Run an AV Technology Proof-of-Concept Before You Roll Out
An AV proof of concept is your low-risk dress rehearsal before a multimillion-dollar roll-out. Skip it and you gamble with user adoption, hidden costs and long-term scalability.
What an AV Proof of Concept is—and isn’t
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POC – a tightly scoped, 2–4 week experiment to prove that a short-listed solution meets real-world goals.
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Pilot / Trial site – a larger deployment that validates workflows and support processes across multiple rooms.
AVIXA defines a POC as “a limited, measurable evaluation of feasibility prior to wider investment.”
When you should insist on a POC
| Scenario | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Enterprise-wide video-conferencing standard | Confirms ease-of-use for non-technical staff and checks codec interoperability. |
| New meeting-room UX (e.g., one-touch join) | Surfaces “gotchas” hidden in spec sheets—think USB-C power limits or BYOD quirks. |
| Emerging tech (AI cameras, AV-over-IP) | Tests bandwidth, firmware maturity and future licensing costs. |
(For reliability questions after installation, see Maximising Reliability of AV Systems.)
Your AV Proof of Concept should answer Four questions
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Is it intuitive? – real users score set-up time and control-panel clarity.
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Does it solve the business problem? – live meetings prove or disprove the design brief.
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Can we support it? – document install steps, firmware process, licensing fees.
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Will it scale? – clone the configuration to a second space; note any bottlenecks.
How Konnectus runs a 3-phase POC
| Phase | Activities | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Set objectives, success metrics, test scripts | 1-page charter & timeline |
| Deploy | Install sample kit, train champions, collect usage data | Daily insights & user surveys |
| Review | Analyse data vs metrics, refine design, build capex/opex model | Go / No-go decision & pilot scope |
We often save clients 10-25 % in avoided re-work by catching mismatches early.
Case snapshot – finance firm saves AU$45 k
A Sydney fund manager trialled three USB-based VC kits. The POC revealed one model failed to wake from standby 30 % of the time—an issue not noted in the datasheet. They standardised on the most reliable option and negotiated bulk pricing, cutting the initial quote by AU$45 k.
(Full story in Independent AV Consultant vs Installer.)
External resources to bolster your brief
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Gartner Hype Cycle for Workplace Infrastructure & Operations – stresses POC value before large AV-over-IP projects.
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Cisco Webex Whitepaper on Pilot vs POC – outlines ideal test durations and metrics.
Ready to prove—then move?
Konnectus designs and facilitates evidence-based AV technology proof of concepts for corporates, universities and government agencies. Book your free 15-minute POC scoping call and get a tailored test plan that de-risks your next investment.
