Work with an Independent AV Consultant before an Installer
Hiring an independent AV consultant is like seeing a doctor before you buy medicine. Skip that step and you risk paying too much for the wrong cure. This is an example of how konnectus helps and works with clients every day to ensure the best outcomes for their businesses and the right AV solutions for their needs.
John’s story – a tale of two quotes
John runs a fast-growing finance firm with new offices in Sydney, Singapore and London. With 89 % of enterprises now relying on video conferencing for daily work Sci-Tech Today, John knew face-to-face links were vital for culture and clients alike.
Before we met, he invited three AV installers to quote:
| What John asked for | What the installers pitched |
|---|---|
| Connect three offices | Hardware only for Sydney |
| Budget mid-range | Flagship bundles way over spec |
| Platform-agnostic advice | Each brand pushed its own catalogue |
Result: confusion, inflated budgets—and no clear path forward.
Where an independent AV consultant adds value
Independent consultants earn solely from advice, not product sales; AVIXA even has a council that bars them from vendor kick-backs. Avixa Portal
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Needs first, hardware second – We captured John’s real outcomes (daily London calls, guest clients, easy content share).
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Options, not obligations – Explained Teams Rooms, Zoom appliances and BYOD kits side-by-side.
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Competitive pricing – Packaged the chosen design and ran a mini-tender; bids came back tens of thousands of dollars lower than the original quotes.
“You didn’t just sell me gear—you clarified my business goal and showed the leanest path.” – John, Managing Director
Signs you need an independent AV consultant
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Quotes feel like menus, not solutions.
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Vendors champion only one brand.
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Multiple sites need one cohesive standard.
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You lack time (or appetite) to decode tech jargon.
(For deeper risk-reduction tactics, see our post Maximising Reliability of AV Systems.)
How the process works
| Stage | Consultant role | Your benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery workshop | Map goals, users, room types | Everyone agrees on success criteria |
| Option matrix | Compare 3-4 viable tech stacks | Transparent trade-offs on cost & UX |
| Design & budget | Produce drawings, BOM & draft SLA | Apples-to-apples pricing from installers |
| Installer selection | Run RFP, vet references, check certifications (CTS-D, Crestron, etc.) AVIXA Xchange | Best-fit partner at best price |
| Witness testing | Verify install against spec | Day-1 defect list = zero (see Independent Witness Testing) |
Frequently asked questions
Q: Isn’t a consultant just another cost?
A: Typical savings from scope right-sizing and competitive tendering run 10 – 25 %, easily exceeding fees.
Q: Will installers still co-operate?
A: Yes—clear briefs and fair scoring attract top-tier integrators keen to win on merit, not margin.
Q: Do consultants sell equipment?
A: Independent ones don’t. AVIXA’s definition forbids vendor incentives, ensuring unbiased advice. cdn.avixa.org
Ready to get advice before you buy gear?
Konnectus has guided Australian corporations, universities and government agencies since 2013. Book a free 15-minute discovery call and we’ll map your needs, budget and next steps—before a single cable is ordered.
