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An Experienced AV Integrator Will Save Your Organization Time And Money
Experience is valuable in any industry, but it’s particularly important for AV integrators. AV is a complex field and AV solutions are complex projects. To handle all that complexity, your organization will want an integrator who has proven their capabilities in the past. Experience in providing AV solutions means more than years served in the industry. It also means working on large scale and even enterprise-scale projects. It means attaining the right certifications as a firm and hiring certified technicians to manage installation. It means focusing on customer service and ensuring client needs are fulfilled long after the technology is set up. Experience is gold in the AV industry, but it has to be the right kind of experience.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1645556722424{background-color: #f3f3f3 !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_column_text]What Kind Of Experience Does An AV Integrator Need?
No two AV projects are the same. A project could be as simple as setting up a couple interactive displays for a school, or as complex as setting up a military-grade control center. You wouldn’t say these projects offer the same kind of experience, so when looking for an integrator, you’ll need to consider exactly what an integrator means when they claim experience. For example, does the integrator have experience with:[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Working on projects of similar scope?
Are they familiar with the technologies used in your organization’s project? Do they know how to deploy technology at the enterprise level, configure it and secure it?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Working with organizations like yours?
Have they worked with clients that operate in the same industry as yours? Have they worked with organizations as large and fast-moving as yours?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/6"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="2/3"][vc_column_text]Every aspect of the integration process?
Have they managed a major AV project from conception to configuration, and beyond? Can they provide post-installation support? Can they design and install? Do they know what to look for during a site survey?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/6"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What Certifications Should A Reputable Integrator Have?
Experience is one thing, and an important thing for integrators, but it’s not everything. In addition to experience, an AV integrator should prioritize education, industry training and certification. There’s a lot of certification programs in the AV industry, though, so which ones should your organization prize in an integrator? A few examples include:[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]AVIXA’s CTS-D or CTS-I Certification
AVIXA (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association) is the industry’s most respected professional association and offers some of its best training programs. Among them are the CTS-D (Certified Technology Specialist - Designer) and CTS-I (Certified Technology Specialist - Installer) programs. At the minimum, an integrator should staff both CTS-D and CTS-I certified professionals to ensure proper project planning and execution.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]AVIXA’s APEx Program
AVIXA’s APEx (AV Provider of Excellence) program isn’t a certification track, but recognition for AV integrators that meet certain educational and experience-related requirements. To become an APEx-awarded firm, an integrator must maintain a certain number of CTS-certified staff, maintain other industry certifications, complete additional AVIXA training and gather positive customer surveys.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Vendor-Specific Certifications
AVIXA certifications aren’t the only relevant industry certifications. Major AV vendors also organize and deliver their own certification programs, and these can be valuable when a vendor specialist is needed. Crestron, in particular, offers a valuable certification program, as Crestron products are featured in Microsoft environments.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]DSP Certifications
Don’t forget the audio in audiovisual. DSP (digital signal processor) certification demonstrates proficiency with audio technologies, and it’s available through a few reputable vendors. Biamp is one such vendor, and a popular one for audio specialists.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]An Experienced AV Integrator Can Manage Every Part Of An AV Project
In the AV industry, experience is extraordinarily valuable because every AV project poses a unique set of challenges. Those challenges could arise during any part of the integration process, so integrators are required to be adaptable if they are to complete the job on time and within budget. An experienced, certified integrator is a versatile integrator. To ensure you get that valuable versatility for your project, pick an integrator that will do the following:[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Provide A Needs Consultation First
Planning comes first with AV integration, and planning starts with a needs consultation. During this consultation, the integrator will sit down with the client and establish what they’re looking for from the system. By the end of this meeting, both parties will know what to do next.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Perform A Site Survey
During a site survey, the integrator will inspect the client’s facilities, taking note of any potential installation-related complications. For example, if there is existing AV technology, it may need to be removed or integrated into the new solution.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Design The AV System
Design and installation are the two major parts of the integration process. During system design, the designer will map out where the hardware will go, taking into account things like power and heat cabling.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Acquire The Technology And Install It
An AV integrator can acquire all the necessary technologies and components for the project and install them according to the system’s design and vendor’s specifications.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]An Established Integrator Can Also Service The Solution Following Installation
After installation, the solution will require configuration, monitoring and ongoing maintenance. Without this post-installation support, minor technical and usability issues could grow into something that results in downtime. Experienced AV integrators are prepared to provide this post-installation support, and it typically involves:[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Monitoring
An integrator can monitor a solution for performance and detect issues before they develop.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text] An integrator can offer solutions for technical or usability issues, through e-mail or over the phone.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text] An integrator can provide regular preventative maintenance, which involves inspecting the covered equipment for any performance issues or slowdowns.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Troubleshooting
An integrator can help clients troubleshoot any network-related issues involving the solution.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text] An integrator can provide additional training to help new hires or introduce new features to experienced users.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Warranties And Shipping
If hardware replacement or repair is required, an integrator can process the warranties and handle the shipping for their client.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]An Experienced Integrator Is A Valuable Technology Partner
AV can enhance your organization’s productivity and branding, but only if the solution is designed, installed and maintained properly. An experienced, certified AV integrator can do all of that. They can also provide helpful insight when hardware replacement is needed or when new technologies offer a better fit than existing ones. Put it all together, and that’s a valuable technology partner to have on your side.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Sandy Hill
Sandy Hill, Director of Business Development for Education, is an audio visual integration representative for Data Projections with 10 plus years of experience selling to the K12 market in all areas of Texas. She strives to seek the best audio visual solutions for the education market and enjoys supporting school districts and other organizations within the vertical. She has participated in many of the area technology shows and events as well as TCEA and the Texas K12 CTO Council.