“Ramp is a more agnostic type solution that allows the origination of content to come from a cloud-based service or another system within an organization. They will take that and distribute it appropriately within an organization, whereas most of the other solutions available for content distribution networks are very specific to their own solutions.”
Many organizations prefer not to be locked down to one method of managing and delivering video. “They want to be able to utilize whatever online video platform will make the most sense given the business unit and what the application is about,” Mendonca says.
Managed Services Is Nothing New
Unlike many integration firms struggling to figure out how video services can lead to recurring revenue, HB Communications has already long earned managed services revenue through streaming and content management.
The Ramp partnership simply continues that trend, helping customers address “critical challenges,” Mendonca says.
These manages services are a no-brainer for “organizations who see the value of adopting video to address various business applications but really struggle to provide the necessary business infrastructure to be able to handle that,” he says.
- HB Communications works with the customer on a needs assessment
- It puts together solutions designs.
- “We put together implementation plans where we implement the technology internally and then we provide necessary test and validation and provide continued support,” Mendonca says.
If any devices experience failures, HB Communications is notified and provides the necessary support to keep the systems in full production.
HB Is Uniquely Equipped for Soup-to-Nuts Video
There is a reason, Mendonca points out, why most enterprise-level streaming solutions require using their own technology to distribute video within their organizations. Most integration firms need the hand-holding.
“In order to help organizations be successful with their products they really need to do it themselves because the skillset doesn’t really exist in the partner community.”
HB is different. It’s been doing streaming solutions for customers for 15 years, according to Mendonca. “So we have a lot of experience and knowledge as it relates to all the intricacies needed to make this a success—whether it’s content specific, server management specific or network specific.”
Meanwhile, HB Communications has a broadcast group that focuses on content creation and production.
Content Creation Is Part of the Solution
HB Communications is asked to create a lot of content, but it’s usually for signage solutions.
“On the video content management element or what people refer to as the ‘enterprise YouTube’ environment, there is less of a need to create content for customers,” Mendonca says. “It’s more about making sure the right tools are implemented so that organization is enabled to create quality content and create the right user experiences.”
He adds that it’s really challenging to do that without having a lot of experience when it comes to content creation. “I think that’s where there is a lack of knowledge as it relates to most integration firms.”
