The 18th Annual Top Systems Integrators Report: Neither Stellar Nor Stagnant
Six in 10 integrators were able to move ahead in 2012 and counted an increase in systems integration revenue; but one-third slipped back — showing that the security marketplace is not yet where it was pre-recession.
A 9 percent decrease in the 2012 revenue for SDM’s Top Systems Integrators is a deceiving number because individual company results did not recede to that extent. By all accounts, systems integrators described 2012 as average to improved — at least moderately better than the dismal results they encountered in 2011. While some companies found it “challenging,” others experienced the opposite. Most were in the middle — financial performance was neither stellar nor stagnant, but “acceptable” compared with the past few years.
“2012 was another challenging year for the larger commercial integrated systems business. It wasn’t worse than 2011 but about the same,” notes No. 25-ranked ASG Security, Beltsville, Md. “There are still fewer projects, less funding and great pressure on margins. However, the low and mid markets performed very well for us again; specifically, a continued great resurgence in residential sales with excitement around our enhanced service platform. Small business was also a continued strong growth segment for the company, led by enhanced intrusion sales and cloud-based video services.” ASG Security reported $20.9 million in 2012 North American systems integration revenue, 6 percent less than in 2011. However, the company simultaneously climbed on the just-released SDM 100, with 12.4 percent better recurring monthly revenue — an outward sign of the company’s comments regarding their stellar residential program.