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For most of us, 2020 has felt like a VERY long year. But, the end is near, and with that it’s important to prepare for the needs that 2021 will bring. In the business world, this means setting budgets, making decisions and getting ready for what comes next. Our director of corporate strategy, Dirk Williams, shares his insights on the key AV-related considerations to keep in mind while planning your technology investments in the coming months.
In the beginning of the pandemic, the idea of working from home seemed ideal and was widely welcomed. Now, eight months in, there are quite a few studies (like this one from Steelcase) highlighting how long-term, virtual officing is not only falling out of favor but is also counter beneficial to creativity and collaboration.
As things start to move to more of a hybrid office/home model, you’ll want to ensure your employees have the necessary tools in both locations to work effectively and safely. Be sure to set funding aside for additional hardware or licenses, extra videoconferencing monitors, touchless control panels, video cameras, and room monitoring devices.
Procuring more equipment will help with setting up workspaces, but it won’t solve the multi-platform dilemma. What is this dilemma? It’s the challenge of integrating multiple videoconferencing options within an enterprise infrastructure that is geared toward one single platform.
This is the biggest in-office communication hurdle your organization will face, so you’ll definitely want build tackling the issue into your 2021 budget. Once you’ve done that, make sure you hire the right integrator to come on board. Immedia is an expert at this. You can learn more here.
Many staff members work from cubicles that aren’t able to contain the sound generated by conversations. Even if individual employees are careful about their speech volume during a video-based call, when aggregated into an entire office having multiple online meetings a day, things are going to get loud.
A sound masking system can be extremely helpful in reducing noise distraction while also increasing privacy. There are a lot of options on the market meaning you can spend as much or as little as your financial objectives will allow.
Some businesses already have construction projects in place for next year. Others may need to seriously evaluate whether building more videoconferencing and huddle rooms are going to be a requirement for doing business in this new network-dependent reality. In either case, be careful to include audiovisual solutions as part of the total budget. It’s much easier and cost effective to integrate equipment on the front-end than it is to realize after the fact that a space should have had AV incorporated as part of the overall design.
You don’t have to plan for this coming year alone. Immedia is here to help. If you’re uncertain what strategies and expenditures make the most sense for your organization, let us know. We can walk you through these ideas as well as explore others to address your company-specific needs. Let’s make 2021 a great year together!
Source: Dirk Williams – Director of Corporate Strategy, Immedia Integrated Technologies
