Until recently, there were limited options available for business applications of AV components as well as the variety and number of devices on the market that could deliver them. Like everything else technology-related, innovations led to AV systems joining IT infrastructures and IoT devices that are more flexible in their usability. This also coincides with employees bringing their own devices into the workplace. These shifts in the landscape mean that businesses need to move away from solely equipment-centered strategies and take a hybrid approach, considering both equipment needs as well as AV software.
Managed AV services can play a key role in your AV strategies, helping minimize the strain on your IT department and providing tailored solutions to align with your business objectives. To help you better determine if managed AV support is right for you, we’re breaking down the key benefits most organizations experience after making the transition.
Understanding Managed AV Services
First, let’s look at exactly what managed AV services are and what they generally entail. Managed services, whether referring to IT or AV refers to when your organization turns over the monitoring, maintenance, and support to a third-party provider rather than relying on your own internal team. While the services are generally tailored to the specific needs of the organization, they often include, but aren’t limited to:
- Remote monitoring to spot concerns and prevent equipment or system failures before they occur
- Security monitoring to prevent data breaches from IoT devices and connected equipment
- First-line support through documented walkthroughs, reference guides, and resources about equipment and systems
- Help desk support for troubleshooting, answering questions, and addressing concerns
- On-site repairs, maintenance, and additional services
- Staffing support when you need to scale your AV support up or down during technology updates or transitions
4 Benefits of Managed AV Services
With a better idea of what kind of support managed AV network services provide, let’s look at the benefits your organization can experience.
Improved Flexibility and Scalability
When you need to expand your AV capabilities, such as increasing your video conferencing system, add new technology, or you want to switch to a different system, working with a managed AV service provider makes this significantly easier and more efficient than trying to navigate a project like this on your own. If you’re already working with a provider when you choose to scale your AV network or make changes, having a team of professionals who understand your business can streamline the process and improve the outcome.
Reliable Security Solutions
Every device you connect to your servers could be a vulnerable point in your security, and with more employees using their own devices to access your network, keeping your data secure is increasingly difficult. While most businesses keep their IT infrastructure top of mind when it comes to security, they are more likely to forget about the importance of AV systems and devices that have the same connectivity. Managed AV services offer security monitoring and scalable, cloud-based call recording, keeping you aware of existing or new vulnerabilities, storing data securely, and still making it accessible to approved people within your company.
Reduced Costs
Consider how much time is spent waiting to connect into conference call, repairing outages, or patching security breaches. Each of these issues may not seem serious at an individual level. When you add up the indirect costs including re-allocating resources to fix problems and lost productivity due to down time, and direct costs like hiring a repair technician, you can see the impact your AV system in its present state may have on your bottom line. Again, having a third party manage your AV network can reduce costs by limiting outages and security problems and being available when needed to troubleshoot issues and fix equipment. Quickly resolving your issues means your team members can get back to work quickly, business moves more smoothly, and your bottom line isn’t negatively affected.
An Iterative Approach
One of the biggest benefits companies find with managed AV services is that they are tailored to your company’s needs. You don’t need to completely transition your AV network to a third-party all at once, or ever. Having an audit performed helps you gain clarity into the scope of your AV needs and where you need to direct additional resources immediately, and from there, you can gradually add to your services. For example, if your business relies heavily on phone- and chat-based customer service department, you will most likely want to shift those elements first, then as needed, you can include additional elements, such as cameras or alarm systems. The key is to consider what will positively impact your profits while minimizing interruption to your organization.
Connect with New Era to Discuss Managed AV Services
AV and video conferencing tools will continue to be an essential part of your business communications , and while the technology will evolve, the need to collaborate will always be essential. With managed AV services, you can ensure that every digital interaction is secure, stable, and has high-quality video and audio feed.
If you’re ready to experience these benefits and increase the overall efficiency of your IT department, we can help. Contact us today to discuss managed services and see how we can improve how you communicate.