You’re probably here because you’re trying to simplify – Simplify your professional life, simplify a businesses AV solutions or simplify how you approach your AV goals.
And AV standards documents have been on your mind – What is it, how do you start and what’s possible. Let’s jump in.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
Leonardo da Vinci
Standardizing Audio-Visual technologies goes beyond just saving money on the Bill of Materials, bringing about broader benefits like smoother operations, better user experiences, and a solid foundation for innovation.
We’ll explores the many advantages of AV standardization, showing through practical and theoretical examples how this approach not only cuts costs but greatly boosts organizational flexibility, user satisfaction, and the ability to adapt to changing technology trends
1. Laying the Groundwork: The Foundations of Standardizing AV
Audio Visual Standardization – What does that mean? I can be a bit… ambiguous to some however let’s really refine the definition.
Firstly, you need to understand and measure the current state of your AV systems, processes and documentation – Identify what’s working and what’s not.
Ask your end users, “what’s the dream outcome”, determine the goals you aim to achieve through standardization.
Also be aware what can be standardized and what cannot – 80% of your spaces are most likely used often and those, should be considered. Custom or bespoke might not fall into this however for consistency, you can always document them thoroughly.
We know and have seen what is possible. Immediate advantages: faster decision-making, reduction in complexities, less strain from new projects, easier vendor coordination, consistent requirements.
Ever thrown a pebble into a pond? I’m certain you know what I’m talking about. The ripples extend far beyond the initial pebble getting thrown in.
2. The construction advantage: Less change orders, less RFI’s, less confusion
How often have you kicked off a project where the Electrical contractor or telecom was to provide instructions on conduit and backboxes, only to be haunted by those decisions for nearly the life of the project and after turnover? A seemingly basic conduit in the wrong place disrupts an entire room for no reason.
Let me frame it for you, a floor box 2 feet closer to the display wall, now the table sits directly above it.
Our AV standards approach thoroughly covers what we call “infrastructure” requirements – The complete layout of everything required for a successful installation. Conduit, backboxes, backing, floorboxes, power, data. All logically laid out.
Streamlined communications with other design components – How? Let me frame another idea for you.
How many times have you had to “settle” to put ceiling mics or speakers due to HVAC ducts, lighting, etc. In the design process, we can allocate ceiling space where other trades now have to work around AV. That ceiling mic will ALWAYS be centered in your conference spaces…. cause we said so!
You can continuously reuse these infrastructure guides.
3. Consistency is key: Quality of Service
We all hear the complaints about the system “not working” which is likely due to human error. In our standardization approach, we take the old adage “Less is more” and really simplify our design approach.
Often times, when every system from a small huddle to a large room, maybe a training room, if they operate very similarly, now your team can easily use the technology without calling for specialized help. Less friction, more smiles.
Maintaining a high quality of service which in turn raises client satisfaction, and retention, means better business.
4. Beyond the hardware: Programming benefits
This one can get a bit complicated so let’s stay fairly shallow for the sake of this blog post – We hear this time and time again where the AV vendor in a new region will be installing and programming the AV control. So there’s another high-ticket line item with an unknown outcome. How does this effect your organization?
By having a standard across the board, you can now refine programming, potentially from your incumbent programming team, repeat and deploy that across your entire organization. Now there’s a central point of truth, no more “well it works at our Seattle office” or the like. Updates, bug fixes, patches are now easily handled and can “processified” logically and easily.
Imagine the trouble it would be if Iphones verified VASTLY from each other and Apple had to push custom updates? Wouldn’t that be a nightmare.
5. Maintenance Magic: Simplifying Service Support
Your support teams could be 90% familiar with every system. Troubleshoot faster, easy to replace, patches and updates would be rinse and repeat.
SOPs (standardized operating procedures) can created and following rather than the “we need to put out a fire” approach.
Reduce training costs, and not only training for your support staff but also for your end users.
Scheduled maintenance across your organization can become a procedural event with much less headaches.
This is really a whole other segment in the industry – You should reach out to our friends at AV-MSP to learn more.
6.Change is constant: Change management and life-cycle management
Standardized systems often have more clear pathways for change management – Procedures for upgrades and changes become more predictable.
The financial stake of investing in standardized systems really pays off when you begin to “version” your systems. Quarterly to yearly updates are common.
7. Real-world examples: The good and bad
The good: Imagine you were a massive house hold name, conference rooms all over the world. You develop your standards catalog and now you can deploy those rooms in projects, lightning fast.
The bad: A national firm, video conferencing absolutely required for their clients, nearly every location is different. Their support staff constantly pulling their hair out.
8. The financial sense: Economic Benefits of a Standardized Approach
AV standardization can truly lead to cost savings by streamlining processes, reducing redunant work and effort and minimizing errors.
Mitigate financial risks with better planning. Plan better by simplifying.
All in all..
As business professionals, we know the power of predictable processes. And we know it’s not easy to get there.
Highlighting that standardizing Audio-Visual technologies delivers benefits far beyond cost-saving on the Bill of Materials (BOM), but improving operational efficiency, user satisfaction, and helping to create an environment for innovation and enhancing an organization’s adaptability all because you standardardized on your AV.
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