DATA INSIGHT€¦ · This Data Insight is available to Bluefield Research’s U.S. & Canada...
Transcript of DATA INSIGHT€¦ · This Data Insight is available to Bluefield Research’s U.S. & Canada...
ADVANCING WATER STRATEGIESU.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Source: Timothy Vogel
DATA INSIGHT
The U.S. Water Conference Landscape: Focus, Themes, and Corporate Influencers, 2018
November 2018
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
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Summary
Background
Water industry conferences and tradeshows serve as a central meeting
point for companies across the value chain to showcase their
experiences and capabilities, from products-to-services. At the same
time, municipal utilities and regulatory decision-makers receive
continuing education credits on topics and themes. These exchanges,
even in the formal settings of panel discussions and presentations,
enable companies to influence the market.
Bluefield Research has embarked upon analysis of 2,649 conference
proceedings at eleven regional and national conferences in 2018 to
identify key influencers, both corporate and people. In doing so,
Bluefield has built a database of companies, people, presentation titles
and themes to develop data-backed analysis select conferences in the
U.S. that are attended by more than 50,000 people in total.
In conference logistics and preparation, corporate sponsors and
committee leaders for the Water Environment Foundation (WEF) and
America Waterworks Association (AWWA) play significant roles in topic
and themes to be presented. As such, these same companies are also
heavily represented in the proceedings by employees, clients, and
vendors.
This Data Insight is available to Bluefield Research’s U.S. & Canada
Municipal and Industrial Insight Service clients.
Key Takeaways
• Bluefield analyzed 2,649 presentations at 11 conferences in 2018.
The presentations and panel discussion were authored and
delivered by 5,462 people in total.
• The conferences ranged in size from 48 to 859 proceedings.
WEFTEC and ACE, represented 70% of the total, resulting in the
greatest impact on the total numbers with 687 and 859 proceedings,
respectively.
• More than 80% of the presentations are focused on the municipal
sector. Differentiated needs and supply chains for industrial
companies (e.g. Mining, Energy, Food & Beverage…etc), limits
water related discussions outside of their own, vertical-focused
events.
• Wastewater topics, driven by the wastewater focus of WEFTEC,
make up 49% of the total, followed by Water and Other topics.
• Technology focused topics make up 64% of the total, thereby
highlighted the absence of business models, project finance, and
deployment, which represent larger challenges than technology.
• While the largest group of authors were from technology and
equipment vendors, 32% of the total, nine of the top 10 companies
as represented by authorship are from engineering firms. Only
water utility DC Water cracks the top 10 in the ninth spot.
• Only two of conferences– WEFTEC and WateReuse– identified
professional titles. Of these, 21%, 16%, and 12%, of the
proceedings were presented by Technician/Engineer/Scientist,
Executive Level, and Manager/Associate, respectively.
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
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Conference &
Tradeshows
National Tradeshows
State Conferences
Symposiums
Other
Presenters & Company
/ Employer
Name
Title
Company / Employer
Company Type
11 Conferences 2,649
Proceedings
5,462 Authors &
1,560 Companies
Mapping the
conference landscape:
• Primary focus
• Industry verticals
• Attendees
• Locations
• Timing
• Lead Organization
Identifying key
themes:
• Presentation/Panel Title
• Segments: Water,
Wastewater, Stormwater,
Other
• Vertical: Municipal, Heavy
Industry, Light Industry,
Other
• Theme: Technology, Policy,
Bus. Mod. Strategy,
Economics, Other
Segmenting the
speakers:
• Name of speakers &
panelists
• Titles of speakers &
panelists
• Organization Type –
Engineering, utility, vendor
other
Proceedings &
Topics
Industry Vertical
Segment
Theme
Topic
Geographic Focus
Trend
Analysis
Guiding strategic
decisions:
• Which conferences should
a company target?
• Which competitors are most
active as presenters?
Key
Questions
Baseline Themes
Emerging Topics
Company Influencers
Strategic Focus
Methodology
Bluefield has analyzed 11 national and regional conferences to identify the most active companies
and influencers in water conference proceedings to support marketing teams in the planning.
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Mapping the Conference Landscape
In 2018, 2,649 presentations were delivered, with the lion’s share at ACE 2018 and WEFTEC totaling
687 and 859, respectively, at conferences and tradeshows with over 50,000 attendees.
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WEF Nutrient Removal &
Recovery
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Date: June 2018
• Attendees: Undisclosed
• Authors: 95
• Proceedings: 89
WaterCon
• Springfield, Illinois
• Date: March 2018
• Attendees: 1,600
• Authors: 180
• Proceedings:126
Pacific NW Clean Water
Association
• Boise, Idaho
• Date: October 2018
• Attendees: Undisclosed
• Authors: 361
• Proceedings: 149
WEF Residuals & Biosolids
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Date: May 2018
• Attendees: Undisclosed
• Authors: 97
• Proceedings: 96
AWWA ACE
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Date: June 2018
• Attendees: 11,000
• Authors: 1536
• Proceedings: 687
WateReuse Symposium
• Austin, Texas
• Date: September 2018
• Attendees: 500
• Authors: 105
• Proceedings: 101
WEFETC 2018
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Date: October 2018
• Attendees: 32,000
• Authors: 2,306
• Proceedings: 859
Rocky Mountain AWWA
• Denver, Colorado
• Date: September 2018
• Attendees: Undisclosed
• Authors: 155
• Proceedings: 153
New England Water
Environment Association
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Date: January 2018
• Attendees: 2,100
• Authors: 315
• Proceedings: 151
KY/TN WPC
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Date: July 2018
• Attendees: 1,700
• Authors: 263
• Proceedings: 190
Central States Water
Environment Association
• Chicago, Illinois
• Date: May 2018
• Attendees: Undisclosed
• Authors: 49
• Proceedings: 48
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Measuring Corporate Influence
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Conference proceedings represent
marketing opportunity.
• Vendors and Engineering firms make up the
lion’s share of authorship by authoring and
presenting 58% and 70% of conference
proceedings analyzed.
• Strategically, conference presentations are
valuable opportunities for vendors and
engineering firms to showcase their
capabilities. Behind the scenes, their roles
as presenters are secured via financial
sponsorships and committee leadership
positions.
• Academics and utilities, representing 27% of
the total authors, are often publishing in
coordination to demonstrate experiences and
success with technologies and applications.
AnalysisAuthors by Company Type
Source: Water Environment Foundation, American Waterworks Foundation, WateReuse,
Bluefield Research
While there are 5,462 presentations and paper authors at the 11 conferences, 2,649 presented the
topics and therefore have the greatest influence.
Vendor37%
Engineering33%
Utility14%
Academic/Other12%
Undisclosed4%
5,462
Authors
Vendor32%
Engineering26%
Utility16%
Undisclosed15%
Academic/Other11%
Presenters by Company Type
2,649
Proceedings
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Measuring Corporate Influence by Proceeding Authorship
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0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Num
ber
of
Pre
sente
rs &
Panelis
ts
Academic/Other Vendor Utility Engineering
Company Presence by Authors and Co-Authors
Source: Water Environment Foundation, American Waterworks Foundation, WateReuse,
Bluefield Research
The Top 50 companies are represented in 1,388, or 52%, of the presentations, excluding other
authors, are weighted heavily toward engineering firms in total volume.
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Visualizing EPCs Influence over the Conversation
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Source: Water Environment Foundation, American Waterworks Foundation, WateReuse,
Bluefield Research
Brown and Caldwell, CDM Smith, Carollo, HDR, Hazen and Sawyer, Jacobs, and Stantec among
engineering companies with strong conference presence.
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Municipal Water Dominates the Discussion
The municipal sector-related discussions take up the lion’s share of the proceedings– surpassing
80%– largely based on a singular focus not seen in other industry verticals.
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Municipal80%
Other16%
Light Industry2%
Heavy Industry2%
Industrial-focused content takes low
priority at water events.
• Water-focused events target the municipal
sector, partly for continuing education and
because of organizer interests, such as
AWWA and WEF.
• Industrial conferences, such as those in the
oil and gas sector are often focused on other
topics in addition to water and wastewater
management. The municipal sector is more
uniform in its structure than the industrial
sector, which is made up of individual
verticals and customer bases.
• The Other category makes up 16% of the
total, includes presentations that cover
resources that are not included in the
Municipal or Industrial sectors, such as
aquifers, rivers, and lakes.
Analysis
2,649
Proceedings
Segmenting the Proceedings by Vertical
Source: Water Environment Foundation, American Waterworks Foundation, WateReuse,
Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Wastewater at The Forefront
Driven by large conferences (e.g. WEFTEC) and additional industrial content, wastewater takes on
the greatest share of proceedings.
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Wastewater49%
Water 31%
Other16%
Stormwater4%
2,649
Proceedings
Growth and innovation in wastewater is
reflected in the volume of material
presented in the segment.
• With 32% of total proceedings, WEFTEC
drives wastewater focus overall. In New
Orleans, 73% of proceedings and panel
discussions touched upon wastewater.
• Across the 11 conferences, 36 discussions
specifically targeted Combined Sewer
Overflows (CSO). Given the rise in larger
storm events and impacts on municipalities,
stormwater management themed
presentations is expected to increase.
• With one dedicated conference, WateReuse
Symposium, water (or wastewater) reuse
presentations made up 113 unique
proceedings as identified by “reuse” in the
titles.
AnalysisBreaking Down The Proceedings by Market Segment
Source: Water Environment Foundation, American Waterworks Foundation, WateReuse,
Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Room for Growth Outside Technology
Overall, the water industry events target technology and their applications across the municipal
sector.
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Technology64%
Other17%
Economics7%
Business Model & Strategy
6% Policy6%
Limited discussion on business models and
strategy exposes gap in industry.
• While technology presentations make up the
lion’s share of the proceedings, almost 65%,
with few exceptions technology is not the
industry challenge.
• The opportunity lies in educating the sector–
mostly municipal given this analysis– of the
financial tools and business experiences to
deploy more advanced solutions.
• Given the looming challenges facing the
municipal water sector, the status quo
represents a significant hurdle.
Analysis
2,649
Proceedings
Identifying the Themes of Discussion
Source: Water Environment Foundation, American Waterworks Foundation, WateReuse,
Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
American Water Works Association ACE 18
ACE 18 is the largest annual water conference focused on water quality.
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Water 77%
Other14%
Wastewater7%
Stormwater2%
Municipal84%
Other16%
Light Industry0.58%
690
Proceedings
Bus. Mod. Strategy9%
Economics12%
Other14%
Policy7%
Technology58%
690
Proceedings
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Nu
mb
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Au
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rs EPC Other
Segments Verticals Themes
Background Top 10 Influencers
Conference SponsorAmerican Waterworks
Association (AWWA)
Conference Type National
2018 Location Las Vegas, Nevada
Date June 2018
Attendees 11,000
Authors / Proceedings 1,536 / 690
690
Proceedings
Source: Water Environment Foundation, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Central States Water Environment Association Annual Conference
Conference focusing on Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
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Wastewater82%
Water 9%
Other7%
Stormwater2%
Municipal84%
N\A6%
Other6%
Heavy Industry2%
Light Industry2%
48
Proceedings
Economics7% Other
11%
Policy7%
Technology75%
48
Proceedings
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Nu
mb
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of
Au
tho
rs EPC Vendor Utility
Segments Verticals Themes
Background Top 10 Influencers
Conference Sponsor Water Environment Foundation
Conference Type Regional
2018 Location Chicago, Illinois
Date May 2018
Attendees Undisclosed
Authors / Proceedings 49 / 48
48
Proceedings
Source: Water Environment Foundation, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
KY/TN Water Professional Conference
The annual joint conference of the Kentucky/Tennessee Section of the American Water Works
Association and the Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association.
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Water 43%
Wastewater32%
Other22%
Stormwater3%
Municipal80%
Other17%
Light Industry3%
190
Proceedings
Bus. Mod. Strategy3%
Economics3%
Other23%
Policy9%
Technology62%
190
Proceedings
02468
10121416
Nu
mb
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of
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tho
rs
EPC Utility
Segments Verticals Themes
Background Top 10 Influencers
Conference Sponsor Water Environment Foundation
Conference Type Regional
2018 Location Nashville, Tennessee
Date July 2018
Attendees 1,700
Authors / Proceedings 263 / 190
190
Proceedings
Source: Water Environment Foundation, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
New England Water Environment Association Annual Conference
Conference convening water and wastewater professionals from Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island and Connecticut.
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Segments Verticals Themes
Wastewater50%
Other28%
Water 13%
Stormwater9%
Municipal68%
Other29%
Light Industry3%
151
Proceedings
Bus. Mod. Strategy3%
Economics4%
Other29%
Policy9%
Technology55%
151
Proceedings
0
5
10
15
20
25
Nu
mb
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of
Au
tho
rs
EPC Vendor Other
Background Top 10 Influencers
Conference Sponsor Water Environment Association
Conference Type Regional
2018 Location Boston, Massachusetts
Date January 2018
Attendees 2,100
Authors / Proceedings 315 / 151
151
Proceedings
Source: Water Environment Foundation, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association Annual Conference
Conference on water issues in Idaho, Oregon, Washington.
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Segments Verticals Themes
Wastewater60%
Other22%
Stormwater9%
Water 9%
Municipal82%
Other18%
150
Proceedings
Bus. Mod. Strategy8%
Economics7%
Other18%
Policy4%Technology
63%
150
Proceedings
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Nu
mb
er
of
Au
tho
rs EPC Utility
Background Top 10 Influencers
Conference Sponsor Water Environment Foundation
Conference Type Regional
2018 Location Boise, Idaho
Date October 2018
Attendees Undisclosed
Authors / Proceedings 361 / 150
150
Proceedings
Source: Water Environment Foundation, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Rocky Mountain AWWA-WEA
Professional Development conference focusing on Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.
16
Background Top 10 Influencers
Segments Verticals Themes
Conference SponsorAmerican Waterworks
Association (AWWA)
Conference Type Regional
2018 Location Denver, Colorado
Date September 2018
Attendees Undisclosed
Authors / Proceedings 155 / 153
Wastewater39%
Water 39%
Other22%
Municipal78%
Other21%
Light Industry1%
153
Proceedings
Bus. Mod. Strategy2%
Economics4%
Other23%
Policy6%
Technology65%
153
Proceedings
02468
10121416
Nu
mb
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of
Au
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rs
EPC Utility
153
Proceedings
Source: American Waterworks Association, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
WaterCon
“Total water cycle” conference, focused on multi-segment education and training, in Illinois.
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Segments Verticals Themes
Water 55%
Wastewater25%
Other19%
Stormwater1%
Municipal75%
Other25%
126
Proceedings
Bus. Mod. Strategy1%
Economics6%
Other22%
Policy6%
Technology65%
126
Proceedings
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Nu
mb
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of
Au
tho
rs
EPC Utility VendorConference Sponsor
American Waterworks
Association (AWWA)
Conference Type Regional
2018 Location Springfield, Illinois
Date March 2018
Attendees 1,600
Authors / Proceedings 180 / 126
126
Proceedings
Background Top 10 Influencers
Source: American Waterworks Association, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
WateReuse Symposium
Conference on water reuse advancement, with special attention to policy and funding.
18
Segments Verticals Themes
Wastewater86%
Other10%
Water 4%
Municipal54%
Other28%
Light Industry
9%
Heavy Industry9%
101
Proceedings
Bus. Mod. Strategy11%
Economics9%
Other28%
Policy10%
Technology42%
101
Proceedings
02468
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Background Top 10 Influencers
Conference Sponsor WateReuse
Conference Type National
2018 Location Austin, Texas
Date September 2018
Attendees 500
Authors / Proceedings 105 / 101
101
Proceedings
Source: WateReuse Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
WEF Nutrient Removal and Recovery
Highly technical conference on nutrient removal, recovery and management, put on in conjunction
with Central States Water Environment Foundation and the Water Research Foundation.
19
Segments Verticals Themes
Wastewater100%
Municipal100%
96
Proceedings
Bus. Mod. Strategy6%
Economics2%
Other1%
Policy5%
Technology86%
96
Proceedings
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Nu
mb
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of
Au
tho
rs
EPC Utility Other
Background Top 10 Influencers
Conference Sponsor Water Environment Foundation
Conference Type National
2018 Location Raleigh, North Carolina
Date June 2018
Attendees Undisclosed
Authors / Proceedings 95 / 96
96
Proceedings
Source: Water Environment Foundation, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
WEF Residuals and Biosolids
Highly technically focused conference on wastewater treatment and connected issues such as
energy production.
20
Segments Verticals Themes
Wastewater93%
Other6%
Water 1%
Municipal99%
Other1%
89
Proceedings
Bus. Mod. Strategy5%
Economics3%
Other2%
Policy8%
Technology82%
89
Proceedings
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
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of
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tho
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EPC Other
Background Top 10 Influencers
Conference Sponsor Water Environment Foundation
Conference Type National
2018 Location Phoenix, Arizona
Date May 2018
Attendees Undisclosed
Authors / Proceedings 97 / 89
89
Proceedings
Source: Water Environment Foundation, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
WEFTEC 2018
The largest conference of its kind in North America, and the largest water industry exhibition in the
world.
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Segments Verticals Themes
Wastewater73%
Other17%
Stormwater6%
Water 4%
Municipal78%
Other14%
Heavy Industry4%
Light Industry4%
Bus. Mod. Strategy7% Economics
6%
Other16%
Policy3%
Technology68%
0
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60
80
100
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Background Top 10 Influencers
Conference Sponsor Water Environment Foundation
Conference Type National
2018 Location New Orleans, Louisiana
Date October 2018
Attendees 32,000
Authors / Proceedings 2,306 / 859
859
Proceedings
859
Proceedings
859
Proceedings
Source: Water Environment Foundation, Bluefield Research
U.S. MUNICIPAL WATER INSIGHT SERVICE
Analyzing the Conference Landscape 2018 DATA INSIGHT
Global companies across the value chain are
developing strategies to capitalize on greenfield
opportunities in water − new build, new business
models, and private investment. Bluefield Research
supports a growing roster of companies across key
technology segments and industry verticals addressing
risks and opportunities in the new water landscape.
Companies are turning to Bluefield for in-depth,
actionable intelligence into the water sector and the
sector's impacts on key industries. The insights draw on
primary research from the water, energy, power, mining,
agriculture, financial sectors and their respective supply
chains.
Bluefield works with key decision-makers at utilities,
project development companies, independent water and
power providers, EPC companies, technology suppliers,
manufacturers, and investment firms, giving them tools
to define and execute strategies.
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