Why You Need Zoom Rooms From A Specialized AV Company

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Considering Zoom Rooms? Consider an AV Integrator as Well

Zoom’s popularity is skyrocketing, with more than 300 million people participating in Zoom meetings every day. The brand’s room conferencing solutions, Zoom Rooms, are extremely popular as well, but as powerful as they are, it takes a certified AV integrator to unlock their full potential. Some districts and businesses, though, work directly with Zoom to put together their Zoom Room project. There are a few problems with this approach, and they could reduce the effectiveness of your solution and delay its implementation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Why Are AV Integrators Best Equipped for a Zoom Room Project?

In the past 18 months, video conferencing solutions like Zoom Rooms have become critical to many organizations and their workflows. Experienced AV integrators, though, have installed, configured, and maintained video conferencing systems for decades, which makes integrators the primary experts on the technology. If your organization is interested in this solution, here’s how a certified AV integrator’s expertise will add value:

1. They handle the installation - Modern video conferencing solutions may be easy to use, but like with many AV solutions, they can be a challenge to install. As the size of the project scales up, so will the challenge. If your organization is working with an AV integrator, however, the project won’t be bottlenecked at the installation stage. Before a certified integrator begins installation, they consult with their client to determine their exact needs and survey the site to verify it is ready for the hardware and cable.

This degree of planning is important to avoid any unexpected delays, and certified integrators invest in the system design and planning phases, so they can reliably deliver on time. If your Zoom Room absolutely needs to be operational by a certain date, an integrator can make it happen.

2. They can select optimal hardware for your organization - If you’re working directly with Zoom, your organization’s hardware choices may be limited. Further, without AV expertise on hand, it will be nearly impossible to accurately compare your hardware options. As a result, your business or school may be left with a system that doesn’t deliver the conferencing experience your teams were hoping for.

Zoom is partnered with several major AV hardware brands, and the one that works best in your organization may be one that you haven’t heard of. AV integrators are familiar with these brands, such as Poly and Crestron, and can make an informed judgment on which one would best fit your organization’s needs.

3. They can help your team adjust to the technology - One of the major challenges organizations face when investing in new technology is getting teams to adopt it. To do this, it’s critical to generate enthusiasm and comfort with the solution early on. Once enough people are using the solution productively, it’s only a matter of time before everyone is familiar with the system.

AV integrators know that to drive early adoption, training is key. With effective training, your employees will have an opportunity to try out the solution before it goes live, which can help develop comfort with the hardware. Training is organized at the user level, so different training materials for typical users, managers, and IT. The point is to make training as engaging and practical as possible, so your employees aren’t overwhelmed.

Every hardware brand also operates a bit differently, so if your organization is trying out a new manufacturer with your Zoom Room, an AV integrator can provide brand-specific training.

4. They can provide ongoing support for your Zoom Room - To maximize the return on your investment, you’ll want to maximize the lifespan and performance of your Zoom Room. As time goes on, it’s possible that performance issues, including those inadvertently caused by users, will interfere with the system’s operation. This is more likely if the technology was installed without expert guidance.

Integrators know that AV solutions, even modern ones, require ongoing maintenance and monitoring. This is why a certified integrator will offer a maintenance agreement as part of the solution’s integration.

A maintenance agreement keeps your AV integrator on as a technology partner, providing onsite and remote tech support, network troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, additional training, warranty handling, and equipment shipping should repair be necessary. This collection of services will optimize the long-term performance of your Zoom Room and prevent technical issues from affecting your teams’ meetings.

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What Are Some Leading Zoom Room Solutions?

Zoom works with several leading AV brands to deliver their Zoom Rooms. Two of these brands, Poly and Crestron, are among the most experienced video conferencing manufacturers in existence. Their solutions include popular standouts, including the following:[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]

The Poly Studio X -

The Poly Studio X merges excellent video and audio quality with simplicity of use. The Studio X is a video bar that combines a professional-grade camera, professional-grade speakers and native Zoom functionality right out of the package. Connect a digital display to the Studio X, and you’re ready to conference. The Studio X’s features include Poly’s EagleEye camera, which is built with intelligent framing. Some models also come with a dual-lens design, so the camera can switch from wide angle to close up instantly. On the audio side, the Studio X is built with a second-order microphone array and advanced bass ports, so audio will be crystal clear on both sides of the call. Audio quality is improved further with Poly’s noise suppression and blocking features, which are some of the industry’s most sophisticated.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]

The Crestron Flex -

Crestron’s Flex, like Poly’s Studio X, isn’t just for Zoom Rooms, but it can be customized to provide a Zoom Room-focused experience. The Flex is flexible - it’s in the name - and it can be deployed for conference rooms of nearly any size. Standout features include smart room controls, so you can bring the lights up or volume down with a single button press, room scheduling, and Crestron’s XiO backend cloud. Through XiO, users can monitor and control a single Flex, or thousands at once. With a unified backend, it’s far more efficient for technical personnel to push over updates and manage devices.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]There’s a lot to like about Zoom Rooms, and if industry data is any indication, a lot of people like Zoom. To ensure your organization’s solution is installed, configured and maintained properly, you’ll need a certified AV integrator to provide the needed expertise. Not only will this optimize your solution’s performance, an integrator will also ensure your teams are ready for the Zoom Room once it’s ready for them.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]