ********.
Labor ****** - ******* *** ******* *********
******* */* ** *********** ********* **** finding *** ******* ********* ** *** biggest ********* ** ******* ***** *******:
- "****** ******* ****** ***** ** ** the ******* ***** ** **. ** have **** ************* **** ** *** manage, *** ******** ** ******* ******* people."
- "** ******* ********* ** ******* ********* help. ** * ***** **** **** that *** *** **** ********** ******-** and ****-*******, * ***** ***** **** time ** ******** ***** *** *****. I **** ****** * *** ** tech ******* ** * *** *** find *****"
- "******* ********* **** ********** *** ******* we ******* *** *** * ******* company ****. ************ ** *** **** is *.*% ** **** ** *** left ** ****. ** ***'* ******* on ***** **** ****** ***********."
- "**** ** ********* *******. ** ***'* hire ***** ***, ****, *** ***** off *** ******. ** **** ******, intelligent, ******* ******* *** *** **** hard. ***** **** ** ** ******* and ***** ******* ***** ****."
- "******* **** *********** ****** - * lot ** *** ******* ***** **** not **** ************** **** **** ***"
- "***** *** *** ******* - ***** reasonably ********** *** ******* *** ***** personnel"
- "****** ****** ******** *** ****** * fair **** *** ******* *** ** competent ** ** ********** *** ****** who *** ****'** ***** **** **** they ******** ***."
- "*** ***** ****** *** ** *** right *****. *** **** ****** **** understand *** ********* *** **** ** overcome ** **** ***. "
- "****** ******. ** **** * ****** back-log **** ** **** ****** ** deploy. ******* ** ** * *******, skilled **********, ******* *******, ** *******/********** director"
- "***** ****. ******** ***** ** ** busy *** *** **** *** ** get ** ******** ** ** ***** them **** * ********** *** ******* him."
- "******* ******** ****-**** ******. **'* ** extremely *********** ****** *** **** *** best *********."
- "**’* **** ******* **** ***** **** are ************* ***** *** ******** ** sell *** *******"
- "******* *********. **** *********** **** ***** integrators *** ******* *********, **'* ********* to ******** ***** ******* **********"
- "******* *** ******* **** ****** **** term."
- "*********. ******* ********* *** *** ******** do ***** ****"
- "******. *** ***** ****** ***** ** have ******* ***** *****"
- "***** *** *** ********** ***** ** cover ******"
- "******* *** ******* *** ***** ******"
- "****** *** ********* **** *********"
- "******* ****** **** **********"
- "******* ********* *****"
- "******* *** ******* **** ****-**** *********"
- "********* ******* *********"
- "******* ********* ***********"
- "******* ****/******** ****."
*********** **** ***** **** ******** ** hiring ******* ***** **********:
- "******* ********* ***** ** ******** *. That ******** ************ ** ********-******* **** culture ***** ******** ******** *** *********** for ***********. ******** *********** ****** **** be *********** ** ****."
- "********. ** **** *** ***** ** the **** ** ** ******** *** come **** **** *******. ***** **** to ** ** **** *** ******* that **** *** ***** ** **** to ***** **** **** ***** ** another. ** **** **** **** ******** is ********** **** ***, **** **** know **** **** **** ** ******** for. "
- "******** ***** *** ********** * ********** delivery ****** **** *****. **** **** to **** **** ******* **** ****** and **** ** ***** ** ******* standards ** ******* ****, ******* ********** on *** ******** *** *********** **** the ********."
- "**** **** *** ** **** ** learn *** ** ** **** ** get **** ** **** ** ***** if **** ***'* **** ** *** to ***** ******"
- "******** *** ********** *** ** *** actual ************. ***** *** **** * months ****** **** *** ****** ********* that **** ***** ** *** ******* for."
- "**-******** *** ********* **** *********** *** sales. ******* * ****** ******** ****** to ******* *** ****** **** ******* them ** **** *** ** *********."
- "******* ***** **** *** *************. ** industry ********** ** ************ ******** **** you *** ** *** *********** ** plumbing ******** "
- "********** ********, ********** ** *** **** of ***** *********"
******** *********** ********** ********** ** ******* and ******* **** ***** *** ********* staff:
- "******* ***** ** ******* **** **** in ***** *** **********. ******* ****"***********" ****** *** **** *** ******* challenge ** *** ****** ** *** company. ** ** **** ** ********** program *** ******** *** *********** *** getting **** ******** *** ** ** the **** *** ***** *** ***** new ********* **** *-* ***** ** get ** ** ***** ** **** are *** ****** *** ***** ***** from *** ***** **** ** *********** person *****"
- "********* ***** ***** *** ***********. *** need ****, ****-******* ** ******* ***** keeping **** ****."
- "******** ****** ***** *** *** ***** - ** ***** **** **** *** and **** *** * **** *** team ***** ** *** ******** *** by *** ***** **** *** * weaker ***** **** ***** *** *** team ******."
- "****** **** *********** ** **** *** business *** ****** **** ******* ******** to **** **** *** ************ **** as *******"
- "********* ******** **** ******... *********** ***** in **** ******* ** ******** ********* not ***** *** **** ******** ***** the *********"
- "********** ******** *********** *** ***********. **** are **** ** **** ** *** the **** *** **** ******** * new ********** ** ******."
- "**'* **** ** **** ** *** acquire *** ******. ****** ** *** install **** ** *** ***** ****."
- "******* *****, *** ***********. **** *** come ** **** *** ********* ******"
******* **********, ********, *********
*********** **** ******** **** ******** ****** while *********** ******** ********* *** *** biggest *********, ****** ** * **** lower **** **** ******* *********:
- "* ***** *** ******* **** ** managing *** ****** ** * ******** manner. **'* **** ** **** ** win *** *** **** *** **** you've *** *** **** **** ** staff **, ***** **, ******* ** additional *****, *** **** *********. **** that *** *** ** ******** ***'** left **** * ******** ******* **** a ***** **** *** * ***** amount ** ***** ******** ****** **** you **** ** ****** *** *** to *** ***."
- "*********** *** ******** ********. * **** seen ********** ******* ** ****** ******* become ****** ** ******* *** ******* that ********* **** ***** **** **** to ** ********** **** ** **** them *** ****"
- "****** ****** ******* *** ************* ** continue ** ***** ******** *** ***** into ********** ******, ******** ***** ****** and *********** ***** ********* ****** **** leave. **** **** ** ** ****, but **** ****** ***'* *** **, get ********** **** **** *****'* *******, or **** **** ****** ******* ** pull ** ***."
- "***** **** ** ******* *** ********* you **** ***** ** *** **** time ******* **** ******** **** *** being **** ** ** **** ***** taking ** ****** ********. ****** *** potential ** **** ** *** ***** but ****** *** ***** *** *** pieces ** ***** ** ****** ** all ** * ********* *****"
- "** ***** ** ************ **** *** business ******* ***** *** *** *** biggest ********* ** **** **** *** finding ********* ***********. ******* *** *****, the **** ** *** ****** ** for ******."
- "****** ********** *** ******** *****, ****** business-related ******** (*** ********* *******)"
- "************ ** ******* *** *********** ************* across ******* *********** *** *** ** the **** **********"
- "******* ** *** ***. **** *** hope *** *** ***** *** **** or ***** *** **** *** **** you *** ****. "
- "******* ***** ** *** ********** *** convincing ********** ** ** ******* ********. It ***** **** **** ******** *** ok **** *** ****** ***"
- "******** *** ******** ****** ****"
- "******** ****** ********. **** ****** **** what ********* *** ***"
- "**** ** ***** ******** - *** overhead"
******** *********** ******** **** ******** *** product *********, *** ******* * ***** on **** *********, ***** ***** ******* up **** **********, *** * *** challenge:
- "****** *** ********* ******** *** ******** off ** ****. ** *** *********** too **** *** ****, *** ***'* know ****** ***** *** ******** ** support ****. ** *** ***'* *** enough ********, **** *** **** **** the ********. "
- "*** ******* ********* ** ******* ***** management **** ******* ** **** ********** to ********. ***** **** ** ** really **** ** **** ** ** the ********** *** *** **** ** let ***** *** ******** *** ********."
- "******** *********** ***** ***** **** ** be **** ** **** **** ***** systems **** ********, ** ******* *** sometimes *** ** ****, ******* ** the **** **** *** *** **** to ** ******** ** ***** *******"
- "*** **, *** ******* ********* ** getting *********** ** *** *****, *** ever-changing **********"
- "*********** ***** ** ********/********* ** ********** in ** ***** ** ********* *** (not ****** ********)."
- "******* ** ****** *** * *********** portfolio. *** ****** ****** ******."
******, *********** ******** *** ******** ** marketing *** ******* ** **** ******* "word ** *****":
- "******** ** **** ******* *** ********* that ******* * ****-********* ******. **** of ***** **** *******"
- "*** ** ** ** *********. *** do * *** *** ***** **** end ****"
- "******* **** **** *** *****. ********* until **** **** **** *** *****"
- "******* **** *********** *** ***** ** the ****"
- "******* *** ********** ********"
- "**** ********* ********"
- "**** ** ***** ******"
Customers / ******* **********
*********** **** ******** ******** ************, ********* picking *** "*****" *********, ** *** biggest *********:
- "******* ** **** *********' ************ ** integrated *******. *** ********** *** *********** factors ** *********** ******* ** ********** the *********** ** **********-***** ******* ** offer **** **** *************. **** *** be *********** ********* ***** ** ******** concerns *** ******* **** ** ****** to ****** *** ********** ************** *** made ** **** **** **** *************."
- "****-******* *****. **% ** *** ***** are **** ****** *** **** ** to **** ** ***** ******* ** they *** *** *** ******* *** equipment **********. ** ********** ** **** who ** * ******* ******** ***** you’ve **** *** *** **** *** site ******. ** ***** ***** *** can ******* **** *** **** **** their *** ****** ** *** ************ or **** ********* ******"
- "********* *** ******** ***** **** ******** caring *** **** ******** *********. *** sales ****** ******* ******* *********, ** integrators ********** **** *****-** **** ****** and ********. **, **** *** **** work **** ************* *** ***** ****** us ** **** ******* *** ******* results ** ******* *********, **** *** and ********."
- "********* *** ***** *********. ******* *** wrong ******** ********* ******* *** ****** line, ******** ******** *********, ******* *** ability ** ****** *** *******."
- "******** ******* *** ** ** ********* when ** * ****** *****. *** have ** ******** *** *** ********* and **** ****** *** ********* ** the ****** ******** ********. ** *** upset * ******* ******** ** **** a *** ******** *****, *** *** really ******* ***** ** *** *** robbing ***** ** *** ****?"
- "******* **** *******, *** ******* ** the **** ******** **** *** ******* the *******; ******* **** ****** ** changes *** *** ***** ** ****."
- "*** ******. * ******* **** **** the ******* ** ******* *** ****"
- "******** ****** ************ ***** **** ****** service"
Competition *** ****
*********** ******** **** *********** **** *** biggest *********, ************ ** ******* **** "dozens" ** ******, ** ***** ********** markets:
- "***-**** '******' ******* *** *** **** in ** *** *** ***** **** and ** ******* ** ******* *** the ******** **** *** **** **** companies ****** ** ** ***********, ******** providers ** ***** ** **** ********* are ******* ** *** *** **** have **** *** ********** ** *** electronic ******** *********."
- "********* *** *******, *** ****** ** sell ** ***** *** ****** ** other *********** *** ******* *** **** customers"
- "**** *****-***** ********* **** ************* **** competitors. ***** ******* **** ******/******* ******** every ******* *****"
- "*** **** *********** ** * ***** geographic ******"
- "***** ********* ************ ****** **** ******** products. "
- "******* *** ********* ** * ***** area."
- "********** ** *** ******"
- "***** *********** ************"
Supply *****
*** *********** ******** ****** ***** ****** as *** ******* ********* ** ******, though ** ** **** ******* *** *********** ** ****:
- "***** *** **'* **** ********* ** grow *** ** ****** ***** ******. It ***** **** ****** ** ******** a *** ******* ** *** **** it ***** ** *** ********* **. Therefore *** **** * ***** *** amount ** **** **** **** ******* for ********* *** **** * ******* of ******* ** ******** * *******-****** job."
- "******* *********, ******* ************* *** *** going **** ** ****"
- "*** **** **** ** ******* *** jobs *** ******* ********* **** ** cannot **** ***** *** *** *** 6 ****** *** ** **** ************"
- "****** ** *** ***** *** ********"
- "***** ************ - ****** ***** ** dire ** ******* **** ****** ** to * ****"
* **** ** **** ****** ** and ****** **** *** ** ** own, *** * ***** *** ** company ***** *********** **. ** ***** resulted ** * *****, ** * 'good ***' ** ********. ******** ** just ****** ******** * ***** ********** on ** ***, *** *** ** support. ** *** *** **** ******** or ********, ** *** *** *'* expected ** ***** ******?
****, ****. * **** ****** ** out, ** ***'** ****** **, *** I **** *** ** *** ** my *** ** ***** ****** **** will ******* ** ********, ** ** own ****. **** * **** **** I **, * ** ********** ***** it, *** ** **** ** ** time.
* **** ****** ** **** ** figure ****** *** ** *** ***, especially **** *** ***** ** **** before ** ***. *** * ******'* expect ****** ** ***** **** * minute ** ***** ******** **** ** learn ***** *** *** ***. **** should *** **** *** **, ** some **** ** ************. * *****, a *****, **** **** **** ***, what ****.
* **** ** **** ****** ** and ****** **** *** ** ** own, *** * ***** *** ** company ***** *********** **.
**** *** **** *** *** ***** company, ***.
*'** **** ** ****** **** *** right ******** (***** **** **** ** be *** **** ** **** **** do, **** ****** **** ***'* **** decades ** ***** **********) ** *** of ***** **** ***** **** *** already *** **** - ***** ** their ***** ** ********** ** *** field.
****** *** ********* **** ****** *** you * **** ** ** **** vs ***** **** ***** **** **** everything **** ******* **** *** *** and **** ******* ** **********.
***: * ** ** *** ***
**** *** **** ** *** ******* these ****. **** **** *** **** 10 ***** ** **. **** * used ** ** * ******* * always ******** ***** *** **** *** extra **** ** *****, ********** **** it **** **** *** ******. * may **** **** *** ********* ******.
** *** **** ****, ** ***** for **, * ***** ****** ***** something ** ** *** ** **** my *** ***** ******.
**** **** ***** *** ******* ******** on **** ****** ****** ** **** yourself * ****** ************.
***.
****.
*** **** *** ****, *** **** 'in-demand' *** ******.
*** *** **** **-****** *** ******, the ****** *** ************ *** *** command.
***... *** **** ** ***** *** what ***'** *****:
***** ********** **. - "* ****** my *** **** *** ****** ** the ***. ****** **** ** ****."
** ***** ** ********* *********** ** see ** ******* ** **** ****** from *** ********** ****. ****** *** the **** ********** *** **** **** think ***** **** ** ***** *********. While **** ** ***** ******* *** without ***** * ********* ** *** current *** ****** *** *******, **'* my ****** **** *** ********** ******* was * ******** ** *** ****** and **** *** ******* *** ****** only ****** ** ********** **. * can ***** **** ******** ********** ** this ****** ** *'** **** ******** stepped *** *** ****** ***** ** years *** ***** * ***** ******** in *** ********.
** ********** *** ***** ********* **** the ** ********* *****. ** ****** all *** ********* * ****** *** I ***** **** ********** ** ********* just ** *** *** ******** ** any ** *** ********* * ****** serviced/installed. ** ******** *** ******** ** myself *** ******* **** ******* **** (shoutout ** *********** *** ******* ** how ** **** **** ******* *******).
***** ********* **** * *** ** incentivize *********** ** *** **** ****** a ***** ********** ** *********** **** I ******* *** **** ********** **** continue. ** *** ***'* ***** * strongly ******* *** *** ******** * tool *** *** * *** *** hit **** ******* *******.
* *****.
** * ************'* ***, *'** ***** in *** ****** **** *** *** in *** $*** ****** **** *** Rolex *** ********** ** ** ** the **** **** *** **-*********-* ********* 4MP ****** ****'* * **** ****** price "** ** **** ** **** money". (**** ** ** *** ******* ADI ** **** $***.**) *** **** later ****** *** *** **** ************ learned ** *** ******* ** ** to $***.** ** *** ********.
**** ***** ** ****** ***** ** something **** *****, ** ** **** with *** ********** *** *** ****** $14/hour *** ****'* **** ******* ********* on *** ********** ** *** ****** and *** ********* ******** ** *** go.
***** *** **** ***** *********** *** there, *** *** **** **** * call "******* *********," **** ***** ** a *** ** *** ***** **** partners **** ** ***** ******* *************, outdated ******** *** ********** **** ****** are ****** **** **** ****** ******* they ******* *** **** *** *** 150% ****** ** *** ******** ** everything "**** ** ******* ** ********."
* **** ******** ******** *****'* *** saints **** ********* ** ** ***** I *** ****** ** ** * two **** **** ******** ** **** set ** *** ******* ** ***** of ** *********** **** *** ********** admitted ** ** **** *****'* ***** paid ** ****** **.
******: **** ******* *** **** ***** to *** *** **********:********** ******** ****'* *** ****** **** Pretend ** **
** ****** **** ***** ******** *** employees ** *** *** ** **** them ** ***** *** ** **** them *****. ** ******* *** *** been ** *** ***** *** ****** 30 ***** *** ** ****** *** hell *** ** ** **** ***** these **** ***'* ***** ******** *** on ***** ***.
**** ** ****** *** *** * tech ** *** ********* ** * product ** *** *** ***'* **** also ** **** ******** ** ***** own ******* ******* **** ******** *** that ********. **** **** ***** *** educate ******** ** **** ****** ****** to **** ******** * ****** ************. Continuing ** ****** **** *** ** the **** ***, ********** ** *** take *** ********** *** ** **** of ** ******** ******* ****** ** be ***** *** **** ******** ***** now.
* **** ****** ********* ***** ***** that **** ***** * ****** ***** hours * ***** ** ***** ********* new. **** ********* ** **** * few ******* **** *** ***** *** not **** *** **** *** ***** straight ****** **** **** **** **** family *** ** ****. ********** ***** days **** *** **** **** ** do * ***** ****** ** **** phone *** ****** ** ** ** minutes *** ****** **** *********.
** **** **** *** **** ***** who ******'* **** **** ** *******, while ******* ****, ** * *** to ***** *** ** ******** ***** a ****** ** * ***. *** know **** **** ****** ********* ** turned ** *** *** ****** ** actually *********. ***** **** ***** *** well **** ****'* *** ******* ** that. *** *** ******* ** **** can't ***** **** ********** ** **** call **** ******* ** ****** **** simple **** ***?