This is not a personal attack on Security Consultants….
But, what value do they add to the supply chain?
They charge a fee to ‘design’ a system – most system designs I have seen are generally cut and paste, often with complete mish-mash of information.
And, how much are they influenced by Manufacturers ‘Come and Learn about us’ events?
I recently heard that a major IP organisation recently paid for a group of Consultants to attend a several day ‘awareness’ event……..with partners…….on board a cruise ship in the Caribbean…….mornings were ‘learning’………afternoons were free to visit the various port stop offs!
Don’t get me wrong, rewarding or thanking for continued loyalty and support is always needed, but as the Security Consultant is pretty darn influential in the supply chain, but doesn’t actually place any orders, it makes it difficult to compete with such grand gestures surely??
A major Security manufacturer used to treat it’s ‘prospective’ customers to a trip to their Factory Plant…..it just so happened that was combined with a week’s visit to a rather nice part of the world – result? Customers used their products, maybe out of a sense of repayment? The products weren’t even necessarily the best or the cheapest!
So, is our industry and more importantly, the development of products moving forward dependant on the amount of marketing and corporate entertainment budgets companies have?
I sincerely hope not……..and that our industry moves forward through innovation and not persuasion!!!
If you consult for a living and don’t agree with CCTV insider please let us know.
http://ipvideomarket.info/report/security_consultant_conflict_of_interests