A recent study by RBC Capital Markets predicts installations of Alexa for Business devices could reach 128-million units by 2020, creating what AV Junction founder and CEO Paul Weatherhead calls “an enormous new market opportunity” for commercial and residential AV integrators.
But to reap the benefits of this explosion of voice control devices in every boardroom, classroom and myriad other spaces, integrators must take steps now to ensure they are staffed with freelance professionals who have smart technology experience, says Weatherhead.
“AV installation services are entirely different from services like Alexa for Business and, in fact, we believe they can and will feed each other’s growth in the years to come,” Weatherhead said.
“AV companies and their specialized freelancers will be in high demand to ensure that Alexa for Business is properly installed and customized with the right skills. Collaborative spaces like conference and huddle rooms are of paramount importance in the age of distance meetings and international projects.”
Alexa for Business will work with built-in features customized for an office setting, including the ability to make calls and check security camera feeds, said Weatherhead.
Amazon is also hoping to work together with software developers to build many more office-specific apps like managing work calendars and setting the stage for a meeting by dimming lights, lowering blinds and adjusting temperatures in the conference room — functions that make the AV installer’s role more important than ever before, he said.[related]
“Installers have to let their customers know that they are the very best Alexa consultant available to them and that getting the right benefits from voice enabled installations requires the assistance of a true professional installer who understands how to design and install the right voice enabled system for their unique situation,” Weatherhead said.
Launched in December 2017, AV Junction is a web platform that enables AV companies to search for, hire, and manage freelancers on a project-to-project basis from anywhere in the world.
AV companies can post an unlimited number of jobs, search a worldwide database of independent contractors, create work order contracts for hiring, message freelancers directly and make secure payments.
Industry freelancers can join the AV Junction database free to search for and apply to jobs based on skill, sector and job type.
Click here to register for AV Junction.
