Research Archives - Commercial Integrator https://www.commercialintegrator.com The business book for technology professionals. Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:05:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/cropped-favicon-84x84.png Research Archives - Commercial Integrator https://www.commercialintegrator.com 32 32 MSP Community Talks Security Awareness Training, Key Tools https://www.commercialintegrator.com/business_resources/msp-community-talks-security-awareness-training-key-tools/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/business_resources/msp-community-talks-security-awareness-training-key-tools/#respond Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=129613 Six members of The ASCII Group discuss their unique approach to security awareness training, as well as the tools that they recommend.

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In this special edition of Commercial Integrator’s “The Service Desk” column, our editors ask six leading members of The ASCII Group to share their insights on security awareness training. The ASCII Group is, of course, the oldest and largest independent IT community in the world, boasting 1,300-plus MSP members from across North America. Our panelists are Felicia King, vCISO and security architect, Quality Plus Consulting (QPC); Zina L. Hassel, CEO, ZLH Enterprises; Carl de Prado, CEO and founder, A2Z Business IT; Mike Bloomfield, president geek, Tekie Geek; Joshua Liberman, president and founder, Net Sciences, Inc.; and Ron Cotsopoulos, operations manager, Kobus Technologies.

Together, they touch on a range of topics, including how they offer security awareness training, which tools they recommend and whether some clients still prioritize convenience over security. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Commercial Integrator: Is security awareness training part of what you typically offer — or offer on request — to your clients?

Felicia King: QPC always recommends cybersecurity awareness training with phishing testing/training, dark web monitoring and training, and a company policy distribution and attestation system.

Every single organization’s cyber insurance policy requires security awareness training. It is not legally defensible for an organization to have no cyber awareness system in place, nor is it legally defensible for an organization to have a system that is functioning only in a theatrical way. This means that the system must be good, and all staff must be enforced — at the HR management level — to have ongoing, weekly participation that is meaningful.

Zina L. Hassel: Although we do not perform this service, we do regularly inform clients and prospects of the absolute importance of cyber security training. I make that distinction because there is also the physical security aspect, which does have an overlap but is oftentimes quite different. The awareness training is also something that many insurance companies are currently requiring.

Carl de Prado: Security awareness training is an integral part of our services. For small businesses, their employees are critical in protecting the company and their clients’ data and livelihood. We are so passionate about it that we offer it by default. Over the last three years, I have trained and educated more than 2,000 professionals on how to prevent costly cyberattacks in their businesses. It keeps in line with our company’s focus on our clients being able to sleep at night, knowing their business environments are protected.

Mike Bloomfield: Yes, security awareness training is a core part of what we offer to our clients. We believe that empowering employees with knowledge and awareness about cybersecurity threats is as crucial as implementing robust technical defenses is. We offer this training both as a standard part of our service package and on request, tailoring the program to suit the specific needs and risks faced by each client. Employees are the weakest link of any security program, so doing everything we can to train them goes a long way.

Joshua Liberman: User training is in our security plan, and that is included on every plan. However, even though it is available to all, at no additional charge, without the commitment of clients’ leadership, it does not gain traction. At best, we see 20% adoption of any training offering.

Ron Cotsopoulos: I feel that this is so necessary to businesses that I offer it in my base package. The first place a breach happens is with the people behind the screen.

Commercial Integrator: What tools or resources do you recommend — or utilize yourself — for security awareness training? Why are those particular tools worth recommending?

King: I am the vCISO of QPC Security, and I am also the incident commander. That means I lead security-breach investigations and response for QPC and clients.

The only thing that meaningfully alters staff behavior at clients is when there is a client company policy advocated and enforced by personnel managers.

The only effective security awareness training platform is one that has [methods to ensure] weekly participation. Phishing testing should be weekly, and training must be weekly. It could be only five minutes a week, but weekly is critical.

I have tested a lot of platforms, but the only one I am satisfied with is Breach Secure Now.

Hassel: We work with several third-party companies — as we don’t provide the service directly. The match of providers to our clients is on a case-by-case basis.

de Prado: We strongly suggest using a mix of interactive e-learning platforms, simulated phishing drills, tabletop exercises and regular updates on new threats as part of your security awareness training. These tools are handy because they have exciting content, realistic models of real-life situations, and the ability to track and measure progress. This makes them suitable for improving people’s knowledge and actions regarding cybersecurity.

Bloomfield: We utilize a number of platforms to provide robust training offerings to our clients. Currently, we are providing phishing simulation training and security awareness training from both ID Agent (Bullphish) and CyberGuard.

Liberman: We have tried six of them now, with uSecure [being] our current player. None has quite the right balance of engaging trainings, useful test phishing, reporting and ease of use [for the MSP], but we keep looking. I also do quarterly trainings for the few sites that allow it in person.

Cotsopoulos: My company has been using Cyberhoot for the past three years. We have instituted it for our own company. The ease of use for both us and our clients is amazing. It is intuitive and easy for my helpdesk to set it up and deploy.

Commercial Integrator: Have the ubiquitous stories about cyberthreats, security breaches and malicious hackers meaningfully altered most clients’ behavior? Or, conversely, are people still opting for convenience over security (i.e., using default passwords)?

King: Each time a client has a credential compromise or incident of some type, we perform a root cause analysis investigation.

Frequently, an issue could have been completely avoided by staff [having had proper security awareness training.]

Companies that fail to mandate weekly training for all staff, and [that fail to] hold all staff accountable to effective, provable participation, will have incidents.

Hassel: Unfortunately, many people still seem to be taking the wait-and-see approach. Not terribly thoughtful, but a non-decision or a decision not to pursue is still a decision.

de Prado: About three-and-a-half years ago, we started to run cybersecurity risk assessments for all our clients. This helped most of our clients become more aware of cyber threats because of how common they are and how likely it is they could fall victim to them. This has made them more engaged in their cybersecurity. It wasn’t 100% adoption; there is still a group of people who put ease and short-term costs over security and operational resistance. We have also seen a rise in cyberattacks and awareness in the last few years. So, that attitude is changing. Hopefully, it will get much closer to 100%. I have been called in on many breaches after the fact, [and what I see is] devastating.

For the most part, most breaches are preventable. [But preventing them] does require a change in the organizational culture. Any clients who do work with us must go through a risk assessment. We need to understand our clients’ businesses better than cyber criminals do.

Bloomfield: Regarding the impact of ubiquitous stories about cyber threats and security breaches, it’s a mixed bag. On one hand, heightened media coverage has certainly raised awareness and made some clients more proactive about their cybersecurity posture. They’re more willing to invest in security measures and training than they might have been a few years ago. On the other hand, there’s still a considerable number of individuals and businesses that prioritize convenience over security. Despite the risks, the use of default or weak passwords remains surprisingly common. And resistance to adopting multi-factor authentication — because it’s seen as an inconvenience — is still an issue we encounter. Changing behaviors and attitudes toward cybersecurity is a gradual process. While progress is being made, there’s still a long way to go.

Liberman: Users are generally more aware and “perform” better, but that is mostly due to them integrating a degree of critical reasoning into their daily actions. Endless stories of cyber doom create “security fatigue,” which works against us as IT security advocates in the long run.

Cotsopoulos: No matter the threats, people will always choose convenience and pricing over security. They generally, as a rule, don’t want to be bothered during their busy day to take five minutes to learn good security/safety hygiene.

Editor’s Note: Check our website archives for prior coverage of security awareness training and The ASCII Group.

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NSCA Announces Electronic Systems Outlook Winter 2023 Report https://www.commercialintegrator.com/av/nsca-announces-electronic-systems-outlook-winter-2023-report/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/av/nsca-announces-electronic-systems-outlook-winter-2023-report/#respond Mon, 25 Mar 2024 16:22:30 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=129598 The NSCA Electronic Systems Outlook reports on final new construction starts and renovations for 2023, and makes predictions about 2024 and beyond.

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NSCA, the not-for-profit association representing the commercial integration industry, announced the release of its Electronic Systems Outlook Winter 2023 report. Per the organization, this research includes information based upon actual data from January through November 2023, as well as forecasted information for 2024 and beyond.

NSCA partners with FMI to provide this biannual report, which offers the newest and most relevant indicators of business opportunities for integrators. By tracking new construction starts and renovations across multiple markets — including healthcare, lodging, corporate, education, houses of worship, and more — NSCA says it helps pinpoint which verticals should do well in 2024 and the years to come.

According to a statement, total U.S. engineering and construction spending is forecast to end 2023 up 10%, a slightly slower pace than the 12% in 2022. For 2024, FMI forecasts a 2% increase in engineering and construction spending levels compared to 2023.

The Electronic Systems Outlook Winter 2023 edition also provides an updated view of construction data by market for electronic systems/technology. This includes AV, data/IT, building automation/control, life safety/fire/security, and digital signage/lighting.

“While residential construction is down, commercial construction is up. The highest growth among NSCA’s targeted segments includes manufacturing, lodging, and houses of worship,” says Tom LeBlanc, executive director, NSCA. “Manufacturing, for example, is up 78% as compared to 2022, thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. This is good news for our industry.”

According to NSCA, integrators can use the Electronic Systems Outlook to benchmark sales numbers and prepare business valuations. Growth indicators can be used to determine incentive programs, reveal new market potential, and appropriately distribute resources. This forecast data can also be shared with financial advisors and lenders to prove the stability of systems integrators in the marketplace.

Download the Report

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Last Call to Add Your Voice to CI’s Performance-Audio Market Survey https://www.commercialintegrator.com/av/audio/ci-to-study-the-performance-audio-market-add-your-voice/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/av/audio/ci-to-study-the-performance-audio-market-add-your-voice/#respond Mon, 25 Mar 2024 14:05:42 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=118664 Add your voice to our detailed study on the performance-audio market. Last day to enter is Monday, March 25. Don't miss your chance to weigh in!

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New this year, CI broadens its offering of Deep Dive reports with a dedicated story on the performance-audio market. Thus, in our upcoming May issue, we’ll explore not only line-array speakers, immersive audio and power amps but also audio-over-Ethernet and audio-over-IP. The goal is to apprise AV integrators of burgeoning trends so they can deliver on client expectations and optimize their businesses. CI is asking you — our integrator audience — to take a short, five-minute survey regarding how your business designs, integrates and manages performance-audio products and technologies. Will you please add your voice to this one-of-a-kind industry study?

Integrators, consultants and other AV professionals can take the survey now. We will continue to collect responses through Monday, March 25. Don’t miss your chance to weigh in!

Take Survey Now

In-Depth Study of Performance-Audio Market

The Performance-Audio Deep Dive will offer a breadth and depth of coverage that no other technology journalism outlet delivers. The article will touch on the following topics:

  • Vertical-market growth opportunities for performance-audio products and technologies
  • Year-over-year performance-audio revenue trends
  • Performance-audio technologies most frequently deployed (e.g., ceiling array microphones, DSPs, immersive audio, wireless systems)
  • Constrainment of the RF spectrum
  • The rise of immersive audio and enveloping soundscapes

Moreover, since CI recognizes that the business climate is somewhat challenging, we go beyond the technology. We also will explore factors that have diminished AV integrators’ ability to close and integrate performance-audio-driven applications.

Please take the survey now and share your voice with your industry colleagues. All responses will remain strictly anonymous and will only be used for statistical analysis. No identifying information is requested.

Be sure to check out Commercial Integrator’s Performance-Audio Deep Dive in May! We will also feature exclusive video Q&As and other supplemental content throughout the month.

Editor’s Note: The article was originally published on March 12 and since been updated as of March 25, 2024.

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Taking Your AV Business Forward in 2024: Is Your RMM Good Enough? https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/taking-your-av-business-forward-in-2024-is-your-rmm-good-enough/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/taking-your-av-business-forward-in-2024-is-your-rmm-good-enough/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 20:45:54 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=129283 Andrew Gross of Xyte explains why remote management and monitoring (RMM) is the bedrock for future-proofing your AV business.

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Remote management and monitoring (RMM) has become mission critical for AV manufacturers and OEMs to ensure seamless product functionality and customer satisfaction. As the name implies, RMM software enables manufacturers, OEMs and their channel partners to monitor and configure AV devices and equipment remotely through the cloud. The significance of RMM makes choosing the right platform a strategic decision that organizations cannot afford to take lightly.

RMM is not a new concept. Traditional RMM relied on agents installed locally on hardware, devices and machines. These agents collected data transmitted to a central on-premises monitoring system. Admins received alerts and would troubleshoot, update and manage device performance, hardware status and security events — within their networks.

Today, RMM has dramatically matured. Advanced cloud-based RMM solutions collect and transmit data to the cloud, eliminating local network constraints. This provides real-time insights into the performance and security of cloud-connected resources wherever they are via a remote dashboard. The inherent scalability of cloud-based RMM solutions makes them far more suitable for today’s dynamic business environments.

Why RMM for AV Manufacturers?

The rise of AVaaS marked a shift away from traditional product sales and towards a service-oriented model with a greater focus on ongoing customer engagement. RMM facilitates the AVaaS model — enabling manufacturers and other stakeholders to monitor and manage devices remotely, ensure continuous functionality, swiftly address issues, provide updates and much more.

Additionally, RMM is critical for optimizing the performance and reliability of the AV solutions that modern organizations rely on. Professional AV equipment has become indispensable in corporate and institutional workplaces. With these devices and systems being increasingly IoT-enabled, organizations are turning to RMM platforms to seamlessly and proactively deliver the service, support and customer experience that their users demand.

Seven Things to Look for When Choosing an RMM Solution

When it’s time to choose an RMM platform, here are seven key aspects to consider:

  1. Transparency: The ability to discern and analyze data from devices in the field, particularly regarding device performance and usage. A transparent RMM platform empowers manufacturers to make informed decisions in product development and sales and marketing strategies. By understanding the granular specifics of data obtained, manufacturers can optimize offerings, promptly address issues, facilitate continuous improvement and enhance overall operational efficiency.
  2. Cloud Interoperability: The ability for a product to seamlessly integrate and operate alongside others in the cloud. Poor interoperability creates challenges and pain points for end users — damaging functionality, performance and ultimately, brand reputation. A platform that ensures AV devices can collaborate effectively in the cloud further enhances user experience, facilitates smoother operations, and allows for a more interconnected and versatile AV ecosystem.
  3. SSH Tunneling: A secure method for transmitting data between local and remote devices, creating an encrypted connection that allows secure access to resources on a network. SSH tunneling empowers IT managers to access and troubleshoot devices anywhere. While many vendors claim full cloud support, without SSH tunneling RMM lacks the teeth to deliver on the true benefits of the cloud.
  4. Intuitive UI/ UX: The easier a system is to use, the more it is well-used. A user-friendly interface streamlines onboarding, reducing the time it takes for users to learn to use the platform effectively. An intuitive UI/UX ensures that AV manufacturers can optimize workforce efficiency, minimize the learning curve and accelerate adaptation.
  5. Monitoring and Management: A RMM platform should be able to pull data and push commands to devices. This dual functionality ensures comprehensive control over AV systems. The monitoring side provides insights into device performance, while the management side allows proactive intervention, troubleshooting and updates. Monitoring and management empower manufacturers to maintain optimal device functionality, swiftly address issues and lower truck rolls, and adapt to evolving needs.
  6. Scalability: The ability of your RMM to seamlessly scale directly impacts your operational efficiency. Some solutions are out-of-the-box tools that are ready-to-use across both local and cloud environments; others require individual setup for each installation. A truly scalable RMM platform ensures streamlined deployment across different environments and supports the dynamic nature of audiovisual systems.
  7. Integral Support Tools: Integral support tools like ticketing and messaging systems streamline operations, enhance communication, facilitate issue tracking, and ensure efficient problem resolution. An RMM platform with integral support tools offers AV manufacturers the off-the-shelf infrastructure they need to provide responsive customer support, manage workflows, and maintain the seamless audiovisual system availability.

Concluding Thoughts

RMM is mission critical for AV manufacturers seeking to ensure product functionality and customer satisfaction, especially in the face of the shift to AVaaS. With the global AV market skyrocketing, even as competition grows fierce, RMM is key to reshaping the customer-value chain. When considering which platform is right for you, consider transparency, cloud interoperability, SSH tunneling, UI/UX, scalability and integral support. Choose RMM wisely — it is truly the bedrock for future-proofing your AV business.


Andrew Gross is vice president of sales for Xyte.

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Jose Mozota on MuxLab and the Rise of AV-over-IP https://www.commercialintegrator.com/news/jose-mozota-muxlab-rise-of-av-over-ip/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/news/jose-mozota-muxlab-rise-of-av-over-ip/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 20:36:31 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=129285 Jose Mozota, Freman Solutions President, discusses the evolution of AV-over-IP and innovative product lines from MuxLab.

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In this exclusive interview with Commercial Integrator, Jose Mozota, president of Freman Solutions, who works closely with MuxLab, reflects on the rise of AV-over-IP. He offers an insightful history of how networked AV developed and evolved, eventually becoming today’s AV-over-IP, which can satisfy users’ ever-increasing needs.

Mozota notes that, nowadays, probably more than 65% of installed systems are AV-over-IP. And, for very large deployments, probably 90% of them are AV-over-IP.

Mozota also discusses MuxLab’s whole line of AV-over-IP products, detailing the company’s remarkable innovation.

This conversation is, of course, part of Commercial Integrator’s AV-over-IP Deep Dive. Our Deep Dive coverage will be all over the site throughout this month. The Deep Dive report is the central repository for all things AV-over-IP. Thus, it includes analysis of emerging technologies and standards, vertical-market use cases and ongoing challenges.

Watch the full, just-under-nine-minute video featuring Jose Mozota talking MuxLab and AV-over-IP below.

Download your copy of CI’s AV-over-IP Deep Dive Today

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NSCA Business & Leadership Conference: Transformative Insights https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/nsca-business-leadership-conference-transformative-insights/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/nsca-business-leadership-conference-transformative-insights/#respond Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:30:00 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=129122 NSCA Business & Leadership Conference is a premier thought-leadership event for professionals working in audiovisual integration.

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The NSCA Business & Leadership Conference (BLC) aims to be the premier thought-leadership and executive-networking event for integration businesses. The 2024 iteration, which took place last week in Irving, Texas, certainly lived up to that billing. Featuring inspiring keynotes, actionable information about the political and macroeconomic climate, and plenty of time for networking and forging connections, BLC 2024 reminded us why hundreds of company presidents, CEOs and owners come back year after year. It was also an occasion to celebrate remarkable individuals in our ranks, as well as business-enhancing products and best-of-breed integrators. Overall, attendees left the conference inspired and invigorated, excited to implement these transformative ideas in their own businesses.

BLC 2024 kicked off with an opening night dinner and reception that allowed attendees to ease into the packed three days and connect with old friends. When Tom LeBlanc, NSCA’s executive director, took the stage, he noted that Chuck Wilson, NSCA’s CEO, plans to step back from day-to-day NSCA leadership duties this spring. This will allow him to focus on related passions, such as the NSCA Education Foundation and the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS). In addition, Wilson will take on a strategic role supporting the NSCA team and executive director Tom LeBlanc.

Wilson usually avoids the spotlight, but he expressed real gratitude as the integration community showed its appreciation for his decades of selfless service. For more on Wilson, check out our companion article: “Chuck Wilson Honored: Community Celebrates His Ongoing Contributions.” NSCA planned this leadership change meticulously, with a multi-phase transition having occurred over the last couple of years.

NSCA Business & Leadership Conference Honors Superstars

Alesia Hendley at the NSCA Business & Leadership Conference

Multimedia journalist Alesia Hendley (second from right) received the inaugural John Greene Mentorship Award. The award, named after a well-known industry educator and mentor, recognizes Hendley’s commitment to paying forward her own success. Photo by Dan Ferrisi.

Next, NSCA took the opportunity to honor three of the most remarkable people who have ever graced the AV community: multimedia journalist Alesia Hendley, AtlasIED executive Gina Sansivero and veteran integrator Jay Rogina. Hendley received the inaugural John Greene Mentorship Award. The award, named after a well-known industry educator and mentor, recognizes Hendley’s commitment to paying forward her own success and using her platform to amplify others’ voices. Hendley is, of course, a monthly Commercial Integrator contributor whose column is titled “Perfecting Your Craft.”

Sansivero received the 2024 Volunteer of the Year award, recognizing her ceaseless efforts to better our industry community, nurture the next generation, empower marginalized groups and raise funds to support industry initiatives. Those efforts, of course, include her service as a board member for the NSCA Education Foundation. Throughout the year, the Foundation seeks to grow the industry by providing access to educational experiences that cultivate business skills, enable growth and enhance industry professionalism.

Jay Rogina at the NSCA BLC 2024

Jay Rogina received the NSCA Education Foundation Founders’ Award, which recognizes a lifetime of contributions to our industry’s betterment. Photo by Dan Ferrisi.

Rogina, meanwhile, received the NSCA Education Foundation Founders’ Award, which recognizes a lifetime of contributions to our industry’s betterment. More specifically, the award celebrates those who inspire the community of AV professionals and build ladders to help others achieve success. Rogina is best known for having been CEO and principal of Spinitar — since acquired by Solutionz, Inc. — where he created a loyalty-building company culture that drove Spinitar to success. Rogina is also the 21st inductee in CI’s #AVLivingLegends series.

Product and Integrator Awards

As a Platinum Media Sponsor, Commercial Integrator was on hand at BLC 2024 to present the Excellence in Product Innovation (EPI) awards to vendors whose products are not merely innovative but that, more importantly, make a positive impact on integrators’ businesses. In the Ease of Customization category, Biamp won for Apprimo Touch 8i. For the New Revenue Potential category, Crestron took top honors for Crestron Flex Pods. For Recurring Revenue Potential, Wesco International, Inc., won for Conference Room as a Service. In the Retrofit/Installer-Friendly category, Sony Electronics came out on top for Crystal LED VERONA Series. In the Technology Platform category, AMETEK SurgeX won for SurgeX Connect. For the Trail-Blazing Innovation category, Symetrix earned top honors for xIO XLR-Series. And finally, Sharp ePaper received the 2024 Most Innovative Product award. CI and NSCA congratulate all the winners!

After that, it was time to announce the Excellence in Business awards, which recognize NSCA member companies that are doing exciting and interesting things from a business perspective. This year’s honorees were as follows: Hyphn for Business Performance, ET Group for Employee Engagement, Fairchild Communication Systems for Differentiating Strategies, 5 North Media for Strategic Transformation, Parallel Technologies for Customer Experience and Texadia Systems for Talent Development.

After each honoree came to the stage, CI moderated a short roundtable that allowed each integrator to discuss their innovative approaches to vexing challenges like driving accountability, improving company culture, maximizing how customers leverage solutions and empowering team members to shift their career path. Post-roundtable chatter indicated that integrators in the audience gleaned truly valuable nuggets from the conversation.

NSCA Business & Leadership Conference Attracts Brilliant Speakers

The next day, the content program began in earnest with Dr. Chris Kuehl, a BLC veteran and managing partner/co-founder of Armada Corporate Intelligence. Kuehl offered an economic update that possibly helped to defuse some of the lingering economic anxiety that has plagued us in recent years. He offered a few key takeaways:

  1. Interest-rate cuts likely won’t occur until Q3/24 or Q4/24, and then only down to 4.75%.
  2. There are no recessionary signs on the horizon, with strong consumer spending and steady corporate investment.
  3. We continue to experience an acute worker shortage, a fact that produces wage hikes that, in turn, fuel inflation.
  4. The outcome of the rancorous presidential election is unlikely to materially affect the economy.

On the last point, Kuehl pointed out that the Federal Reserve controls monetary policy, whereas Congress writes taxing and spending laws.

Meridith Elliott Powell at NSCA Business & Leadership Conference

Meridith Elliott Powell taught BLC attendees how to thrive regardless of the economy. She offered a nine-step plan for integration business owners to handle uncertainty more productively. Photo by Dan Ferrisi.

The next speaker, Meridith Elliott Powell, taught BLC attendees how to thrive regardless of the economy. She offered a nine-step plan for integration business owners to handle uncertainty more productively. She mentioned, for example, that we must condition ourselves for change. “You have no control of what happens in the marketplace,” Powell observed. “You have 100% control of what you do about it.” Thus, she encouraged adopting a proactive posture, rather than simply allowing change to happen to you. Powell also held up Chick-fil-A as an example of a company that knows its core values and lives by them. “Get clear on what your values are and hold to them like a litmus test,” she urged. Indeed, according to Powell, every single decision an organization makes should be measured against its core values. She also encouraged BLC attendees to build their personal networks, saying that the person standing next to you might be the one person who can take your business to the next level.

Handling Chaos

Another speaker, Michael Bonner, focused his talk on chaos — that is, the remarkable rate of change not only in our industry but also in our society. For the BLC audience of business leaders, he urged engaging with team members in a fulsome way to gain their confidence and trust. “You can’t make a withdrawal from someone you have never invested in,” Bonner said. That means really seeing the people you work with and understanding their stressors. He also disambiguated organizational climate and organizational culture, saying the former is what’s said during the meeting, whereas the latter is what’s said in the parking lot afterward. Culture is what really defines your organization, both as an employer and as a partner for others. Then, Bonner offered several tips to maintain greatness, one of which is to have a diverse enough community around you to advise, support and guide you amid unpredictable disruption. His high-energy talk was a hit with attendees.

Later that afternoon, Tanmay Bakshi, a 19-year-old AI prodigy, delivered an eye-opening presentation entitled “Exploring the Power of AI for a Safe, Ethical Digital Revolution.” Of course, AI is one of the hottest topics these days in integration circles. That buzz came through in the extended Q&A session that followed Bakshi’s hourlong talk. Many integrators might still be trying to understand how to leverage AI for our industry’s goals and purposes, but Bakshi’s talk got BLC attendees’ minds aswirl with all the possibilities.

NSCA Business & Leadership Conference Day Two

On the second day of BLC 2024, LeBlanc took the stage to discuss a new NSCA event unveiling this fall: XBO (Excellence in Business Operations) Experience. You can read all about it in the April issue’s “AV as a Business” column, but, in brief, the next generation of AV professionals is planning and executing the event for the same audience: the next generation of AV professionals. This aligns with and underscores a longtime NSCA mission to, as LeBlanc puts it, “…help close that generation gap by training future company leaders.” CI plans to attend the inaugural event, which takes place November 12 to 13 at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

NSCA leadership then presented the Per Haugen Lifetime Achievement Award to Ingolf de Jong, CEO and president at GENCOMM, who has been a longtime leader within NSCA. With his beloved wife, Wendy, in attendance, de Jong got emotional as he reflected on his lifetime of service to the integration community. “I absolutely love this industry,” he said. de Jong’s work on behalf of NSCA has included serving as president of the NSCA board of directors and having a continuing role on the NSCA Education Foundation board of directors.

Steve Thomas at NSCA Business & Leadership Conference

Steve Thomas focused on the qualities and characteristics that make for effective leaders and, thus, an outstanding company culture. Photo by Dan Ferrisi.

Another speaker, Steve Thomas, focused on the qualities and characteristics that make for effective leaders and, thus, an outstanding company culture. As Thomas put it, “Better people make better organizations. Better people make better leaders.” Among his top tips were creating “fanatical psychological and emotional safety,” meaning giving team members confidence that they won’t be shamed or humiliated for putting forth ideas or making mistakes. Thomas also urged building “unmistakable chemistry,” which refers to building genuine connections with people. Relationships are automatic, he said, but real connection takes work.

Thomas also urged leaders to obsess over improvement, creating an environment in which everyone coaches everyone. And he said it’s imperative to commit to a compelling “win.” That means finding the bigger, more intrinsic thing at play — not dollars — and aligning the entire organization behind it. Thomas’ presentation was my personal favorite of the entire event.

The Political Climate

Next up, Chuck Wilson took the stage with former congressman Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.) to offer a breakdown of how uncertainty in Washington, D.C., might affect integration businesses. Wilson underscored NSCA’s indefatigable efforts to fight harmful legislation, such as “right-to-repair” bills that could conceivably allow untrained people to attempt to repair, for example, their own alarm systems. Wilson also pointed to prevailing-wage laws that can lead to dangerous unpredictability when integrators are bidding on jobs.

Rick Lazio at the NSCA BLC 2024

Chuck Wilson took the stage with former congressman Rick Lazio to offer a breakdown of how uncertainty in Washington, D.C., might affect integration businesses. Photo by Dan Ferrisi.

As the conversation broadened, Lazio pointed to immigration as a key issue that will shape the upcoming elections. He argued that we need more skilled workers to help compensate for falling birthrates, and he lamented current caps on H1B visas. Lazio also pointed to 2025 as a hugely consequential year with regard to tax policy, as the individual measures included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will expire, which will affect marginal rates for everyone. According to Lazio, this year’s elections will determine which party has the upper hand in the ensuing negotiations. A good night for the Republicans might mean more favorable treatment for capital gains and business investment. A good night for Democrats might mean more support for working families and the economically vulnerable.

The closing keynote, delivered by Dr. Jessica Kriegel, was another popular favorite. Entitled “Empower Your Teams with Positive Accountability,” the session emphasized that every team member must be invested in the organization’s business goals and embrace an active role in achieving them. That means not only being personally accountable but also accepting accountability for the larger organization’s success or failure. Accountability of this scope, she argues, nurtures a sense of purpose and meaning, transforming daily task execution into something grander and more inspiring.

Wrapping Up NSCA Business & Leadership Conference

BLC 2024 was a remarkable success, with many integrators heard to say things like, “This is why I come back year after year.” The thought-leadership content was top notch; the networking opportunities were without peer, especially given the caliber of leaders that BLC attracts; and the insights gleaned will no doubt give attending integrators a competitive advantage versus their peers.

Both Wilson and LeBlanc frequently lament that, these days, integrators are so busy working in their business that they scarcely have time to work on their business. For those who invested three days in the NSCA Business & Leadership Conference this past February, that investment is already reaping dividends — and it’ll continue to do so for many months and years to come.

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Chronicling the AV-over-IP Revolution https://www.commercialintegrator.com/business_resources/research/chronicling-av-over-ip-revolution-avoip-dd-24/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/business_resources/research/chronicling-av-over-ip-revolution-avoip-dd-24/#respond Mon, 04 Mar 2024 14:05:29 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=128986 Our Deep Dive report examines AVoIP’s remarkable growth, its benefits and challenges, and how integration professionals can leverage it to deliver better outcomes.

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In an industry replete with buzzwords and technology advancements, AV-over-IP (AVoIP) continues to dominate conversations and grow more prevalent as an AV signal-transport solution. And although, yes, the reasons have to do with efficiency, cost effectiveness and ease of scalability, there’s actually much more behind AVoIP’s ongoing rise. Here, in Commercial Integrator’s AV-over-IP Deep Dive report, we examine the state of the market, what’s powering AVoIP’s popularity, its most compelling benefits, lingering areas of concern, and whether all the various approaches and protocols are a help or a hindrance to integration professionals today. 

CI presents fresh data from our exclusive research study. Moreover, we share perspectives from several technology thought leaders: Sean Wargo, vice president of market insights, AVIXA; Marty Fornelli, CTS-D, CTS-I, senior design engineer, Diversified; John Richards, CTS, VP of engineering, AVI-SPL; Dalton Parker, director of sales and marketing, TVS Pro; and Lincoln King-Cliby, commercial market director, ControlWorks Consulting, LLC. 

AVoIP’s Market Penetration 

Our CI research study uncovers an interesting fact: Among integrators in our industry, there is wide variance in terms of their AVoIP utilization. A quarter of our respondents say that 25% or fewer of last year’s projects involved AVoIP, while another three in 10 survey takers say more than three-quarters of last year’s installations leveraged AVoIP. That means that, while AVoIP is undoubtedly in ascendance, not all integrators are participating equally. One reason for this, ControlWorks Consulting’s King-Cliby states, may be integrator inertia. “Integrators have been installing matrixes for decades,” he observes. “It’s known and comfortable.” King-Cliby continues, “To truly harness the value of AVoIP, it’s important to aggressively move into that sphere and realize that AVoIP is virtually AVoIT, there’s a critical partnership with the client’s IT department, and the AV/IT convergence needs to be embraced.” 

Drawing on Industry Outlook & Trends Analysis (IOTA) data, AVIXA’s Wargo comments, “We roughly estimate that about 50% of revenues are associated with AV-over-IP-based hardware. This would suggest that approximately 50% of deployments are also based upon AVoIP connections.” He predicts slow, steady, healthy continued growth in the coming years, adding, “From here, this will grow faster than the industry is overall, which is targeted to be 5% to 6% CAGR from 2023 to 2028….” 

Sean Wargo AVoIP PQOther experts seem to predict an even more aggressive move to AVoIP market dominance, with Diversified’s Fornelli declaring that it’s now the rule, rather than the exception. “Even the smallest of systems with a routing matrix of only a few sources and destinations often are better served by AVoIP,” he states. AVI-SPL’s Richards agrees, saying that, although point-to-point applications can deliver economical, reliable solutions, he believes that AVoIP “…has [already] become the primary signal transport in systems needing more than point-to-point extension.” 

TVS Pro’s Parker observes that ever more integrators are realizing that AVoIP provides a great base for flexible, reliable systems that can be easily expanded upon, without having to completely rebuild. And our industry is still only scratching the surface of the potential, he says, adding, “AVoIP solutions are aggressively gaining market share as more products are introduced and interoperability increases” across manufacturers and signal types. 

Who is Powering AVoIP’s Ascent? 

Everyone seems to agree that AVoIP is already commanding a significant market share, and its growth isn’t slowing. The question then becomes this: Who is powering the ongoing ascent? Fornelli thinks the integration community is perhaps the prime mover. “I feel that we, as design/integration partners, are often pushing the trend forward due to the vast improvements made recently to the ease in deployment of video networks,” he observes, particularly crediting NETGEAR for making the transition accessible to everyone. Parker notes that, of course, designers and integrators can only provide solutions with the best tools they have available — a factor that puts hardware manufacturers in the driver’s seat. And Richards sees vendors across the industry pushing the pedal to the metal. He says, “I believe that there is more selection in the AV-over-IP product category, while the traditional matrix switchers are maintained or updated to the latest chipsets as needed.” 

But if you ask Wargo, it’s likely that vendors are simply seeking to satiate the market’s strong appetite for AVoIP. “Yes, some manufacturers have led the charge,” he observes, “but the demand side was a key component in getting us here….” He points to a fact that all of us can attest to: IT departments are increasingly involved in the management of AV systems. “This means they are naturally inclined to think about how technology can be supported on existing networks,” Wargo says, “rather than analog low-voltage connections.” 

That being said, King-Cliby reminds us that a lot of clients still haven’t realized there’s a better way than the AV approaches they’ve always taken. He praises vendors and alliances for “…doing a good job of helping with the education and awareness,” and he praises consultants’ one-on-one client-education efforts. 

Aurora AVoIP sidebar

Forecast for AVoIP Ubiquity 

AVoIP AV signal transport pie chartAVoIP ubiquity might still be a transition in progress, but all signs point to the eventuality that AVoIP will become the primary AV signal-transport solution for integrators’ installations. Indeed, more than seven in 10 of our survey takers declare that they’ve either already embraced AVoIP as primary or have now readied themselves to. What’s more, nearly half of our respondents report that they expect 76% to 100% of their 2024 projects to involve implementing AVoIP. King-Cliby thinks of these developments in a historical context. “Twenty years ago, VoIP for corporate phones was a daunting enigma compared to traditional analog or TDM-based telephony for corporate PBXes,” he reflects. Of course, that quickly changed. Likewise, King-Cliby continues, “I think AVoIP is now well on its way to becoming the primary AV transport.” 

Wargo agrees that the stage is set for AVoIP to capture primacy, pointing to everything “…from the demand side all the way through to the protocols and products.” He continues, “The last ingredient is for the channel itself — the integrators and installers — to further expand their skills and competencies in this area.” AVIXA created the AV Networking Professional (ANP) certification as a tool to help AV and IT professionals prove their AV networking skills as these two fields converge. This kind of certification training helps support integrators in their ongoing evolution. 

Fornelli, perhaps more than any of our other interviewees, believes that AVoIP’s time isn’t sometime in the future but, rather, is now. If he’s right, integrators who are still establishing their footing working with IT infrastructure should feel a sense of urgency to level-up their knowledge. Some AVoIP alternatives, Fornelli opines, are now “…used only when the appropriate architectural form factors are not available with AVoIP encoders/decoders.” He continues, “However, with more and more available options for AVoIP encoders/decoders that fit within a standard electrical box, those days seem to be numbered, too.” 

 

Considering Vertical Markets and Applications

AVoIP is on track for dominance in the coming years, one reason is its suitability to a broad range of verticals and use cases. “I don’t think there are limits to where you effectively find and use AV-over-IP today,” Richards states. “There is a wide range of performance levels, and that can often drive the needs of the overall system.” Elaborating further, he adds that there “…are many options that support various levels of power and bandwidth,” something that allows infrastructure flexibility and helps mold AVoIP systems to individual vertical-market needs. 

Markets in which AVoIP graphFornelli shares Richards’ point of view, stating, “I think the current AVoIP landscape is broad enough to cover the specific needs of all verticals at this point.” King-Cliby drives the point home, saying that there are compelling use cases across the board. “I’m having trouble thinking of a vertical where it doesn’t — with the proper education and infrastructure — make a boat load of sense,” he declares. “Even in our residential practice — typically, very large properties — which I’m personally more removed from, AVoIP makes a lot more sense to me.” 

AVoIP does have a case to make everywhere, but the case is particularly compelling in certain verticals — namely, corporate/enterprise and education — for reasons of existing network infrastructure and deployment efficiency. As Wargo observes, “Within an office environment, IP networks already serve the various work and collaboration spaces.” Workers, of course, must access content of all types, including audio and video content, even as they move throughout the environment. “This means AV systems are most easily deployed by leveraging the existing network to ensure an evenness of connection and experience throughout the spaces,” Wargo concludes. The same, of course, applies to education, where students and faculty must leverage technology ecosystems even as they move across campus. 

For Parker, the salient question isn’t so much about verticals as it is about system size, scale and scope. “Systems with just a few endpoints are still best served with a fixed-architecture solution,” he opines. Conversely, any deployment that entails sharing individual room resources provides what he calls “a perfect opportunity for AVoIP.” Parker adds, “With the current cost of AVoIP, there is incredible value the larger in scale your project becomes.” 

Related: AVoIP Systems on the Technology Fast Track

Benefits of AVoIP 

That point helps us transition into a discussion of AVoIP’s notable benefits. Richards cites standardized category cabling and network-switch infrastructure as the most compelling reasons to embrace AVoIP. “The standards used for a wealth of items that range from a PC to specialized audio/video hardware simplifies the connectivity for audio, video, control, power and data, as needed, [in] various equipment locations,” he says. Continuing on the topic of connectivity and cabling, Fornelli remarks that AVoIP systems often place far less of a burden on facilities’ cabling infrastructure. “It is much more economical from a cost standpoint, and easier from a termination/certification standpoint, to use cabling that only needs to support 1Gbps speeds,” he states. 

Apantac AVoIP sidebarWargo picks up this theme, saying that, ultimately, the shift to AVoIP comes down to greater efficiency and improved cost effectiveness. “IP connections have to be reliable and cost effective in order to pass the muster of a procurement effort,” he reflects. “That effort is often led by IT departments, who approach technology from a different lens.” King-Cliby adds, “When AV is on the same converged network hardware as the organization, you reduce duplication and operating costs and make things infinitely easier to monitor.” What’s more, converged infrastructure opens up the opportunity to resolve problems before they affect facility operations. King-Cliby adds that it’s “a huge win” for technology partners and clients alike to move away from standalone AV drops and data drops — which might not meet user needs — and avoid the extra operating costs of duplicate networks. 

For Parker, one of the most notable benefits centers on AVoIP’s standards-based approach, which not only makes it easier to deliver system add-ons but also tethers integrators’ systems to reputable platforms that will continue to evolve and develop. “With standards such as Dante, NDI, SDVoE and many others, we are able to provide the best brands’ hardware that meets client needs and have the confidence that adding system features in the future is possible,” he states. “It is stupidly easy with all of the AVoIP platforms to grow as needed,” King-Cliby quips. 

Parker also mentions that, if AVoIP systems are designed and deployed correctly, it can be impossible to detect any difference in visual performance. “And distance is a non-issue with these protocols, as well,” he enthuses. “Not only can we extend over copper or fiber within a building or campus, but many of these signals can extend across the WAN to reach various cities, states or countries that need to be seamlessly integrated together.” 

Current Concerns Regarding AVoIP 

Single most compelling benefits of deploying AVoIPAlthough AVoIP is finding its way into ever more commercial applications, that’s not to say there are no lingering concerns. If you ask Richards, the biggest concerns with hardware on a network revolve around network security. “Always secure network-connected devices to prevent unauthorized access to systems,” he implores. According to Parker, one way that integrators can prioritize cybersecurity is to configure an AVoIP network to meet clients’ security measures, including by virtually or physically segregating the network. Another option, he says, is to “…select manufacturers that do not use open-source signal methods that can be easily accessed and/or intercepted.” 

King-Cliby, who declares that some of his most rewarding conversations have involved playing “translator” between AV and IT, identifies an ongoing need for network knowledge/education. “Even a lot of really good network administrators I know and have worked with have never really had to deal with multicast and the nuances before their first AVoIP project,” he acknowledges. Integrators likewise must broaden their talent portfolio, Fornelli implies, saying that the skill sets and tools to troubleshoot issues in large systems have shifted away from the traditional methods of testing video and audio signals in baseband systems. “Although these methods are largely still useful, issues often arise that are best diagnosed and resolved by a skilled network professional,” he says. “And, oftentimes, this person is not the same person who is good with a waveform monitor.” 

Wargo agrees that skillset and competency are significant limiting factors right now, but he says with optimism that education content is rapidly catching up (e.g., the ANP certification) and notes that many AV professionals mindfully broadened their skills during pandemic-era project lulls. 

CEDIA EXPO_CIX 2024 AVOIP SIDEBAR

AVoIP Approaches, Standards and Protocols 

Some industry professionals express concern about the large number of AVoIP standards and protocols currently being utilized (e.g., AES67, Dante AV, IPMX, SDVoE, SMPTE ST 2110). Some, perhaps, feel as though this variety of approaches runs counter to the message of standardization. However, diversity of this sort can also be a strength. As Wargo notes, “Having more choices here allows for the best tool to be deployed for the given task. Each standard will offer slightly different benefits — from lower signal loss across a distance to overall higher fidelity.” 

Richards emphasizes that many protocol options exist today, and he argues that understanding them is critical to proper hardware/platform selection for clients and projects. As he says, dealing with “…the fragmentation of standards [relies] on learning and understanding the differences between the solutions you select to deploy and support.” Richards underscores the criticality of talking about each system and not assuming they’re similar or support the same features. Further nodding to the increased complexity of today’s networks, he adds, “It’s not uncommon today to have many protocols [living] together on the network.” This makes proper design considerations paramount. 

King-Cliby tips his hat to SDVoE, which, he says, is not only highly interoperable but also highly reliable in its interoperability; moreover, he adds, it helps technology professionals avoid vendor lock-in and delivers a solid feature set. On the flip side, he says, “I am a bit surprised ST 2110 hasn’t seen more traction in the commercial space.” Ultimately, King-Cliby expresses optimism on the range of approaches and protocols currently in the market, saying they allow designers and clients to balance performance and other factors. However, he does sound a note of caution. “There is a risk, particularly for some of the lower-performing options, to disappear,” he says, “making long-term support a potential concern.” 

Whatever approach to AVoIP an integrator and client might take, Parker offers a valuable reminder: A skilled IT engineer is indispensable to optimize the network for peak performance. That is particularly true when lots of devices are combined on the same physical infrastructure, mixing various transport protocols, each of which might have unique network requirements. “The stability of the system might be at risk if not deployed correctly,” Parker warns. 

Meanwhile, Fornelli articulates a vision for a future in which vendor-specific standards are not the norm. More specifically, he points to a future in which ever more products have transitioned to a unified standard in ST 2110 and IPMX. “This standard really makes the most sense for our customers who have a mixture of broadcast/production and meeting spaces in their facilities, and I am honestly disappointed that more vendors have yet to get on board with IPMX,” Fornelli says candidly. 

Considering the RMR Angle 

As Wargo observes, the conversion of signal to digital via an AVoIP transport enables the creation of more data about utilization, reliability and system state from end to end. This data can then lend itself to managed services, with the purpose of better serving and supporting client deployments. According to CI’s exclusive research study, fewer than four in 10 respondents have successfully leveraged their AVoIP deployments to introduce new managed services and RMR opportunities. This statistic arguably bespeaks a missed opportunity to lean into everything from remote diagnostics and troubleshooting, to upgrade pathing and replacement cycling, to content as a service. “All of this likely only [hints at] what is ultimately possible,” Wargo adds, underscoring the untapped potential. 

Developing AVoIP RMRFornelli expands on this view, saying that AVoIP devices living on networks means “…there is certainly more opportunity for managed services that monitor system health and performance through monitoring and telemetry.” Richards agrees, saying the nature of AVoIP systems — with every input and output residing on a network — expands the possibilities for management and monitoring. “As complexity and system scale go higher, the need for management of the system becomes [greater],” he adds. 

This vision of leaning into services and long-term outcome assurance aligns with the zeitgeist of the moment in our industry — namely, for integrators to become long-term consultative partners to their clients. “In order to ensure our clients have the best experience possible,” Parker says, “we, as integrators, need to provide augmented services to support these system deployments.” In fact, if you ask Parker why he thinks it will be several years before fixed-architecture hardware is bypassed, one reason he’ll give you is post-installation support for end users’ AVoIP solutions not being where it needs to be. If integrators remedy that, there’ll be a huge opportunity for additional revenues. But, Parker adds, even more importantly for a trusted partner, support services will “…provide the insurance clients are in need of so that their systems will remain as they were intended.” 

Biggest Difference-Makers 

CI’s research study indicates that a wide range of potential actions and resources could empower the integrator community to leverage AVoIP more effectively. More than six in 10 urge greater consolidation among standards and approaches; more than four in 10 want more information from industry associations; an equal number of survey takers want standards providers to offer additional information. Our survey also captures considerable demand for AVoIP education for integrators’ staff members. In light of those findings, it’s only natural, then, for Wargo to again cite AVIXA’s ANP certification. “Knowledge is power,” he declares. “The more the market is well informed about the technology and various solution approaches, the more we, as a market, will leverage the benefits of AVoIP.” 

AV access sidebarWe asked each of our respondents to pinpoint the single biggest change our industry could make that would empower integrators and end users alike to better realize the benefits of AVoIP. Fornelli called for more focus on interoperability in the future. “Not only with open standards like IPMX,” he clarifies, “but with openness with control APIs that would enable more AVoIP hardware to be control platform agnostic.” Richards, for his part, disclaims the idea that there is “…a silver bullet that will single handedly change competing desires of flexibility.” He adds, “The rich feature sets bring complexity that is at the core of what this technology category provides.” 

Meanwhile, Parker’s answer about AVoIP could really be applied to our industry as a whole — namely, that we must generate excitement within and about our industry to attract the next generation of professionals. “We can teach and train skills,” he acknowledges, “but we need individuals excited and willing to learn an industry that isn’t taught in schools and universities.” That’s particularly true as the AV industry of old reinvents itself to embrace network-centric deployments. 

And that leads to the top recommendation from King-Cliby: “For AV to stop being afraid to talk to IT; for IT to stop being afraid to talk to AV; and for both to use more of a common language.” 

In Conclusion 

One might say that AVoIP is to AV signal transport as direct-view LED is to video display: In both cases, deployments have rapidly gained prevalence, but their growth potential remains unbounded. “For projects that we design or advise on, we’re pretty much all in on AVoIP,” King-Cliby declares. “For the most part, with most clients, AVoIP makes the most sense for flexibility and capabilities relative to more traditional matrix platforms. It is definitely more acceptable today than two or three years ago.” But AVoIP cannot reach its full potential unless lingering issues are reckoned with. That means overcoming integrator inertia, upskilling workforces, remedying potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities and embracing 24/7/365 outcome assurance, which not only pleases clients but also delivers robust revenue. 

Assuming those prerequisites are met, the integrator community is in prime position to push AVoIP forward. “We have to educate our clients and end users on new and emerging solutions, provide training on new solutions and provide the best support we can,” Parker exhorts. If our industry can do that, while vendors continue to enhance their network-ready offerings, there’s no limit to how far the AVoIP revolution can go.

Download a copy of CI’s  complete 2024 AV-over-IP deep dive report today

Commercial Integrator’s 2024 AV-over-IP deep dive report is proudly supported by Alfatron, Apantac, Audinate, AtlasIED, AV Access, BZBGEAR, Just Add Power, Matrox, MuxLab, RGB Spectrum and Wyrestorm

 

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CI’s Videowall/Digital Signage Survey Closes Soon – Add Your Voice Now! https://www.commercialintegrator.com/business_resources/research/ci-to-study-digital-signage-market-add-your-voice/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/business_resources/research/ci-to-study-digital-signage-market-add-your-voice/#respond Fri, 23 Feb 2024 22:03:07 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=124175 Add your voice to our digital signage market survey and help us uncover important trends that could make a difference for your business!

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This year, Commercial Integrator broadens its offering of Deep Dive reports with a dedicated story on the digital signage and videowall market. Thus, in our upcoming April issue, we’ll explore the latest trends in digital signage design and application, highlighting not only displays, mounts and media players but also content-management systems, content-creation software, device-management software and more. The goal is to apprise AV integrators of burgeoning trends so they can deliver on client expectations and optimize their businesses. CI  is asking you — our audience — to take a short, five-minute survey aimed at finding out what integration professionals are experiencing in their digital signage and videowall projects, and how those insights can help you successfully grow your business!

Would you like to add your voice to this one-of-a-kind industry study? You can take the survey now. We will continue to collect responses through February 23, 2024. So, don’t miss your chance to weigh in!

This survey is open to integrators, consultants and other AV professionals!

TAKE THE VIDEOWALL / DIGITAL SIGNAGE SURVEY NOW 

In-Depth Study on the Digital Signage Market

The Videowall/Digital Signage Deep Dive will offer a breadth and depth of coverage that no other technology journalism outlet delivers. The article will touch on the following topics:

  • Vertical-market growth opportunities for digital signage and videowall systems
  • Profitability of managed services to support digital signage deployments
  • Display technologies most frequently deployed (e.g., DVLED, LCD, OLED, projection mapping, QLED, etc.)

Moreover, since CI recognizes that the business climate is somewhat challenging, we go beyond the technology. We also will explore factors that have diminished AV integrators’ ability to close and integrate digital signage projects?

Take the survey now and share your voice with your industry colleagues. All responses will remain strictly anonymous and will only be used for statistical analysis. No identifying information is requested.

Be sure to check out Commercial Integrator’s Digital Signage Deep Dive in April We will also feature exclusive video Q&As and other supplemental content throughout the spring.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on January 30, 2024 and has since been updated as of February 22, 2024.

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Harnessing CAD to Enhance Your AV Integration Business https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/harnessing-cad-to-enhance-your-av-integration-business/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/harnessing-cad-to-enhance-your-av-integration-business/#respond Thu, 22 Feb 2024 14:02:27 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=128742 Tom Schwarzweller of Microsol Resources urges that to stay ahead of the curve, integrators should consider Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software for AV integration projects.

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If you have ever considered using CAD to simplify your AV integration business, this breakdown is for you. In this article, I hope to teach you how CAD can save you time and money.

CAD stands for “Computer-Aided Design.” CAD software can assist professionals across many industries in building schematics and planning spaces where precise measurements are important. Architects, engineers, electrical designers and AV professionals are a few among dozens of professionals who utilize CAD.

General-purpose CAD is great for people like architects who have a need for a broader range of options. Electrical CAD is a more tailored version, offering specialized features that cater to electrical design.

Revolutionizing AV Integration with CAD Technology

If you are not already using CAD technology in your AV integrations, you might be behind the curve. Software like AutoCAD has the potential to completely revamp the way you do business in the commercial AV industry. Figuring out how to harness it now will keep you in line with your competition and ready to perform. Assuming that you’ve been manually drawing up your designs, you know that correcting mistakes and making changes can cause a host of issues and delays.

If you’re ready to streamline your workflow, maximize your productivity and reduce errors, it’s time to consider implementing CAD for AV integrations.

Maximizing Efficiency and Innovation: CAD and its Impact on AV Integration

AV integration — the processes by which audio, visual and lighting systems come together to work as a unit — can be complicated. However, CAD can be used to simplify your flow and help you make the most of your design time.

There are even plugins for CAD software that are specifically for AV engineering, taking the guesswork out of the process for you and providing templates and suggested flows for your designs. So, what exactly can CAD do for AV integrations? Take a look at some of its most promising benefits in the next sections of this article.

Maximizing Efficiency

The time saved by utilizing CAD to draft projects rather than creating manual drawings is a major draw. Between making updates and changes at a moment’s notice, lowering costs by streamlining the workflow and promoting collaboration by simplifying communications between team members, CAD can also give your team back its time and make a huge difference in its productivity.

Fostering Innovation

An inspired and productive workforce is one that will innovate and grow your business. CAD software keeps track of edits and makes it easy for you to see what works and what doesn’t. Since everyone can access the drawings within the software, your team thus can work together from anywhere.

For many AV integrators, implementing CAD software into the day-to-day operations has been a slow process. Some even still find CAD to be unnecessary to the AV industry. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Minimizing Errors

When manually mapping AV equipment installations, there are a ton of technical details that are easy to miss or get wrong. CAD can help avoid that. Your planning and development process would benefit from the collaborative nature of CAD and the ability to look back at previous versions easily.

Bridging the Gap: CAD’s Role in Seamless AV Collaboration

CAD drawings can do the following:

  • Give you a visual representation of the system you’re building without all the fuss of manual drawings
  • Help you plan for the entire installation
  • Act as training tools for techs that need visual aids
  • Give your clients an idea of what you’ll be providing for them so they can ask detailed and specific questions

Other contractors on a build can use your CAD drawings as well to make sure that their projects won’t interfere with yours and vice versa. Architects and engineers can look at your drawings to compare to their own.

As colleagues on a project, sharing CAD drawings can really help stimulate a better workflow, encourage transparency and ultimately, make sure that the AV system integrates well into the design.

Overcoming Challenges: Integrating AV Technologies with CAD

Whether you’ve faced equipment conflicts, sizing issues or cable management concerns, you’ve seen the kinds of challenges that come up in these integration projects.

Using CAD drawings to predict potential challenge points can also keep you working a step ahead. You can create 2D or 3D models to create blueprints of the spaces you’re working within, which allows you to accurately measure the space ahead of time.

This approach can prevent issues with equipment that doesn’t fit in its designated space or cables that will get in the way. It can also be tricky to plan for power needs — but CAD drawings can precisely map out the available outlets in a space to make sure you don’t run into issues at installation.

Additionally, CAD combines the art of design and drawing with the science of technology, meaning that you can be as creative as you want in your CAD drawings and the software will back up your design with exact measurements and dimensions to ensure a seamless integration.

Navigating the Future: Strategies for Successful CAD-Driven AV Integration

Staying on top of the latest in CAD technology will only help you grow your AV integration business. Thus, you want to be as familiar with it as any other tool in your arsenal.

  • Familiarize yourself with different CAD software options and what they can do. Deciding on the right fit for your needs is important.
  • Once you’ve onboarded CAD and begun using it for AV integration, stay up to date on your software’s capabilities so you can maximize it for your benefit. Refer to tech blogs and expert reviews for the latest updates.
  • Make sure your team is trained properly to get the most out of your CAD software’s collaboration features.
  • Prepare your clients to receive streamlined, upgraded services. You’ll be more efficient and have the ability to easily share your drawings with clients for approval, and any needed changes will be easy to make before diving into the installation.

Change can be overwhelming, but there are plenty of resources to help you as you start utilizing CAD for your AV integrations. Applying these strategies will also ensure that you can move forward as a business keeping up with the latest in computer-aided design technology.


Tom Schwarzweller is account executive for Microsol Resources for upper New York State and Michigan.

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RH Consulting Releases 2024 Networked Audio Products Report https://www.commercialintegrator.com/news/rh-consulting-2024-networked-audio-products-report/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/news/rh-consulting-2024-networked-audio-products-report/#respond Fri, 09 Feb 2024 20:00:32 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=128451 Findings from the report by RH Consulting confirms the growing strength of AES67, RAVENNA and ST 2110 and dominance of Dante and NDI standards.

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Audio consultancy and networking experts RH Consulting (RHC) have released the 2024 edition of the report on Networked Audio Products — extended to cover also audio, video and control products — which confirms the growing strength of AES67, RAVENNA and ST 2110 and the dominance of Dante and NDI standards. According to the company, its  been counting networked audio products and licensees since 2013 to chart the adoption and evolution of audio networking in the pro audio, AV and broadcast markets.

In the dynamic landscape of networked AV, RH Consulting reveals that the 12th instalment of the report witnessed a significant surge in overall adoption, with a total of 6,013 products from 602 brands. This comprehensive analysis thus sheds light on emerging trends and market dynamics.

“A milestone has been reached with over 6,000 networked AV products on the market and with video-over-IP products numbering more than 1,000,” reflects Roland Hemming, audio consultant at RH Consulting. “Networked media products are steadily becoming part of everyone’s work. Soon it will be easier to count the remaining analogue products!”

Report Highlights

The research confirms that Dante, the audio networking technology, has experienced remarkable growth over the past 12 months. Per a statement, it has showcased an 11% expansion in audio products. With 4,131 products, Dante outpaced all other protocols combined, introducing 420 new products and involving 45 manufacturers for the first time.

On the other hand, AES67, an interoperability standard, reached 4,380 compatible products, supporting various protocols such as Dante, RAVENNA, Livewire+, Wheatnet and ‘raw’ AES67. The report finds that the majority of Dante solutions likely support AES67, indicating a high level of integration in the market.

Per RH Consulting, RAVENNA, showed steady growth across the year and secured the second-highest increase in audio products with 344 offerings. MILAN and AVB also demonstrated growth, with MILAN-compliant products increasing to 45.

In the video-over-IP realm, the company says the market is still maturing compared to networked audio. The report analyses protocols such as NDI, SDVoE, ST 2110, Dante AV, IPMX and AVB, revealing insights into their adoption and maturity.

Additional Insights

NDI emerged as the leader in terms of product numbers with a total of 494. ST 2110 experienced substantial growth with 344 encoder and decoder products, while Dante AV, a relative newcomer, tripled its product numbers in just 18 months, totaling 62 products.

SDVoE, despite a small decline, maintained a significant presence with 364 products. IPMX ‘ready’ products, totaling seven offerings, indicate potential growth upon full protocol release.

As the market matures, RH Consulting states that major players are yet to fully embrace video-over-IP standards, raising questions about the industry’s future direction. The report invites stakeholders to consider the evolving landscape and adapt to emerging trends in networked AV technology.

“We now have three years of data for video products so we can start to draw a line,” concludes Hemming. “Other than overall growth, we still can’t identify a ‘winner’ for AV-over-IP. Several major video manufacturers are still using proprietary technology — is it time for them to jump off the fence and commit to offering real interoperability?”

For a full breakdown of all the statistics and a comprehensive listing of all the protocols considered and how the data is compiled, view the full report.

View Report

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