12 Competitive Advantages
1. Fragmented Market
There are over 6000 vendors and 10,000 installers in the US market. SightMind will introduce structure and efficiency into this inefficient market.
2. High Growth Industry
According to a Frost & Sullivan report*, the IP Video Surveillance industry will grow 44% per year over the next five years. The size of the North American market for cameras, network video recorders (NVRs) and software, for 2008, is over $600 million. We estimate that the North American market for "systems" is approximately $1 billion.
3. Fast Ramp Up
Our easy-to-meet building requirements and packaged conference room get new franchisees up and running quickly, compared with most other franchises. SightMind franchisees are located in quality mixed office/light-industrial flex space.
4. Comprehensive Training
We provide best-in-class training for all the key employees in the franchise, including meaningful certificates upon graduation.
5. Outstanding Lead Generation and Marketing Strategy
On behalf of our franchisees, we distribute a regular newsletter to all end-customers and prospects. We provide 100% of the content for quarterly one-day seminars, given by our franchisees. We provide a standardized web site, personalized for each franchisee, with their local information, their faces, and their local success stories. We provide a national lead service, referrals, Internet marketing program, and search engine optimization.
6. Proprietary Sales, System Configuration and Installation Process
Corporate has developed and maintains a proven and remarkably detailed set of operating procedures for the sales process, system design and installation, and support. Franchisees use only our approved vendors, products, distributors, accounting and invoicing system, legal contracts, system warrantees, customer relationship management system, and website management system.
Sales contacts and progress is tracked through SightMind's web-based, customer relationship management system (CRM), which assures premier customer support.
7. Crystal-Clear, Laser-Focused Brand Message.
We are the only national company dedicated to networked video surveillance installation. Every system we install has a national warranty and we offer a full-service 5-year warranty to every client.
8. Business Customer Base, Not Consumers.
The SightMind customer base is comprised of educational institutions, local government agencies, and large commercial customers. With this business-to-business focus, we do not compete with low-end, DIY, and Internet sales. This focus provides a professional working environment, higher billing labor-rate and higher margins for franchisees.
9. Strong Corporate Support
Our partnership with and ownership by Ojo Technology provides SightMind with access to 15 employees who are available to provide whatever in-depth support is needed to assure your success-every step of the way.
We keep franchisees current with two monthly internal newsletters-one for sales and one technical.
Ongoing R&D at SightMind assures franchisees will always use the most sophisticated, cost-effective technology solutions based on open standards.
10. Remote Staffing Assistance
Corporate offers a pool of experts who are available hourly to franchisees to cover rapid growth, business bursts, vacations, or turnover. Franchisee temporary staff shortages will not slow your upward growth curve. Our experts are available for five job functions: inside sales, system design, purchasing, hardware configuration, and project management. With hourly billing, you not only are guaranteed an expert who knows your system with zero training, but also, you pay only for what you need, when you need it.
11. System Performance Promise
We offer all franchisees this remarkably strong promise: every system you install works properly or corporate fixes it for free . See the Franchise Agreement for details. Nobody stands behind our franchisees and our technology like SightMind.
12. SightMind is the only IT franchise specializing in security systems.
We are the only security franchise specializing in network (digital) video surveillance.
* = Frost & Sullivan Report No F665-11. See the Franchise Agreement for details.
Learn more about what we do, how we do it, and how we differentiate ourselves by taking a tour.