Original Research on The Skills Connection

The Skills Connection Case Study

Small Business Computer Hardware Company

Introduction

This case study of a small business computer hardware company is based on a June 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.

“Helping us move up and to the right on the Magic Quadrant is something we fully expect to see as a real business result from this engagement. Our submission this year was 100 times better than last years because of their assistance. We developed collateral and materials and marketing messaging we will continue to utilize throughout the year as well.”

“They were extremely knowledgeable about the Gartner process and their expectations. They went above and beyond working around our schedules to help make our response much better than we would have put together on our own. They helped us put all the information Gartner would want to see in a format they would want to see it in, hitting the points Gartner would care about. Their engagement was extremely valuable to help us for honing in on our essential story to help shape our marketing message, as well to help with customer endeavors.”

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:
- Did not have the in-house expertise to effectively engage with analysts
- 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

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 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
- Help them enter an assessment, such as an MQ/Wave/Marketscape, for the first time
- 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
- 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:
- 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
- Unique insights about their solution that were instrumental in winning over analysts
Benefits from working with The Skills Connection:
- Made the most effective use of their internal resources
- Generated new business by improving the clarity of their market story
- Positively shifted their position in the MQ/Wave/Marketscape
- Received better results than when they had engaged with analysts
- Provided their internal team the tools and skills to effectively engage with analysts
- Effectively communicates the unique value of their products / services
Rates The Skills Connection 5 out of 5 stars.

Case Study: Medium Enterprise Computer Software Company

Introduction

This case study of a medium enterprise computer software 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.

“The Skills Connection works together with our internal resources on our Gartner and Forrester rankings. They particularly help us in nurturing the relationship we have with the analyst community.”

“I have been very satisfied with their services due to the unique skillset they have, good co-operation and really great execution.”

“I would recommend, and infact a number of times have, recommended The Skills Connection because we are so satisfied with what they do. They specifically have helped us to improve our existing (already good) Gartner ranking and have brought us from zero to hero at Forrester.”

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:
- Provide the necessary expertise to effectively engage analysts
- 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
- Provide the tools and best practices needed to build a strong case for analysts
- Create compelling evidence-based cases for analysts

Results

Experiences gained with The Skills Connection:
- 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
- Positively shifted their position in the MQ/Wave/Marketscape
- Received better results than when they had engaged with analysts
- Provided their internal team the tools and skills to effectively engage with analysts
Rates The Skills Connection 5 out of 5 stars.

The Skills Connection helped 94% of surveyed customers to be able to create a strong evidence-based case to analysts covering their product or service.

The Skills Connection Customer Research

The Value Provided by The Skills Connection

Please indicate which of the following statements reflect how your company has benefited from working with The Skills Connection.

Helped us to positively shift our position in the MQ/Wave/Marketscape	69%
Enabled us to get better results than when we had engaged with analysts	66%
Gave our internal team the tools and skills to effectively engage with analysts	66%
Gave us the ability to effectively communicate the unique value of our products/services	63%

A CEO of a small business security products & services company is very likely to recommend The Skills Connection for the following reason:

The Skills Connection Customer Research

Working with The Skills Connection Team

Please indicate your company’s experience with The Skills Connection.

Gave us the ability to create a strong evidence-based case to analysts covering our product/service	92%
Gave us confidence communicating the unique value of our solution to analysts	68%
Gave us the skills needed to communicate with analysts in the future	65%
Gave us unique insights about our solution that were instrumental in winning over analysts	43%

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

Selected Research Highlights

Small Business Computer Hardware Company

Introduction

Challenges

Use Case

Results

Company Profile

About The Skills Connection

Case Study: Medium Enterprise Computer Software Company

Introduction

Challenges

Use Case

Results

Company Profile

About The Skills Connection

The Value Provided by The Skills Connection

Working with The Skills Connection Team

More to Explore

About The Skills Connection