OnForce's first quarter OnForce Services Marketplace Index (OSMI) report provides an immediate look at what services and skills are in demand in the market right now, drawing on data from the company's own OnForce technology services marketplace for a peek inside the trends. Here's a look at OnForce's data, plus some of the macroeconomic forces that are shaping the market for technology sales today.
Employment numbers The unemployment rate remained steady at 9.7 percent or 15 million people with 162,000 jobs added in March, compared to 36000 lost in February and 20,000 lost in January.
Consumer confidence Increased from February to March to 52.5. In February the index fell to 46.0 and in January the index was at 55.9.
Global IT Market Growth Forrester Research is predicting slow growth this year – a rise of 8.1 percent in U.S. Dollars and of 5.6 percent in local currencies.
PC shipments return Gartner forecasts PC sales will grow by 20 percent in 2010.
Printer Market Refresher IDC predicts pockets of growth in the printer market.
Slide 6: OnForce Work Order Volume Top Categories PC desktop increased by 29 percent (and by 27 percent compared to total work order volume in Q4 2009) TV/Video grew by 16 percent year over year, but remained flat compared to Q4 Network jobs increased 14 percent year over year, but decreased 16 percent from Q4 Printer work increased by 12 percent year over year, but only 9 percent from Q4.
Pricing Stabilizes Work order pricing stabilized for the fourth quarter in a row at $114 per work order.
New Installations vs. Break/Fix Work Installations and break/fix work orders in the first quarter stayed consistent with Q4 numbers, accounting for 32 percent and 62 percent, respectively of total service events for the quarter.
: Printer Work Orders Grow The printer category enjoyed the biggest percentage increase in work order volume of any IT or consumer electronics category.
Lowest Paying TV and video work saw the lowest hourly rate index (HRI) in any category.
: Security Pays Security jobs had the highest work order value for the second quarter in a row at $388.44.
Audio and Network/Server Also Pays Audio and Network/Server tied for the highest hourly rate index among all categories.
VOIP and Telephony VOIP and telephony jobs were the least expensive on-site service category with an average work order value of $87.80.
Conclusions The market is showing signs of improvement with promising indications in the pipeline and a stabilization of prices.
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