CE is the third-highest volume service category thanks to higher-end electronics such as home networking, media servers and HDTVs.
11.19.2008 — Consumer electronics remain in strong demand for contract labor in the third quarter, according to OnForce, an online marketplace for IT and CE professionals.
The
OnForce Services Marketplace Index (OSMI) (pdf) for the third quarter shows that CE maintained its position as one of the three
highest volume service categories, as installations and maintenance were required for higher-end electronics such as home networking, media servers and HDTVs.
“The Consumer Electronics Association recently projected that CE sales
will grow 3.5 percent this holiday season, despite the down economy, so we know that consumers will still make major CE purchases that require professional installation,” says OnForce CEO Peter Cannone.
“Many OEMs, VARs and retailers have yet to figure out the last mile of the consumer electronics sale — expert installation and support.
"This report helps show IT and CE companies how they can make on-site services a profitable part of their business and increase their customers’ satisfaction.”
Other highlights from the report:
“Retailers leverage the summer and fall months to prepare for the holiday season and update their technology infrastructure and systems,” says Cannone.
“The OnForce marketplace observed these trends and, in the third quarter, retailers focused on their in-store systems. This creates a lucrative opportunity for those VARs that service POS technologies.”
Hartford, Conn. is the city with the
highest average costs for IT and CE service requests. Houston and New York City experienced the highest increases in volume.