How to Choose the Best AV Integrator for You?
All types of businesses require audio visual systems. Your needs can quickly become complex as your corporate office expands or you move to a new commercial space. An expert AV team can help you choose the right technology and design custom systems that fit the experience you want to create for your employees and customers.
WHAT DOES AN AV INTEGRATOR DO?
AV integrators are responsible for setting up and managing your audio visual systems. If you struggle to connect and operate several different pieces of technology, that signals that is time to hire a professional team to design, implement and support it for you. A tech team will make sure to blend your technology components into one, united audio visual system, optimized for quality of sound and user experience. When everything is running smoothly, the job is done.
Maintenance is typically added to the deal to minimize day-to-day disturbances. After an audio visual system is installed, your designated tech team would come out regularly to diagnose hardware and update any software issues that may come up. Relating this to your household, think about AC maintenance or any other high-dollar equipment. Once the investment is made, the upkeep is easier (and cheaper) than repair, and your AV team will be in charge of that.
WHAT GOES INTO A TYPICAL AUDIO VISUAL INSTALLATION?
Your AV team becomes your partner in setting your business up for success. Your AV integrators should go over a series of questions to best understand your company's operations and outline the scope of work. Having worked with a variety of commercial and industrial companies, the focus should always be on the people using the audiovisual systems. In a corporate office, for example, hybrid working is the norm. There is value in having the same experience for the people at home and in the office conference room. Tech integration allows for everyone on the team to have shared capabilities and move seamlessly between the different spaces.
Your AV integrator is the one who looks at your organization’s needs and recommends professional products that fit them - all within a reasonable budget and timeframe for the audiovisual installation. You want to make sure all the technology "speaks" and works seamlessly to avoid delays or troubleshooting. Can you imagine rebooting your conference camera before an important meeting with a potential new client? Stop this exercise if that raises your stress level. Ours has surely gone up. You want to be able to jump on that conference call from the office and have your team join without the all-too-common question: "Can everyone hear me?"
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR WITH AN AV INTEGRATOR?
First, get recommendations and check references. An AV systems integrator will be able to design, budget, and implement its AV integration services. A good AV team will provide a detailed quote that shows what you can expect and what the timeline is. A great audio visual partner will work closely with your budget and know commercial products in and out to offer alternatives outside of top-of-the-line products without compromising on the final result.
Now, a fantastic AV integrator will be a phone call away. The local factor is huge. Maintenance and troubleshooting (if needed) take time and having a trusted audio visual partner that can respond quickly can make or break a deal. Someone close to you can also explain the steps to troubleshoot minor issues and provide basic support to customers. AV system integration companies make your life easier and provide a complete system with all the necessary equipment, functionality, and connectivity.
WHAT ARE THE PROS OF WORKING WITH AN AV INTEGRATOR?
First, you have an expert design and install everything for you, and you won't have to do anything but watch the magic happen. AV integration benefits continue with having all the tedious, yet essential foundational hardware setup happens, such as cabling. Every piece of technology needs to be strategically placed and wired for it to work.
A direct relationship with manufacturers helps. A skilled AV integrator will have established connections and have quick access to the manufacturer's design team, new products, find out the lead time, and so on. Some manufacturers only sell through AV integrators. There are product lines that you simply cannot buy online because one has to have the proper training to do the installation.
As technology continues to evolve and change, audio and visual experts naturally stay up to date on what products are available. Having partnered with commercial vendors, it is natural for AV teams to be early adopters and test new products as they hit the market. When it comes to the design and installation, that background knowledge makes it easy to recommend appropriate solutions. While AV integrators may make the design and installation look simple, there are decades of knowledge and trial and error that goes into building out an audio visual system that works with a push of a button.
WHY US?
Knowing technology is not enough to build a great relationship. We try to do things differently, approach our clients with kindness and practical common sense. Technology can be frustrating, and we understand that – we are here to make it easier for our customers, not harder. As your Houston-based AV integration specialists, we will always want to build you innovative and authentic solutions you can be proud to use daily.
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