Original Research on The Skills Connection

The Skills Connection Customer Research

How Companies Use The Skills Connection

Check all of the following statements that describe how you used The Skills Connection.

Show us how to effectively communicate our story to analysts	93%
Help us improve our position in an MQ/Wave/Marketscape	83%
Create compelling evidence-based cases for analysts	73%
Give us the necessary expertise to effectively engage analysts	63%
Show us how to gather the right information for analysts	59%
Provide the tools and best practices needed to build a strong case for analysts	56%
Focus just on what was needed, and avoid wasting time on anything else	41%
Create an internal learning environment so that our team can be more effective in the future	25%
Help us enter an assessment such as an MQ/Wave/Marketscape for the first time	20%

The Skills Connection Customer Research

How companies use The Skills Connection

Check all of the following statements that describe how you use The Skills Connection.

Show us how to effectively communicate our story to analysts	93%
Give us the necessary expertise to effectively engage analysts	80%
Help us improve our position in an MQ/Wave/Marketscape	80%
Create compelling evidence-based cases for analysts	70%
Provide the tools and best practices needed to build a strong case for analysts	64%
Show us how to gather the right information for analysts	55%
Focus just on what was needed, and avoid wasting time on anything else	39%
Help us enter an assessment such as an MQ/Wave/Marketscape for the first time	34%
Create an internal learning environment so that our team can be more effective in the future	25%
Other	5%

The Skills Connection Case Study

Medium Enterprise Computer Software Company

Introduction

This case study of a medium enterprise computer software company is based on a November 2023 survey of The Skills Connection customers by TechValidate, a 3rd-party research service. The profiled company asked to have their name blinded to protect their confidentiality.

“We use The Skills Connection to improve our position in analyst reports e.g., Gartner Magic Quadrant (MQ) through continuous conversations with analysts. They’ve been fundamental for us to better understand the analysts’ mindset, establish the right cadence of analyst interactions, and identify suitable content to be discussed. They are clearly very knowledgeable and supportive about everything to do with analyst relations.

We consider the money we spent with The Skills Connection proved to be well-invested. Although our changing target analysts don’t share our view of the market, they have a much deeper understanding of the value we deliver and don’t give their clients the wrong impression about our solutions. We continued to grow our business at a rate of 50% YoY but were unable to measure if the improved analyst relations had directly led to a tangible increase in new business opportunities. Since we managed to become a Leader in the Gartner MQ, we have mitigated general concerns from procurement stakeholders."

Challenges

The business challenges that led the profiled company to evaluate and ultimately select The Skills Connection:

Engaged with The Skills Connection for the following reasons:
- Wanted to change their position in the MQ/Wave/Marketscape to generate new business
- Were concerned that coverage of their product / services by analysts would negatively impact their business
- One of our investors recommended working with TSC

Use Case

The key features and functionalities of The Skills Connection that the surveyed company uses:

Uses The Skills Connection to:
- Provide the necessary expertise to effectively engage analysts
- Show them how to effectively communicate their story to analysts
- Help them improve their position in an MQ/Wave/Marketscape
- Provide the tools and best practices needed to build a strong case for analysts
- Create compelling evidence-based cases for analysts

Results

The surveyed company achieved the following results with The Skills Connection:

Experiences gained with The Skills Connection:
- The ability to create a strong evidence-based case for analysts covering their product/service
- The skills needed to communicate with analysts in the future
Benefits from working with The Skills Connection:
- Positively shifted their position in the MQ/Wave/Marketscape
- Received better results than when they had engaged with analysts
Agrees with the following statements:
- Met their internal schedules and deadlines: strongly agree
- Ensured they met schedules and deadlines for the analysts: strongly agree
- Facilitated the coordination of activities across their internal response team: disagree
- Acted as an extension of staff: agree
- Enabled them to focus on what was needed and avoid wasting time on anything else: agree
The Skills Connection is:
- Collaborative: agree
- Knowledgeable: strongly agree
- Service-oriented: strongly agree
- Value for money: strongly agree
- Best practice focused: strongly agree

Case Study: Small Business Professional Services Company

Introduction

This case study of a small business professional services company is based on a March 2016 survey of The Skills Connection customers by TechValidate, a 3rd-party research service. The profiled company asked to have their name blinded to protect their confidentiality.

“We use The Skills Connection to advise us in sharpening our messaging and they were there to help and advise us in a tough situation. They always bring a perspective to the table. That is why we would recommend them.”

“Beyond the dialogue with analysts, the process has really helped us to focus on what we need to do in generating information within our business overall.”

Challenges

Engaged with The Skills Connection for the following reasons:
- Wanted to learn how to effectively differentiate themselves from their competitors when talking with analysts
- Wanted to change their position in the MQ/Wave/Marketscape to generate new business

Use Case

Uses The Skills Connection to:
- Show them how to gather the right information for analysts
- Show them how to effectively communicate their story to analysts
- Help them improve their position in an MQ/Wave/Marketscape
- Focus just on what was needed, and avoid wasting time on anything else
- Create an internal learning environment so that their team can be more effective in the future

Results

Experiences gained with The Skills Connection:
- Confidence communicating the unique value of their solution to analysts
- The ability to create a strong evidence-based case to analysts covering their product / service
- The skills needed to communicate with analysts in the future
Benefits from working with The Skills Connection:
- Made the most effective use of their internal resources
- Effectively communicates the unique value of their products / services
Rates The Skills Connection 5 out of 5 stars.

Value Provided

We became a leader in the Magic Quadrant and have remained a leader for the last 3 years. We are also now a leader in the relevant IDC MarketScape (in our first participation in the assessment) and also a leader in Nelson Hall’s NEAT assessment as one of the top-rated vendors

— Product Marketer, Medium Enterprise Computer Software Company

The Skills Connection Customer Testimonial

They gave us the map. Based on their former research experience we were able to get into the analysts’ internal mindset. So not only were we able to provide relevant content during the assessment, but we also understood how to use it for our benefit when interacting with the rest of the market. We now have strong marketing positioning because of the work we did with The Skills Connection.

— CMO, Medium Enterprise Computer Services Company

TechValidate Research on The Skills Connection

These pages present data that TechValidate has sourced via direct research with verified customers and users of The Skills Connection. TechValidate stands behind the authenticity of all published data. Learn more »

About TechValidate Research

Featured Research Collections for The Skills Connection

Selected Research Highlights

How Companies Use The Skills Connection

How companies use The Skills Connection

Medium Enterprise Computer Software Company

Introduction

Challenges

Use Case

Results

Company Profile

About The Skills Connection

Case Study: Small Business Professional Services Company

Introduction

Challenges

Use Case

Results

Company Profile

About The Skills Connection

Value Provided

More to Explore

About The Skills Connection