Gathering needs for the right office AV solutions in your business. In this episode of The Tech Simple Podcast, we sit down with Pujan Doshi-Dowsett. He is the Product Owner for meeting spaces and video conferencing (VC) technology at IAG, one of the largest insurance groups. Pujan shares invaluable insights from a client-side perspective on gathering the correct end-user needs and requirements for office AV solutions in a business setting. He dives deep into the critical questions stakeholders should consider: What role does VC play in the organization? How important is hybrid work? How capable is the support team for AV systems? These questions form the bedrock of understanding and developing a clear profile of the client to avoid costly guesswork.
Pujan emphasizes the importance of extracting true needs from three main user groups: everyday AV users, executive leadership, IT and operations support teams. Together we discuss the often-competing needs of these groups and how to prioritize them. The goal is to deliver AV office solutions that satisfies everyone across the business. The support team’s preferred outcome is usually uniformity and minimal performance issues. Many end users often prioritise customization and flexibility in the office AV. Executive leadership often seek alignment with major technology partners and hybrid work strategies. The key is finding the right balance tailored to each organization, which Pujan explains.
Undergoing a through needs assessment process is the foundation to achieving success. Pujan also highlights the importance of ongoing communication channels with various user groups.
BONUS TOPIC!!! we explore the integration of AV technology with physical spaces. Pujan emphasizes the need for standards in lighting, acoustics, and furniture to create an optimal meeting environment.
Tune in to learn how to navigate the complex landscape of AV and VC technology in large organizations.
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This episode of the Tech Simple podcast is all about IT Networks for AV Systems. Hosts David and Jonathan are joined by Andrew Squillacioti of Concept AV. They discuss the importance of setting up IT networks for AV systems correctly before implementing them into workplaces, meeting rooms, and collaboration spaces.
Learn the significance of network compatibility, bandwidth requirements, quality of service, and firewall and security settings. This ensures smooth AV system deployment. Proper IP addressing and DHCP configuration, port forwarding, network segmentation, and VPN configuration is also discussed. Getting this right helps to optimize AV system functionality and support remote access by AV support teams.
Listen to gain insights into the process of firmware updates for AV devices, and network monitoring for troubleshooting. The advice on conducting a network readiness check for AV solutions is also provided by the team. Hear about real-life examples and success stories from their experiences delivering seamless AV systems. Andrew and Jonathan go through a ten-point checklist discussion in depth. Additionally, they provide practical tips for addressing network issues to ensure a robust IT infrastructure that supports AV requirements.
Tune in and learn about the benefits of network optimization, and the importance of collaboration between AV integrators and IT departments. The episode offers valuable information on network configuration, security measures, and remote support tools. All are essential for delivering efficient and effective audiovisual solutions in various workplace environments.
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Another engaging podcast discussion with Greg Jeffreys. We delve into the fascinating world of modern meeting room technology and design in this episode. Greg sheds light on the evolution of video display sizes in meeting rooms, driven by Microsoft Front Row. He also provides insights on the pitfalls of designing a dual-screen setup in a meeting room. Discover why Microsoft’s focus on smaller rooms is a game-changer. Learn also how innovations like Microsoft Copilot are shaping the future of meeting room experiences.
Explore the trend of end users taking meeting room setups into their own hands and the challenges this poses. Greg highlights the importance of a collaborative partnership between IT and AV professionals to ensure optimal functionality and experiences. We discuss the industry’s missing concept of “try before you buy” and why it needs to be considered. There is significant value in experiencing different room setups firsthand to make informed decisions. The expertise of AV professionals is key to helping end customers in this area.
Gain exclusive insights from Greg on the importance of standards in capturing end user needs in meeting spaces. He also provides a sneak peek into his upcoming book on hybrid meeting and teaching spaces, with a focus on Microsoft Teams Rooms and enhancing the end user experience.
Don’t miss this episode packed with valuable perspectives for end users, architects, AV designers, and anyone passionate about elevating meeting room design and technology.
A thought-provoking discussion that will reshape your perception of meeting room setups and the role of technology in creating impactful experiences.
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Greg Jeffreys is an expert on meeting room design standards, displays, lighting, and Microsoft Teams Rooms. He joins David and Jonathan on this episode of The Tech Simple podcast, which is so rich in nuggets of gold that we had to split the recording across two parts!
In Part 1 we learn about Greg’s approach to meeting room design, which very much starts with the end users and the experience that needs to be created for them. He talks through his process and shares why AV technology is not always the answer – it is only a part of the overall solution and experience.
Greg also notes the hangover that still lingers from the global pandemic. At that time there was a rush to get AV technology solutions up and running as quickly as possible. Complying with standards and good practice design went out the window. Four years on we still see this approach to AV technology and meeting space design in many cases and we discuss why that is as well as the detrimental implications.
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As we kick off a new year it is the perfect time to review what happened in AV technology in the workplace in 2023 and discuss the trends that are most likely to occur in 2024.
In this first episode of Season 2 of The Tech Simple podcast, hosts David and Jonathan are joined by expert guests from industry association AVIXA. They are in the perfect position to share the data from the market. Sean Wargo and Peter Hansen work together to gather market intelligence in the AV industry through data capture, analytics expertise, insight delivery, and world-class market research.
The information that Sean and Peter provide is hugely beneficial to end customers, manufacturers, distributors, integrators and consultants alike in the pro AV industry. Their work leads to better decision making and winning outcomes for all of us.
Technology in the hybrid workplace is critical to success for organisations and their workforces in 2024 and beyond. In the conversations we discuss AV solution standardisation and how businesses are solving for meeting equity. New designs and furniture layouts are helping improve the meeting and collaboration experience.
Leveraging AI in smart cameras and microphones and more in 2024 will continue to develop. Scalability and the ability to replicate experiences across offices and space types is also becoming ever more important.
Tune in to learn about these topics and more!
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We recently worked on a workspace project where we were able to save the client over $15 million. You are not just buying my time; you are buying my 25+ years of experience as a professional project manager”. These are the words of Kevin Tompkins of CTPG who shares the microphone with David and Jonathan on this final episode of the Tech Simple podcast in Season 1.
In this chat Kevin likens the role of a professional project manager to that of a “conductor of an orchestra”. This is a key to success. A great PM is able the get the most out of everyone on a project team by giving each person the space and scope to excel at what they do best. He also talks about the importance of assembling the right team of people and companies to work together on a workspace project. The client and type of workspace will heavily influence these choices.
Kevin is also acutely aware of the importance AV now has in the modern workplace. We talk about some of the changes that have occurred in recent years and cover the factors that influence a successful AV outcome on any workspace project. We collectively agree in this discussion that having the right AV team to consult with and advise the client early, and then having the ability to proactively manage change before things become an issue, is invaluable on any project.
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