It’s an oil-rich country with high per-capita GDP, but is this prosperity transferring to the AV sector? We asked some key players in Norway’s installation market
DESIRED CHANGES NON-EU
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE WAY THE NORWEGIAN
INSTALLATION MARKET WORKS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
‘Consultants who specialise in audio and video are almost non-existent in Norway – a fact that often gives the contractor a little bit too much to say.’
‘Get in on a project earlier. It seems like when everything is set up –ceiling, windows, furniture, etc –then they
suddenly think of what the purpose of this room is... Then we have to adapt to whatever is planned already.”
‘I wish that the installation market in Norway had more total technical entrepreneurs who not only installed the
AV, but also planned or installed multiple disciplines, such as electrical, security and HVAC. For many AV companies, the Norwegian market does not see the value created by technicians, so they earn their money from the boxes they provide. Low income means that they must sell more boxes...’
5.0%
Do you think general levels of confidence in the Norwegian installation sector are higher or lower than six months ago?
‘The market is growing and getting more mature. The
market leaders have increased the level of professionalism and projects are getting larger and more complex.’
‘The Norwegian installation
market experiences a higher degree of foreign competition as the euro problems
increase. On tenders we now see companies from all over Europe bidding on the jobs.’
‘Norway is an oil economy, and the state is a major player in cultural/art/music activity.’
‘There have been some years of major changes, acquisitions – especially in AV integration. The computer industry has been growing market share in what has been traditional AV.’
Good for my business – 44% No effect/irrelevant – 44% Bad for my business – 12%
‘There is a little more hassle with import and
export – that’s it, I think.’ ‘We are partly in the
conference business and [if we were] within the EU this business would have been better.’
‘Most of all, it is bad for me as a human. Norway is
promoting a sort of happy nationalism, and creating a picture where it looks like a good idea for people in any country not to participate in the European and global
society. For my business it is a problem that the level of costs in Norway makes my prices relatively high. That makes export of my services less attractive in a more cost- minded European market.’
October 2012 39 MOST MEMBERSHIP
NORWAY IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, NOR OF THE EURO CURRENCY. DO
YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD OR A BAD THING FOR YOUR BUSINESS?