VisionNext
Our Mission
VisionNext is a focused strategic consultancy dedicated to the introduction and adoption of new technologies in government, and public safety markets. While other agencies pursue innovation that have potential 3 to 6 years out, VisionNext is resolute in identifying next gen tech that can be leveraged quickly, within a 1 to 3 year timeframe to maximize value. Advanced capabilities that enhance user experiences and deliver value to government markets in the near term. The methods that VisionNext uses to extract value from invention is a unique set of business projection skills that explore the costs of creating, deploying and exploiting tech and compare those costs against the value that each innovation can generate. This is a simple, but effective model that has helped to drive the strategy of our customers for years.
Markets Served
Public Safety: Advisory Services for State and Local Police, Fire, EMS and other Federal Government Agencies including ICE, CBP, FBI and TSA
Venture Cap, Investment Banking: Tech Analysis and Evaluation for commercial markets to help investment banking and venture capital firms make important decisions on timing and viability of technology trends and investment planning
Manufacturers and Software Development: Qualify roadmaps, setting priorities and generating input to support strategic decisions to enhance portfolios with new services and enhance existing services, and capabilities
Cellular: 5G tech and network planning, economics, voice/data demand projections, network investment pro forma and ROI analysis.
Recent Projects
Red Compartida: VisionNext was contracted for subject matter expertise to support a series of unique requirements for Red Compartida or "shared network" in Mexico. Services provided included the development technical specifications, coverage analysis, throughput and capacity objectives. Also the development of the Demand Model which drove the business case, and projected uptake in users, average revenue per user, and long term viability of the business objectives of the network. The analysis further examined the backhaul design, throughput, redundancy planning, and reliability objectives of the network for backup and restoration.
4G Band 14 - FirstNet Evaluation and Cellular Access Planning: VisionNext was commissioned to evaluate the FirstNet B14 Broadband Network to support an agencies investment strategy to determine if the model was viable for a state and local account. The research tasks focused on the deployment schedule for practicality, coverage, interference, and to ultimately determine if the network capabilities were aligned with the objectives to serve the police in a sustainable operational model. The project explored the financial and technical implications of a PPP: Public Private Partnership. Additional work is being done on Site and Tower Sharing, and application based user scenarios. Later analysis covered Land Mobile Radio (LMR) to Broadband Interoperability options.
PERF - Police Executive Research Forum Washington DC: VisionNext was retained by PERF to run a detailed analysis on the efficacy of FirstNet under severe network pressure along with common daily patrol services. The evaluation would provide clear analysis on how well FirstNet provided mission critical services to first responders during heavy network usage as compared to public networks. Testing was completed in live circumstances during the Women’s March and March for Life in Washington DC. In these events, while public networks were under extreme pressure in a concentrated area, VisionNext used field devices to fully assess network performance of public networks versus mission critical priority services provided by Band 14 and the FirstNet dedicated Public Safety Broadband Network, NPSBN. The results of the tests, along with daily FirstNet access patrol case studies from Camden NJ, were summarized and published in a national report released by PERF in 2022 found here: "Beyond Signal Strength: Measuring Performance of Public Safety Mobile Broadband Networks" https://www.policeforum.org/assets/FirstNetCaseStudy.pdf
Operational Security & Risk Management: VisionNext was requested to help restructure business operations for a major security services firm in the Boston area. A multiyear project that focused on increased profitability in a fast changing market, make changes to adapt to impact of Covid on security service delivery, and monetize gaps in public safety funding reductions where private companies were increasingly contracting private security services. VisionNext developed a cohesive expansion plan for profitable areas of the business, while effectively divesting other less profitable services resulting in a 3X growth, new tools to monitor financial operational objectives, and overall increase customer satisfaction.
VisionNext LLC * Mount Pleasant SC * Rick.Keith@visionnextllc.com