When organizations are looking to design and implement an A/V system, they seldom consider the long-term maintenance and management of the solution. They’re concerned about how the system is going to function — and, of course, the total cost of the project. A managed services agreement might seem like an unnecessary added expense.
However, maintenance and support should be part of the conversation from the outset of the project. Otherwise, issues are bound to arise that reduce the ROI of the solution.
Let’s say that a salesperson is doing a presentation for a prospect and the connection drops. By the time she’s able to get back online, the meeting is derailed and the prospect is no longer interested. Or let’s say your procurement, logistics and service delivery teams are trying to coordinate an important project, but one of the teams is unable to connect to the web conference. These kinds of issues can impact your organization’s bottom line.
Can Your Internal IT Team Support A/V?
Some organizations establish internal processes for A/V maintenance and support. Someone on the IT team is assigned to check each meeting room on a daily basis to ensure that everything is operating normally. If an issue arises, users are directed to call the help desk and open a ticket.
There are a couple of problems with this approach. First, IT teams are typically stretched thin. There may not be adequate staff resources to do that “preventive maintenance walk” every day. If a user calls the help desk for support, a tech may not be able to get there quickly enough to salvage the meeting.
Second, IT pros aren’t always familiar with A/V equipment. Issues can arise that they won’t be able to troubleshoot in a timely fashion. For example, vendors frequently push out firmware updates to all of the devices on a customer’s network. However, if the firmware changes the names of devices, the A/V controller suddenly won’t be able to find the equipment on the network.
Sometimes the IT team inadvertently causes problems. The network administrator might perform updates and forget to set the right permissions for the A/V equipment.
The Value of Professional A/V Support
You can avoid these kinds of issues with managed services and support from qualified A/V professionals. Professional A/V technicians have the knowledge and skills to quickly identify and resolve issues specific to A/V equipment, minimizing downtime and ensuring that systems are always operational. Many A/V support providers can troubleshoot and resolve issues remotely, further reducing downtime. They can also proactively update software and address potential problems before they escalate into major disruptions.
Remote monitoring and proactive management can prevent many problems from occurring in the first place, preventing costly repairs and replacements. Well-maintained A/V systems ensure that users can easily operate the technology, increasing overall productivity. Presentations and meetings are always clear and engaging, improving communication and collaboration.
How Verteks Can Help
Verteks offers A/V managed services and support, including support for ClearOne A/V products. Our professionals will perform preventive maintenance on your A/V systems to ensure that they’re always up-to-date and functioning optimally. We can coordinate with your IT team to stay ahead of firmware updates and other changes to the network that could impact the A/V environment. And when problems arise, we can troubleshoot them remotely or dispatch an experienced tech to your site.
It all boils down to value. You invested in A/V systems to help enhance productivity and customer service. Proactive maintenance and support help ensure that your A/V systems deliver maximum ROI.
The experts at Verteks can troubleshoot issues faster, provide proactive support and manage the complexity of A/V systems, freeing up your IT team to focus on core IT functions. Let Verteks help you ensure efficient communication, minimize downtime and maximize the value of your A/V investments.
