VDC Research
VDC Strategy is a privately held market intelligence and strategic advisory firm serving operational and industrial technology companies and private equity investors, delivering research-backed consulting in growth strategy, value proposition, and commercial due diligence from Southborough, Massachusetts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersNatick, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What VDC Research does
VDC Strategy (formerly VDC Research Group) is a privately held market intelligence and strategic advisory firm headquartered in Southborough, Massachusetts, focused exclusively on operational and industrial technology companies and the private equity investors that back them. The firm traces its roots to 1971 and operates today with 11-50 employees under President Mitch Solomon and a senior leadership team that includes Executive Vice Presidents Chris Rommel and David Krebs, plus Director Steve Hoffenberg covering IoT and embedded technology.
The firm's offering rests on four ongoing research programs — Track & Trace Technologies, Enterprise Mobility & The Connected Worker, IoT/Edge/Embedded Technology, and Industrial Automation & Sensors — which generate the proprietary data, frameworks, and content that feed its consulting practice. On top of this research base, VDC delivers bespoke strategic engagements covering growth strategy, product strategy, value proposition development, sales strategy, competitive positioning, and market expansion for industrial-tech clients such as Panasonic, Honeywell, and Getac, alongside commercial due diligence, investment theme support, and portfolio growth advisory for private equity firms.
Revenue is generated entirely through professional services delivered via direct enterprise field sales to C-suites and senior leadership. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagements are quote-based given their bespoke nature. Distribution is single-channel and direct, supplemented by a content-led marketing motion (monthly "The Edge" newsletter, blog, case studies, LinkedIn) that establishes thought leadership in a narrow industrial-tech niche. The firm holds no patents, has no proprietary software platform, and shows no signs of institutional outside investment.
VDC Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VDC Research
- Legal name
- VDC Strategy
- Website
- https://vdcresearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- VDC Strategy is a privately held market intelligence and strategic advisory firm serving operational and industrial technology companies and private equity investors, delivering research-backed consulting in growth strategy, value proposition, and commercial due diligence from Southborough, Massachusetts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VDC Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Technology Consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA)
Keywords
Where VDC Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Natick
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
VDC Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Strategic Consulting Services: Revenue is generated through consulting engagements with operational and industrial technology companies and private equity firms seeking growth strategy, commercial due diligence, and investment theme support.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
VDC Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VDC Strategy provides strategic consulting engagements and syndicated research programs for operational and industrial technology companies, as well as private equity investors. Its offering combines four recurring research programs (Track & Trace Technologies, Enterprise Mobility & The Connected Worker, IoT/Edge/Embedded Technology, and Industrial Automation & Sensors) with bespoke advisory work spanning growth strategy, value proposition development, sales strategy, competitive positioning, market entry, commercial due diligence, and portfolio company growth strategy.
Product overview
VDC Strategy is a consulting firm providing research programs and strategic advisory services for operational and industrial technology companies and private equity investors. The company's offering consists of four research programs covering Track & Trace Technologies, Enterprise Mobility & The Connected Worker, IoT/Edge/Embedded Technology, and Industrial Automation & Sensors. These research programs are complemented by consulting services including strategic growth advisory for technology companies, private equity advisory (driving returns, investment theme support, commercial due diligence, and portfolio company growth strategy). The research programs serve as the intellectual foundation for the consulting practice, while the advisory services translate research insights into actionable strategies for clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Track & Trace Technologies Research Program Recurring research program providing market intelligence and strategic insights on track and trace technologies for industrial and operational technology companies.
- Enterprise Mobility & The Connected Worker Research Program Recurring research program examining market trends, buyer priorities, and growth opportunities in enterprise mobility solutions and connected workforce technologies for industrial buyers.
- IoT, Edge & Embedded Technology Research Program Recurring research program providing analysis and strategic guidance for technology companies operating in Internet of Things, edge computing, and embedded technology markets.
- Industrial Automation & Sensors Research Program Recurring research program delivering market intelligence and strategic insights on industrial automation technologies and sensor solutions for operational technology companies.
- Strategic Consulting for Technology Companies Bespoke advisory engagements covering growth strategy, value proposition development, sales strategy, competitive positioning, new market identification and entry, revenue retention, and board-ready presentations for operational and industrial technology companies.
- Private Equity Advisory Services Advisory services for private equity firms investing in operational and industrial technology, including investment theme support, commercial due diligence, and portfolio company growth strategy.
- Commercial Due Diligence Standalone commercial due diligence engagements for private equity and strategic buyers evaluating operational and industrial technology investments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Organizations implementing 2D barcodes can reduce operational costs by more than 60%, with annual savings exceeding $500,000 per facility (GS1 US research conducted by VDC Research)
Companies that use VDC Research
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
VDC Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
VDC Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- GS1 UScoreGS1 US commissioned VDC Research to conduct research on 2D barcodes in warehouse and distribution environments. The study found that organizations implementing 2D barcodes can reduce operational costs by more than 60%, with annual savings exceeding $500,000 per facility. The research was based on a survey of 400 U.S.-based organizations.
- KasperskycoreVDC Research collaborated with Kaspersky on operational technology cybersecurity research, providing data and analysis on industrial control system threats. Research found that malicious objects were blocked on 19.6% of industrial control systems globally, with malware from 10,052 different families detected. The research quantified $18 billion in losses from ransomware attacks against manufacturers.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
VDC Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Berg Insight: Berg Insight is a focused IoT/M2M/connectivity research firm producing subscription reports and custom research, with deep overlap to VDC's IoT, edge, and managed connectivity subsector coverage. It is a smaller, more narrowly focused emerging player relative to VDC but competes for the same IoT/connectivity buyer mindshare.
Regional players
- Counterpoint Research: Counterpoint Research is a global technology research firm with strong coverage of connected devices, IoT, and embedded technology — overlapping with VDC's Enterprise Mobility and IoT/Edge/Embedded programs. While it competes globally, it is particularly strong in Asia-Pacific device and component coverage, making it a relevant but geographically differentiated peer.
Broad incumbents
- Forrester Research: Forrester is a global research and advisory firm serving CX, technology, and digital strategy leaders, with adjacent coverage in IoT, operational technology, and enterprise mobility. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with VDC's research and advisory model but serves a wider set of buyers and use cases.
- McKinsey & Company: McKinsey is the preeminent global management consulting firm with an Operations and Industrials practice that overlaps VDC's growth strategy, commercial due diligence, and corporate development work for industrial-tech clients and PE firms. It is a broad incumbent whose scale, brand, and cross-industry reach compete with VDC at the senior buyer level.
- Gartner: Gartner is the largest technology research and advisory firm, offering subscription research, executive programs, and consulting across the full IT stack including industrial/operational technology. It competes with VDC at the high end of enterprise buyers but covers a far broader portfolio and serves as a broad incumbent against which VDC's niche depth must differentiate.
- Bain & Company: Bain & Company is a global management consulting firm with a strong industrials and private equity practice, providing commercial due diligence, value creation, and growth strategy services that directly overlap VDC's PE advisory offering. As a broad incumbent, it competes with VDC for senior industrial-tech and PE engagements.
Direct peers
- ARC Advisory Group: ARC Advisory Group is a research and advisory firm focused specifically on industrial software, automation, and the industrial Internet of Things, serving operational technology buyers and suppliers. Its industrial-only focus and research-plus-advisory model make it a strong direct peer in VDC's industrial automation and sensors subsector.
- ABI Research:
- Frost & Sullivan: Frost & Sullivan is a growth strategy and market intelligence firm with deep coverage of industrial, automotive, mobility, and operational technology sectors — closely aligned to VDC's industrial-tech focus. It sells a similar mix of subscription research and custom consulting and serves many of the same enterprise and PE clients, making it one of the most directly comparable peers.
- IDC: IDC is the closest direct peer: a large global provider of market intelligence, advisory, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets, with a particularly strong industrial/IoT/embedded practice that directly overlaps VDC's research programs. Both firms monetize subscription research plus bespoke advisory to enterprise tech buyers and PE investors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VDC Research social profiles
Digital presenceVDC Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VDC Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
VDC Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VDC Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VDC Research
What does VDC Research do?
VDC Strategy provides strategic consulting engagements and syndicated research programs for operational and industrial technology companies, as well as private equity investors. Its offering combines four recurring research programs (Track & Trace Technologies, Enterprise Mobility & The Connected Worker, IoT/Edge/Embedded Technology, and Industrial Automation & Sensors) with bespoke advisory work spanning growth strategy, value proposition development, sales strategy, competitive positioning, market entry, commercial due diligence, and portfolio company growth strategy.
Is VDC Research a public or private company?
VDC Research is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was VDC Research founded?
VDC Research was founded in 1971. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is VDC Research based?
VDC Research is headquartered in Natick, United States, in the North America region.
How does VDC Research make money?
One revenue line is on record: strategic Consulting Services.
Who are VDC Research's main competitors?
Berg Insight is listed as an emerging player. Counterpoint Research is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Forrester Research, McKinsey & Company, Gartner and Bain & Company. Direct peers are ARC Advisory Group, ABI Research, Frost & Sullivan and IDC.
Does VDC Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for VDC Research.
What industry is VDC Research in?
VDC Research's product category is Industrial Technology Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAA, Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.