We don’t often like to brag …but, sometimes, we have to: When it comes to running profitable businesses, NSCA members simply do it better. And we have the data to prove it. But why is this the case? Is it because they leverage cutting-edge technology or is it because they take more risks?
We like to think it’s because they know how to take advantage of the resources available to them as part of their NSCA membership. (Using just one of these resources more than covers membership costs.)
To give you a glimpse of what NSCA offers to integrators, here’s a list of the 10 services, resources and initiatives that our members use — or rave about — most often.
1. The XBO Experience: An Event for Emerging Leaders
We finally gave new leaders in the systems integration industry a place to land with our XBO (Excellence in Business Operations) Experience. Last November 2024 was the first event, but we’re already working on the 2025 XBO Experience. Our Director of Workforce Development Laura Janssen said it best when she pointed out: “By providing the interactive sessions, the attendees could network and collaborate in a personalized environment. A lot of people really liked that it wasn’t just information being presented to them; they actually could participate in these activities.”
2. Report on Compensation & Benefits
Our Compensation & Benefits Report is always one of the most popular resources we offer. Integration company leaders tell us they use the report to make determinations about wages for new and existing employees, identify possible wage trends, rethink their benefits and bonuses packages, and much more. While there are other reports out there about wages and benefits, this is the only one in our industry.
3. Our New Website
Most of the resources we offer can be found on our website for easy access. But “easy access” became “not-so-easy access” after a decade of adding more and more resources to our site. It became too difficult to organize everything. But our new site changed that, making it faster and easier for integrators to find our valuable weekly blogs, our instructional webinars, our industry-specific research, and the business templates and how-to guides in our Essentials Library.
4. The Detailed Guide to State Licensing
The Guide to State Licensing provides detailed information about licensing requirements for each U.S. state, including alarm system requirements, electrical contractor/electrician requirements, limited-energy requirements, and other contractor license requirements. Revised within the last year, it puts the latest licensing requirements at your fingertips, so you don’t have to look them up.
5. Legislative Updates to Keep Leaders in the Know
We stand at the forefront of regulatory and compliance matters for the commercial systems integration industry. Our Codes and Compliance Committee actively addresses regulations at the federal, state, and municipal levels and steps in when members have concerns about legislation that may impact the way they do work. Our team meticulously monitors hundreds of legislative bills, keeping a vigilant eye on developments that could impact integrators.
6. The Business & Leadership Conference
We’ve reached the point where our well-known Business & Leadership Conference (BLC) sells out. It’s happened for the last several years, which prompted us to create a waitlist. While we wish everyone in the industry could attend, we’re limited by pesky things like fire codes. This event has taken on a life of its own because of the impact it has on attendees each and every year. They’re able to take what they learn and implement impactful new ideas and strategies.
7. Our Quarterly Membership Journal: Integrate
We revamped our quarterly publication in 2020, and the feedback has been exactly what we were hoping for. It shares tips, insights, and advice to help our members do their jobs better. If you tell us about a challenge you’re facing, chances are good that the topic will end up being covered in a future issue of Integrate. Why? Because: If you’re struggling, then other integrators likely are, too.
8. The Financial Analysis of the Industry
Updated every two years, we’re currently in the process of working on the 2025 version of this report. It’s another highly regarded, highly anticipated research report for systems integrators. Used by hundreds of integrators annually, it offers a great way to benchmark financial metrics and track success. How are you performing financially compared to your peers? The Financial Analysis of the Industry Report will tell you.
9. The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS K-12)
When it was founded in 2014, we never dreamed what PASS K-12 (the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) would become. Today, it provides the most comprehensive information available on national best practices for securing school facilities. It’s used as a resource by school districts, integrators, security officials, government agencies and technology manufacturers to create a coordinated approach to school security.
10. One-on-One Conversations
While all the tangible resources we offer are valuable, we also cannot forget about the impact of connecting one on one, whether it’s via Teams, a phone call, a text or an email. We love that integrators reach out to us when they have a business question, idea, or concern. We field hundreds of calls every year, answering questions and offering guidance. We value every conversation we have.
Tom LeBlanc is executive director of the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA). To learn more about becoming an NSCA member, visit NSCA.org.
