Reseller mag survey says we're still in early adopter phase

April 23, 2007 by Dave Haynes

This week’s issue of CRN Tech — I think CRN is Computer Reseller Network or something like that — has the focus on the digital signage industry, with a cover story and a handful of related pieces and profiles.

A good chunk of it has an advertorial whiff about it, as the detail on some of the companies profiled seems a little much. But there is nonetheless some interesting stuff among the pieces, which are intended not for industry vets but IT resellers looking at this space and wondering if there’s real money in it.

One intriguing thing was a survey that asked respondents where they though the industry is at right now, in terms of maturity.

Of some 177 solutions providers surveyed, most felt the industry is still in the early adopter phase. I’d tend to agree, as most of what I’m dealing with and seeing out there is about trials and pilots of first stage rollouts (another way of saying pilot). There’s not a whole bunch of clients I’m seeing out there who want to go from zero to 60 right away, and I think they’re smart to take that approach.

The accompanying pieces have some decent advice on how to wade into this space and how to pitch it, but if you’ve been at it for awhile, there will be no “Eureka!” moments for you.