The importance of our world’s dependence on technology cannot be overstated. In today’s constantly evolving marketplace, the technology we rely on is an essential part of maintaining day-to-day operations, remaining competitive, communicating with our stakeholders, training employees, and protecting the bottom line. And, for companies with multiple places, utilizing different technology in various locations can create levels of complexity.
This is particularly the case for the businesses that rely on the tech that runs their AV systems. The right AV systems can shape outsiders’ perception of your business and the ability to conduct audioconferencing and videoconferencing with other worldwide locations can be a vital part of your company’s infrastructure. For those firms with several locations, managing the complexities of AV technology across multiple offices can present challenges. Let’s look closely at the reasons your company should have a standardized AV system.
Benefits of a Standardized AV System
Standardizing your AV system provides your workers with a seamless transition from one office to another. The standardization of technology ensures employees don’t have to use additional company time to learn new processes or tasks regarding different AV systems. This standardization provides an organizational structure that improves communication and daily operations.
Eliminating transitional complications for teams isn’t the only benefit. The elimination of multiple AV systems allows your IT team to focus on one AV technology, creating a more knowledgeable IT staff. The often-frustrating task of troubleshooting technical difficulties becomes less stressful and easier if your company has a standardized AV system. IT teams can troubleshoot problems from any location using the same methods and protocol if all your business locations utilize the same AV system.
Standardized AV System Monitoring
Monitoring a standardized AV system from a central hub strengthens the infrastructure of your business, optimizes efficiency, and quickens repair times. Standardizing your business’s AV system streamlines the monitoring process. If your firm has an IT team, they can manage the process of implementing a centralized AV system monitoring hub. If not, you may want to consider working with a managed service provider (MSP) to provide those IT functions—an effective option when it comes to monitoring a standardized AV system. MSPs can also monitor a standardized system from a central hub, and bring a high level of IT expertise regarding your business’s specific system.
Simplified Management
Multiple, different AV systems working in perfect unison is unusual because every AV system includes specified hardware, software, and operating systems, that may conflict with each other. With a standardized AV system, however, you ensure compatibility. This standardization not only increases business efficiency, but a unified AV system enhances disaster recovery solutions.
The Takeaway
A standardized AV system offers a broad range of benefits to businesses ranging from improving processes for your workers to presenting a unified and cohesive impression to your clients and prospective customers. A standard system ensures employees switching or visiting a different office can assimilate immediately to the technology. Troubleshooting is simplified, monitoring through IT teams or a MSP provide a high level of customer service and expertise, and one standardized AV system is much easier to manage than multiple systems with different features and technology. If your company relies on AV technology in various locations, it’s time to standardize your system.
Photo Credit: S Richards Photography Flickr via Compfight cc
This post was first published on Advanced AV.
John P. Greene manages and directs all tasks and responsibilities for account managers, sales engineers, and administrative sales staff for New Era Technology’s audio visual business. Greene brings particular dedication and insight to his technology and sales direction, as he has been actively involved in various aspects of the audio visual and technology industry since 1979. His experience spans the areas of video, security and surveillance, broadcast technology, and a brief stint as a radio announcer at the start of his career. Greene has previously held executive management positions with notable technology firms and video equipment manufacturers. Greene is an InfoComm member and an InfoComm Certified Technology Specialist (CTS).