If 2020 taught us anything, it is that flexible audiovisual technology is a must in the modern workforce.
Your teams need communication and collaboration technology that is easy to use. It should provide a consistent experience regardless of where the meeting is taking place, or where participants are. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, many office workers hope to work from home more frequently and 55% of executives expect to offer that option.
Employees returning to the office, whether it is full-time or part-time, expect meeting room AV technology that allows them to communicate and collaborate easily with teams and clients located anywhere.
But what meeting room AV technology is best to provide this flexibility and productivity? This article explains the pros and cons of three ways to select meeting room AV technology. Need some advice for selecting the correct AV technology for your meeting rooms? AV Solutions can help.
Option 1: DIY Consumer
In Q2 of 2020, big box retailers like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot saw an increase in revenue from online shopping. And what were people looking for? Many of them were in the market for technology solutions to support their new remote work model.
As employees updated the technology in their home offices, they realized that the AV technology in their office meeting rooms needs updating as well. For example, more and more people started using consumer video technology to connect with friends and family. So why couldn’t they use similar tools to bring video into meeting rooms?
There are many reasons consumer technology isn’t appropriate for commercial use. The length of the manufacturer’s warranty and usage ratings are just two of them. But that might not be enough to stop your team from turning to online retailers to get video conferencing gear for their meeting rooms.
Pro: You can quickly find technology that will fit your budget and will likely be using it within a few days. These solutions are inexpensive and you’ll be able to install them on your own.
Con: The entire solution or parts of it may not work. The time you’ll spend troubleshooting translates into lost productivity. And if you can’t resolve the issue on your own, you’ll have to work directly with the manufacturer to get it fixed.
Option 2: DIY Professional
Similar to the DIY Consumer option, as teams realize they need to improve meeting room audio conferencing and video conferencing capabilities they may turn to online retailers for solutions that are a step above consumer solutions but still inexpensive and easy to install.
For example, your team may search for devices that claim they are “Zoom ready” or “Microsoft Teams ready.” If your team has a limited budget and resources to get meeting rooms up and running, it can be tempting to rush the purchasing decision. To save time and money they may purchase prosumer-grade products that have features suitable for professional use.
Pro: These solutions are inexpensive and you’ll be able to install them in your meeting room on your own.
Con: Just like the DIY Consumer option, the entire solution or parts of it may not work. You’ll have to work with the manufacturer to get your equipment issues resolved.
Option 3: Enterprise Class Professional
This option is perfect for any organization with a budget for AV but no team dedicated to managing AV technology full-time. All the components used in these meeting room solutions are commercial-grade, which makes them flexible and reliable from the very beginning.
Examples of commercial AV equipment include Poly, Crestron, and Lifesize.
With this option, you’ll work with a professional AV technology partner such as AV Solutions. Together you’ll review your expected business outcomes and choose a meeting room solution that aligns with your goals.
Pro: If you have a problem with your collaborative AV system, you just pick up the phone and call AV Solutions. You’ll have a single point of contact to resolve your AV technology system issues. This saves you time and eliminates the need to deal with multiple manufacturers on your own.
There are many other benefits to working with a professional AV technology partner, such as technical certifications, installation experience, industry relationships, and support.
Con: This solution will be more expensive than the DIY options.
Talk to AV Solution about Selecting Meeting Room Technology
Each organization’s meeting room needs are unique. We do extensive in-house testing and design engineering, use calculation standards, and conduct ongoing research and development. These efforts ensure that the AV technology equipment and system configuration meet the productivity needs of your employees and align with your business objectives.
Contact AV Solutions today to discuss your meeting room technology needs.
