You may remember (or have heard of depending on your age) that animated sitcom from the 1960s, The Jetsons? It's about a family living in the space age with all types of futuristic gadgets and gizmos.
While the technology seemed pretty far-fetched at the time, the show did succeed in predicting the future. Flying cars? Not quite yet. But many of those cartoon-fantasy, space-age inventions are now essential parts of everyday life. Interactive TVs. Talking watches. Digital newspapers. Virtual medicine. Drones. Automatic vacuums. Robotic assistants and pets. Video calls.
Yep, AV technology today is the dream of the space-age generation. And it's far more advanced than it is was 10, 5, even 3 years ago. The pandemic rapidly accelerated the capabilities and cost-efficiencies of AV technology to actually make it easy for anyone to use, anywhere. Just like in The Jetsons.
Advanced AV is now essential for businesses of every size and shape. People, meaning regular, non-technical, non-IT team members, can create engaging presentations, video conference smoothly, conduct training sessions, and collaborate more effectively. However, seamless AV technology can seem like a pipe dream. Owning and maintaining AV equipment and software can be a significant expense for many businesses, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). But it doesn't have to be thanks to AVaaS.
AV as a Service (AVaaS), like other technologies such as unified communications and Wi-Fi, has emerged as a way for organizations to reap all the benefits of the latest AV technology the easy way — by contracting for AV software and equipment as a subscription service.
AVaaS gives you a wide range of solutions, including audio and video conferencing, digital signage, video walls, collaboration tools, and more, which can be customized to meet your organization's specific needs. AVaaS gives you the AV you dream about without the nightmares of making it work.
Cost savings/Monthly OPEX
AVaaS gives all businesses, particularly those without the necessary IT or financial resources a cost-effective way to take advantage of the latest AV technology, without a large, upfront capital investment and ongoing maintenance expenses associated with ownership. Leasing AV equipment and software for a monthly fee is typically much lower than the cost of purchasing it outright. Best of all, you know exactly what your monthly OPEX is. There are no surprises.
Super Scalability
With AVaaS, you can easily scale up or down to meet your organization's changing needs. This means that you can add or remove equipment, services, and users as needed, without having to worry about buying and maintaining new equipment and software.
Operational Flexibility
Have it your way. AVaaS gives you the flexibility to choose the services you need now and change it as your business requirements change. This makes it easy for you to provide the right AV services without being tied down to long-term commitments.
Latest Technology
Leave those annoying upgrade worries behind. AVaaS gives you the latest technology ensuring that your organization stays up-to-date. You'll always have the most current software, security patches, and upgrades as well as support.
Hassle-Free Maintenance
With AVaaS, you don't have to worry about the hassles of maintenance and upgrades. AVaaS providers take care of all the maintenance ensuring that your equipment is up-to-date and functioning properly.
Here are the five things you need to do to get started with AVaaS.
Assess your AV requirements: Do an audit. Determine what kind of equipment and software you need for your business operations, types of users, and locations, including remote users.
Research AVaaS providers: Look for providers that offer the equipment and technologies you need. A quality provider can help you assess your AV needs and make subscription recommendations.
Choose your configuration: Not all sizes fit all customers. Based on the recommendations of a quality AV consultant/provider, you may have a number of different conference rooms or AV needs. Work alongside your AV provider to create options (or if already part of the package you've contracted for, choose what layouts fit your requirements).
Establish Project Timelines/Rollouts: Work with your provider to determine project deadlines according to your needs. A quality AV provider has readily available stock on hand or a pipeline to provide that bypasses current supply chain holdups.
Train. Work with your provider to set up user training sessions as the equipment is installed, including "train the trainer" and/or pre-recorded sessions if necessary.
AVaaS is a simple and cost-effective way for you to improve your AV capabilities, stay competitive, and keep everyone happy from the CFO to the most far-flung remote users. By leasing AV equipment and software on a monthly basis, you'll gain the advantages of the latest AV technologies without being burdened by the upfront costs and ongoing maintenance expenses associated with ownership. You'll work with a known OPEX and get the ability to change, scale, add, and subtract users and services as your business changes. You'll also get the best AV available.
Leveraging AV as a Service may be just what your company needs. Black Box can help. To explore your options, contact us at blackbox.com or 855-324-9909.
For more information on AV, see our Audio Visual Integrations page.
You may also be interested in these blogs.
How AV is Shaping the Hybrid Workplace
Audio Visual as a Service (AVaaS)
The Technology Behind AV
Evaluating Your AV: What Questions You Need to Ask Yourself
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