Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1295215
Better Communication, Better Business A better business needs better communication. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what's the value of a video call or interactive training? From here on out, audio-visual will be the standard way we communicate. Here are some tips from Cinema Stage Inc. so you can ensure that your business doesn't fall behind. Know what is out there Far too often, too much focus is directed to cor- porations' current needs. Rather, an innovative audio visual contractor should be responsible to inform the client of all available technologies in the market place to allow the client to conduct an internal audit of needs and foresight into where they would like to be in terms of tech - nology. This information is priceless to the AV contractor when designing the systems, whether or not the technologies are implemented im - mediately or in the future. Knowing where the firm is headed will most definitely mitigate any risk associated with premature replacement of components. Investing in the future There is no way around it, implementing au- dio visual systems in a facility does come at a cost. It is best to view this as an investment in the corporate culture. Although the initial price tag may be rather high, integrating technology will immediately begin to pay off. The ROI will be immediately seen with employees through increased productivity and attention during meetings, on top of faster workflow processes through collaboration and video conferencing. The key to maximizing the ROI is high levels of support/training for staff upon initial imple - mentation. This is sure to set the tone and help change the corporate culture to embrace audio visual technology. What, When, Where, Why and How? Coordination and Implementation can make or break every project. Professional audio visual systems are meant to be fully integrated and aes- thetically pleasing; no components should "stick out" but rather be more subtle. Coordination and implementation also extends into the timelines between various trades and client deliverables, often following timelines is critical to the suc- cessful implementation of these systems. Be in Control The key to ROI as mentioned above (support and training) is only second to the following: Control. If the systems are not consistent, intui - tive and easy to use, people will almost always revert to their old habits, thus wasting the time and expense invested in an audio visual system. Programming scope of these systems should be determined with the user groups directly. Often small hiccups or inefficiencies lead to rejection of new technologies and workflow. The Sky is the Limit With the fast paced nature of the electronics industry, virtually anything is possible. New technologies are generating new avenues for increased productivity and revenue. Buzzwords such as collaborative, immersive and conver- gence are becoming more and more popular, however are vague at best. Understanding these terms in a given corporate culture and applying CinemaStage_AWARD_1020.indd 1