The Industrial and B2B Journal

Food Service Industries Spotlight 2011

2011-01-18T16:44:17Z

By Sonya Sobato; Rueya Ceylon, Research Analysts

The food service industry is one of the largest industries in the United States.

Statistics by the U.S Bureau of Labor state that food preparation and serving related sectors combined to be the third largest employer by occupational groups in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.

It is indicated that 2011 could be an excellent year for the restaurant industry. Sales are expected to climb up to a four year high, according to industry analysts. A recently released report by research firm Technomic predicts that the total U.S food service sales will overshadow 2010 by an increase of 1.7% in sales on a nominal basis and dipping just 0.3% on a real basis, which takes inflation into menu price consideration. And if this forecast is realized, it would be some of the highest growth since 2008.

Process Automation Systems in the US

2010-04-28T20:13:57Z

The automation systems market for process industries encompass all control processes ranging from chemical, oil refineries, papers and pulp only. Automation systems have recently become a necessity for many industries, particularly pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, and fast-moving consumer goods as ‘digitization of manufacturing processes’ have become a more efficient alternative employed by major companies to ensure efficiency and hasten production in their respective sites.

Harnessing Perceptions in B2B Markets

2009-06-29T17:02:20Z

By Ruth Stanat, SIS International

Business-to-Business markets often neglect the importance of opinion and perception among B2B stakeholders. But, understanding perception is crucial as it impacts the decision to invest in certain areas, the willingness of supply chain links to work together and countless daily activities dependent on having appropriate perceptions. In today's B2B markets, perceptions are enhanced, developed and sustained through the following vehicles.

SMB Communications Pain Study White Paper: Uncovering the hidden cost of communications barriers and latency

2009-03-11T03:36:25Z

The following white paper outlines the findings of a study sponsored by Siemens Communications and prepared by SIS International Research. It discusses and quantifies the hidden cost of communications barriers and latency that small and medium sized business in 8 different countries, across 8 different verticals, and up to 400 employees experience in their daily business activities.

This white paper will demonstrate the inherent need for Siemens Enterprise Communications SMB unified communications solutions.

Developing a sustainable competitive advantage

2009-03-05T20:02:00Z

A sustainable competitive advantage is an advantage in providing value to customers without it being able to be imitated.

Numerous cases abound where the first mover in a market develops a competitive advantage, but soon loses it. AOL had a competitive advantage as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the 1990s, as one of the preferred providers to consumers new to the internet. It offered more features in one easy-to-use platform. Some customers used "AOL Keywords" to search just as much as they used Yahoo and Altavista to search. Yet, as customers became more sophisticated and as competing ISPs developed cheaper substitutes (e.g. Netzero, Earthlink). Clearly, it is difficult to sustain a sustainable competitive advantage because ones a product or services is made other competitors can reverse engineer and benchmark.

Managers can build sustainable advantages out of the following:

Business-to-Business PR, Marketing and Communications

2009-02-16T19:34:00Z

Now for Our Insights

It is often very difficult for privately held companies to get meaningful exposure in US business media. In todays world of millions of messages competing against each other, companies pay millions of dollars on PR agents, communications staff and newswire services. Yet messages often get lost in a sea of competing messages. Below is some insight

Business-to-Business segmentation

2009-02-13T18:39:13Z

Business-to-Business segmentation rarely receives the attention that its cousin discipline, customer segmentation, receives.

23 Global Trading Trends to Track

2008-05-17T00:51:00Z

Global Trends by SIS International Research

Here are some of the global trends we are tracking.

CANWELL Trade Show: Edmonton, Canada. May 14-17 2008

2008-05-09T00:37:00Z

Canada's National Ground Water Trade Show (CANWELL) is set for May 14th-17th, bringing professionals from North America and around the world.

Steel, Aluminum, Wiring Harness Market & Cabling Industry Update

2008-03-24T00:29:00Z

German Steel Industry

United States Steel Industry

U.S. steel mills produced 14.66 million tons of steel as of January 2008, up from 13.64 million tons during the comparable 2007 period. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Northwest Indiana/Chicago area, considered as the country’s second-largest steel producing region has turned out about 523,000 tons of steel during the week of February 16.