By: Steve Knese

The professional A/V industry now generates sales into the billions annually, and at the same time, the consumer electronics industry is seeing similar growth. Increases in the number of sophisticated home theater systems, and an internet marketplace in which A/V “bargains” abound, have contributed to the belief that operating a professional conference or board room is no different from operating a home theater. Surely someone in your company with a credit card and internet access should be able to design and manage your business’s A/V systems, right?

We are here to advise you that the better option is to select an A/V business partner who can objectively evaluate your company’s needs and design the systems for each space in which it will be used. A/V design contractors are not restricted to purchasing whatever the internet has to offer and can contribute to making sure your systems are easy to operate and maintain.

Here are some things to consider as you start the process of implementing your A/V systems:

  • Find an A/V partner that understands and can share each of the ways a particular A/V system will help your company reach its goals. A good partner will do this by gaining a thorough understanding of your business and your goals for new or upgraded A/V systems. (Those goals could include growing sales revenues, increasing brand recognition, collaborating more effectively via teleconferencing, etc.)
  • Find an A/V partner who will help build your systems for the ever expanding “digital” future. Every d
  • ay more and more A/V systems and devices are becoming network based. Your A/V partner should have a solid understanding of networking, and the best ways to integrate the A/V and I.T. worlds.
  • Find an A/V partner who has a support network in place to keep your A/V systems working at peak efficiency. Does your partner have the ability to perform remote diagnostics, firmware/software upgrades, etc.?
  • Find an A/V partner who can offer multiple purchase options. Given the rapid technology changes, maybe a lease option is a better fit for your organization. The ability to set up a plan that gets you the “latest and greatest” every 2 or 3 years without making a large capital purchase could benefit your company.

With professional A/V technology growing at such an impressive rate, it’s clear that these systems will play a fundamental role in your business for years to come.