Elevating Collaboration Spaces

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern workplaces, the design and functionality of meeting rooms play a pivotal role in fostering effective collaboration and productivity. From conference rooms to huddle spaces, businesses are reimagining these environments to meet the demands of hybrid work models and new communication technologies.

Let’s explore key trends and strategies for optimizing collaboration spaces and discuss innovative all-in-one solutions and their role in shaping the future of meeting rooms.

Meeting Room SolutionsOptimizing Collaboration Spaces for Hybrid Work

As organizations navigate the transition to hybrid work models, the need for flexible and adaptable meeting spaces has never been greater. Designing workspaces that cater to both in-person and remote participants is essential for fostering inclusivity, and implementing seamless content sharing, high-quality audio, and crisp video conferencing capabilities ensure that all team members can collaborate effectively, regardless of their location.

Creating Immersive Meeting Experiences with AV Technology

From interactive displays to advanced sound systems, leveraging the latest AV solutions can transform standard meeting rooms into dynamic environments of creativity and innovation. By integrating cutting-edge technology seamlessly into these collaboration spaces, businesses can elevate the quality of their meetings and enhance overall team engagement.

Maximizing ROI: Designing Cost-Effective Meeting Spaces

In today’s competitive business landscape, maximizing ROI is a top priority for organizations. When it comes to designing meeting spaces, it’s essential to achieve a balance between functionality and cost-effectiveness. At Exertis Almo, we offer scalable and adaptable solutions that offer robust features – without breaking the bank. From leveraging modular furniture to investing in versatile AV technology, there are numerous ways to design cost-effective meeting spaces that deliver value for users.

Enhancing Productivity Through Seamless Integration

Seamless integration between AV devices and collaboration software is essential for streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity. By ensuring compatibility with popular conferencing platforms and productivity tools, workspaces can minimize technical hurdles and maximize efficiency during meetings. From automatic content detection to intuitive user interfaces, integrated solutions simplify the meeting experience, allowing participants to focus on the task at hand without distractions.

The Barco All-in-One ClickShare Bar: Revolutionizing Meeting Spaces

Barco ClickShare All-In-One BarAt the forefront of these trends stands the Barco all-in-one ClickShare Bar, Core and Pro models – a compact, yet powerful solution designed to elevate collaboration spaces to new heights. Combining wireless content sharing, conference camera, microphone, and speaker functionalities into a single device, the Barco all-in-one bar offers unparalleled convenience and versatility. Ideal for spaces up to 15’ x 15’, this innovative solution simplifies meeting room setups while delivering exceptional audio and video quality.

However, for larger meeting spaces requiring a comprehensive solution design, Exertis Almo offers expertise and support to tailor solutions that meet specific needs and requirements. With a focus on delivering tailored AV solutions, Exertis Almo ensures that businesses can create collaborative environments that drive success and innovation.

The future of meeting rooms lies in creating adaptable, immersive, and cost-effective spaces that empower teams to collaborate effectively in any setting. By embracing emerging trends and leveraging innovative solutions like the Barco all-in-one bar, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and unlock new possibilities for productivity and growth.

Let’s get in touch! Contact me to get started today.

Nathan Dwelly BDM
About the Author

Nathan Dwelly

BDM – Brand Specialist

Supported Manufacturers: Barco ClickShare

Revolutionizing Collaboration: Emerging Trends in All-in-One AV Solutions

In the fast-evolving landscape of professional audio-visual (AV) technology, a notable trend is gaining momentum – the integration of content sharing, conference cameras, microphones, and speakers into all-in-one solutions. This shift is not only transforming the way we approach collaboration, but also streamlining solution designs for integrators and enhancing the overall user experience.

Simplifying Integration for Designers and Installers

Traditionally, AV integrators and installers faced the challenge of coordinating various components for seamless collaboration setups. The emergence of all-in-one solutions, such as those combining content sharing, conference cameras, microphones, and speakers, significantly simplifies the integration process. This not only saves time for designers but also reduces the complexity of installations, making it easier to deliver polished solutions.

User-Friendly Collaboration

End users benefit from the intuitive nature of these integrated solutions. With a unified system, users can effortlessly share content, engage in video conferences, and enjoy high-quality audio without grappling with a web of devices and cables. The simplicity enhances productivity and encourages more effective communication in diverse settings, from boardrooms to remote work setups.

 Affordable and Compact Deliverables

The integration of multiple functionalities into a single device also contributes to cost-effectiveness. The streamlined design eliminates the need for purchasing and maintaining separate components, resulting in a more budget-friendly solution. Moreover, the compact form factor not only saves space, but also allows for flexible deployment in various environments.

Leveraging Cloud-Based Platforms for Advanced Features

Cloud-based platforms play a pivotal role in advancing AV systems. Barco’s XMS Cloud, for instance, empowers integrators to engineer, modify, and monitor AV setups remotely. This capability ensures proactive maintenance, reducing downtime and enhancing overall system reliability. Cloud-based solutions offer scalability, making it easier to adapt to evolving technological needs.

Barco’s All-in-One Innovation

Barco takes a leap forward in embracing these industry trends with the introduction of an all-in-one video bar – a ClickShare, camera, micorphone, and speaker Bar. This innovative product not only aligns with the growing demand for integrated AV solutions but also reflects Barco’s commitment to simplifying collaboration while maintaining high-quality standards and eco-friendly mentality.

By combining the power of content sharing, conferencing capabilities, and audio features in a single device, Barco’s solution caters to the changing dynamics of modern workspaces. The integration of such features into a compact, user-friendly package ensures that end-users experience a seamless collaboration environment.

In conclusion, the emergence of all-in-one AV solutions represents a significant leap forward in the professional audio-visual industry. This trend not only simplifies integration processes for designers and installers, but also enhances the user experience through user-friendly design, affordability, and compactness. The incorporation of cloud-based platforms further ensures that these systems remain adaptive, efficient, and easily maintainable. Barco’s latest offering stands at the forefront of these advancements, showcasing a commitment to innovation and meeting the evolving needs of the modern workplace. While all-in-one are well suited for small- to medium-sized rooms, larger rooms still benefit from the features offered in separate components as they are more suited to the complexities of covering larger spaces. It’s important to keep in mind that all-in-one solutions, as beneficial as they are, are not “once-size-fit-all” solutions.

Reach out to your Exertis Almo rep for assistance in determining which product will be best suited for your project.

Nathan Dwelly BDM
About the Author

Nathan Dwelly

BDM – Brand Specialist

Supported Manufacturers: Barco (East)

Did you say BYOM?

The professional audio-visual (Pro AV) industry has witnessed significant growth over the past few years, driven by technological advancements and the increasing demand for immersive and interactive experiences. In this dynamic sector, understanding customers’ needs has become a fundamental aspect of delivering successful AV solutions. This post speaks of the importance of comprehending customer requirements in the Pro AV industry and advocates for the incorporation of Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) devices in commercial AV solutions.

Understanding Customer Needs in the Pro AV Industry

The Pro AV industry is a diverse landscape, catering to a wide range of clients, from corporate enterprises to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, entertainment venues, and more. To deliver solutions that meet and exceed expectations, it is vital to understand the unique requirements of each client. This understanding ensures that the AV solutions align with the client’s goals, budget, and the end-user experience they aim to create.

One of the primary benefits of comprehending customer needs is the ability to customize AV solutions. This customization ensures that clients receive technology that is tailored to their specific requirements, whether it’s enhancing communication, collaboration, or providing a memorable entertainment experience. Understanding customer needs also allows efficient integration of AV solutions with existing infrastructure, which is crucial for minimizing disruptions and cost overruns.

The Role of BYOM Devices in Commercial AV Solutions

Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) devices have become increasingly relevant in the Pro AV industry. These devices enable users to connect their own devices, such as laptops and smartphones, to AV systems for presentations, video conferences, and other collaborative tasks. BYOM solutions provide many benefits, some of which are:

  1. Flexibility: BYOM devices offer users the flexibility to work with familiar tools and platforms, making the collaboration process smoother and more efficient.
  2. Cost-Efficiency: BYOM solutions reduce the need for specialized equipment and training, ultimately saving costs for businesses and institutions.
  3. Enhanced Collaboration: BYOM provides a collaborative environment, allowing participants to seamlessly share content, which is especially important in today’s hybrid and remote work environments.
  4. Future-Proofing: BYOM devices can adapt to changing technologies and standards, ensuring that AV solutions remain relevant in the long term.

Barco ClickShare as the Optimal Solution

In the competitive world of Pro AV, Barco ClickShare emerges as the best option for BYOM solutions. ClickShare offers a seamless and intuitive BYOM experience, which aligns perfectly with understanding the various needs of customers in the Pro AV industry. Its features include wireless screen sharing, compatibility with a wide range of devices, and user-friendly interfaces. The XMS Cloud platform is free of charge and allows for many advanced features that make ClickShare far more advanced than it has ever been before and separates the range of devices from other collaboration devices on the market, yet it’s not being utilized nearly as much as it could be. For more information on this, reach out to us at Exertis Almo and we’d love to assist.

Barco ClickShare’s commitment to customer-centric design, ease of integration, and scalability makes it a top choice for businesses, educational institutions, and other entities seeking cutting-edge AV solutions. By prioritizing customer needs and incorporating BYOM devices like Barco ClickShare, the Pro AV industry can continue to deliver experiences that attract and inspire, driving its growth and innovation in the years to come.

Nathan Dwelly BDM
About the Author

Nate Dwelly

BDM – Brand Specialist

Supported Manufacturers: Barco (East)

Where’d The Customer Service Go?

Have you noticed a decline in customer service throughout the past few years? Although I haven’t traveled outside of the U.S. lately, I believe this decline is occurring on a broad scale, because most people I discuss this with tend to agree. I’ve become aware of what seems to be a trend — many businesses and service providers have made an impression that as a consumer, it feels like I need them more than they need me. While this may be true in some cases, customer service should always be a priority, especially on the front line. Nobody who’s spending money in hopes of enjoying a pleasant experience ever wants to feel burdened for doing so. Whether it’s a tangible item, service, or experience we’re after, direct communication between customer and provider should always be equally – if not more valued – than the product itself.

I have a few suggestions that, in my opinion, may be the cause of the shift in attitude and a few tips on how we can avoid making the same mistake.

customer service ratingI’ve personally never worked in a retail store or restaurant, but I have worked face-to-face with individuals paying for a service which I provide, and many other times over the phone and email. Ever since the pandemic and the change it has brought upon us all, many people have become seemingly ill-mannered and short tempered (to say the least). While this is an entirely separate topic of discussion, I feel that it directly relates to the topic at hand – people tend to feed off one another’s energy. I’ve witnessed, first-hand, countless acts of inconsiderate behavior from every aspect and perspective related to customer service. Many business owners have become stressed with the concern of their future, and this trickles down into the employees who are customer-facing. Many businesses are understaffed, and employees are overworked. There may be a lack of training due to the shorthanded staff, and low resources, which lead to many younger, inexperienced employees not understanding the importance of their consideration and the impact it has.

Consumers have become impatient, greedy, and aggressive, many times coming off as entitled or angry. This may be a result of the lack of in-person interaction many have faced and the uncertainty of our future. Remote work has isolated many people and being social in-person has become a seemingly lost skill for some. Prices have risen significantly, and, in many cases, we are getting less for paying more. This, of course, is all absorbed by the front-line service workers who are expected to react in a kind and considerate way. As we all know, one can only take so much abuse before becoming tainted or conditioned, causing some form of backlash. While this topic becomes much deeper and one of humanity in general, if we all want to maintain a desirable way of life, treating each other in a certain way is vital to the outcome.

As a provider, having purposeful “customer service” will make a significant difference in customer satisfaction and retention, which is something we all know, either through being a provider or a consumer. We’re all faced with one – or both – sides of this on a daily basis.

It’s easy to point out all the negatives, but my purpose here is to draw attention to how easily we can improve. In the Pro AV industry, we have maintained great communication throughout these challenging times. We’re fortunate enough to be in an industry where relationships are highly valued and, in most cases, necessary! Our purpose at Exertis Almo allowed us to merge into this climate without changing much. Many have adopted the phrase “the new normal,” but from my perspective, we’ve kept the old normal – but made it better. Our entire team works together with a solution-based attitude to serve ourselves, our vendors, and our customers in the most productive way possible.

tech customer support servicesA main focus of ours was already our Services offerings, including independent contractors for our reseller partners who require more hands in the field at all different expertise levels. We have a strong, experienced, well-trained, and well-educated sales team who are responsible for keeping relationships with our customers as top priority. This team has all the skill sets anyone could ask for when it comes to our line card of product offerings, service offerings, and the best in the business at providing you with a solution in all things Pro AV.

Additionally, our team of Business Development Managers are available to assist with products and design. Our BDMs are focused experts on our product lines and/or offerings. Having this dedicated line of support helps to maintain even stronger relationships between manufacturers and our sales team, allowing the sales team to keep their attention where it’s best spent in the field and keeping up to date on the everchanging technology.

It doesn’t stop there! The next layer of support is the manufacturers themselves, of course. As a BDM for Barco ClickShare, I can speak about some key benefits offered in terms of support. The front line is Business Development Managers – Lisa Lingo and me. We are your first point of contact here at Exertis Almo for all things ClickShare. We assist with anything from answering basic questions about the product and functionality, piecing together a solution, or getting you signed up as a Connect Partner! with access to the full line of Conference (CX) models and special pricing on qualifying opportunities. Barco offers a dedicated Channel Development Manager to each region of the country who can schedule onsite or virtual meetings with our dealer partners, so they are knowledgeable and to help drive sales. In addition, there are even regional Business Development Managers willing to meet with the end user to help them determine an appropriate product for a specific location and provide on-site demos. They even have Sales Engineers covering each region which are readily available for a deeper dive into the technical aspects and systems designs!

All of these offers have been key to our maintaining strong and healthy relationships with our customers and in turn their customers. This is, in my opinion, a tried-and-true recipe for successful in customer satisfaction and retention. Equally, this affects how we are all treated as the customer in any business model. It all comes down to the basics of how we treat one another and how we work together to create harmony in business and in life!

Did you find this post helpful? Join the conversation over on LinkedIn.

Nathan Dwelly BDM

About the Author

Nathan Dwelly

Business Development Manager

Supported Manufacturers: Barco (East)

BUT, Did You Train Them?

Love for Learning

Our industry is comprised of remarkably brilliant minds and innovative thinkers from all different backgrounds, and of various experience levels. Being in this industry, the love for learning is a prerequisite, in my opinion, as the learning never stops! There’s endless and ever-changing information to consider, leaving no choice but to keep up if you want to thrive. In my experience throughout the past four years in Pro AV, I’ve witnessed or been part of countless changes. Some small and subtle, others very significant, even life changing. So, it’s safe to say that being part of Pro AV requires you to adapt and maintain flexibility while striving to provide the best solutions to the masses.

Arguably the most important aspect of our industry is the end user, the common public, the small to large business owner, and the like. This is where all the effort and main impression has the greatest impact. They, however, do not need to keep up with the rapid changes of all the technicalities involved. This is what they rely on us for, and the very reason we are able to stand out in a league of our own. As manufacturers, distributors, and integrators, it is in our best interest to provide the most seamless and enjoyable experience to the end user. Sometimes this means entertainment and pleasure, other times productivity and efficiency, but it always means satisfaction. As the professionals making the recommendations, innovations and installations, we need to stay as educated as possible.

How we stay up-do-date, and in turn, implement that knowledge out in the field, greatly affects the satisfaction of those investing in, and using our products and services. The level of satisfaction may create career long repeat business, or may alternately cause the decline or stagnation we all work to avoid. Not all installations or solutions are equal in terms on complexity or technicalities, but they are all equally relevant. A full concert hall with all the sound equipment, proper sound distribution and seating design, lighting, and staging, etc. is as important to the venue, audience, and performers as a simple meeting room or huddle room is to a small business and it’s attendees. The education and training, or even experience required by the installation crew is certainly much more involved from one to the other, but it is totally necessary in both examples. Knowing what to install and how to install it – given the environment, budget and desired experience – can be, and in many instances is, more involved than most would expect.

Industry Expertise

Leaving projects unfinished, or partially in the hands of the client/customer/end user as a responsibility to perform, is proving more and more to be detrimental to the integrators success. I’ve seen and heard of more examples than I’d like to admit of: “The customer is going to do it themselves,” “This was just a box sale,” and “They have techs on staff that can handle it.”  When we, in the industry from a distribution standpoint, hear this, what we truly hear is, “I don’t care if my customer is satisfied with the outcome.” This may come across as harsh, but the proof is out there, and it won’t take much effort for us to collectively clean it up find ways to assure every project is done right, every time.  Most manufacturers offer all the training you could possibly need, free of charge, to gain the knowledge to properly install and get the most out of the features their products offer. Many offer training for beyond what’s required to know, and can be utilized to gain certifications or credits to maintain certifications. Some require that you become certified prior to gaining access to purchase and resell the products.

One example is the Barco ClickShare line of product and the features it has to offer the end user. ClickShare has evolved considerably throughout the recent years. Most know it as a simple collaboration device for which meeting presenters share content onto a display or projection image from their laptop or other portable device through a USB button or app. While this is still true, the features and benefits now offered by the product line is far more robust. Barco’s XSM Cloud portal gives users the ability to monitor, schedule, control, update, load simple digital signage content, and more, all at no charge! The most commonly missed perk Barco offers is the free upgrade from a 1 year to a 5 year SmartCare warranty on any ClickShare unit when registered to the XMS Cloud portal within 6 months of purchase. It goes without saying that if the device isn’t even being registered on the platform properly, the available features are certainly not being used to their full potential, if at all. Minimal required trainings are the effort to prevent such misuse or lack of satisfaction, but until we all take the end result more seriously, these sometimes fall short and become just that; bare minimum requirements.

Customer-Driven Business Growth

Barco offers extensive and vast training on their website, all free of charge, so that everyone can get the most out of their product. As customer-driven businesses, the message we want to get out is that this – Customer satisfaction all begins with the knowledge and effort we put forth on each and every project. Know your products and how the end user will benefit most from the uses of them. Then, make sure they get set up and installed properly! Maybe your customers overlooked activating the SmartCare warranty for their ClickShare units? Don’t worry, they can still activate their SmartCare package on existing C5/ C10/ CX-20/ CX-30/ CX-50 devices from March 1st to June 30th, 2023.

Another offer that many times goes overlooked is Click2Sync. Do you struggle to create quality content for your website and social channels? Do you lack the time, skills or ideas to continuously bring out content that generates traffic and leads? Then Barco’s Click2Sync program is the perfect fit for you. Click2Sync is our new program for all ClickShare Connect! resellers that offers an easy and automated way to publish engaging ClickShare content on your website and social channels. It’s free and completely painless, thanks to a simple syndication plug-in on your website.

For any information on this or any other learning opportunity, please contact your Exertis Almo Account Manager or Business Development Manager for guidance.

Did you find this post helpful? Join the conversation over on LinkedIn.

Nathan Dwelly BDM

About the Author

Nathan Dwelly

Business Development Manager

Supported Manufacturers: Barco (East)

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