| Audio visual technology can be extremely beneficial in | | | | organisation? How effective is your current form of |
| most environments, it can cut costs and help | | | | mass communication to your employees or |
| improve productivity because at the end of the day, | | | | customers? If you just need AV technology as a |
| it's all about improving communications. In order to | | | | one off, for a trade show for example, it may prove |
| utilize AV technology, you must understand it. | | | | more cost effective to rent the required technology |
| Video Conferencing: | | | | through a trusted event management company. |
| Video conferencing is one of the most effective | | | | AV Specialists: |
| ways to cut costs and improve productivity. Face to | | | | Like any industry you're not sure of, it can be difficult |
| face communications is often needed to strengthen | | | | to know whom to trust. Although there is no |
| business relations but if your client isn't local this may | | | | required accreditation scheme in the UK, an |
| cause problems. Video conferencing is not a new | | | | organisation in America called InfoComm, the have an |
| technology but it is becoming more advanced and | | | | accreditation system called Certified Audio Visual |
| more affordable. An important half an hour meeting | | | | Solutions Provider (CAVSP), most reputable AV |
| at the other end of the country can easily consume | | | | specialists in the UK have gained accreditation from |
| a whole day in travel alone, a video conference | | | | this scheme, which assigns either a bronze, silver or |
| maybe just as effective and consume just a fraction | | | | gold level to their certificates. As with any new |
| of the resources. Video conferencing can also help | | | | supplier, check for references, they should be proud |
| improve communications in-house, particularly if an | | | | to show examples of their previous work. Make sure |
| organisation has several offices, although telephone | | | | they provide a full service. Although you can buy |
| conferencing may be more acceptable in this | | | | audio visual solutions over the internet, a specialist |
| circumstance, video conferencing can offer several | | | | AV supplier or consultant will be able to understand |
| advantages over telephone conferences including the | | | | exactly what you want to achieve from your new |
| ability to make presentations. | | | | technology and design and build a system around |
| Digital Signage: | | | | that need. They will then integrate and project |
| Digital signage is similar to video conferencing in that it | | | | manage that system for you as well as providing any |
| is still communicating through a visual tool except | | | | after care needed. Although you can buy your new |
| digital signage is just one way. This can also be a | | | | technology in box form or over the Internet and it |
| highly effective tool. A reception area of an | | | | maybe initially cheaper, your long term ROI would |
| organisation may have a plasma or LCD screen | | | | benefit from an AV specialist. |
| displaying a welcome message and information about | | | | Future: |
| that organisation. A call centre providing services for | | | | One of the biggest worries an organisation might |
| several organisations may have screens to display | | | | have when it comes to investing in any new |
| stats like call waiting times etc. An organisation that | | | | technology is its shelf life. With new technology being |
| has several screens throughout the offices can be | | | | developed all the time how do you know your new |
| handed over to the CEO to deliver important | | | | technology won't be obsolete tomorrow? The best |
| messages or presentations to the employees. | | | | way to combat this is research, if you employ an AV |
| Costs: | | | | consultant it's their job to not only know today's |
| Although new technology is often associated with a | | | | market inside out but tomorrow's market too. The |
| high price tag, this is not necessarily the case with | | | | market is expanding, nowadays web cams are |
| AV technology. When you think of your return on | | | | commonplace in the home, and the Internet is not |
| investment, how much is the time you spend | | | | only expanding the market in general but is |
| traveling to meetings worth to you and your | | | | developing global collaboration too. |