Why AV Integrators Partner with Manufacturers

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AV Integrator and Manufacturer Partnerships: How They Benefit Our Clients

It’s accepted practice within the AV industry for integrators to partner with certain manufacturers. There are several good reasons for this, and they all benefit the integrator’s clients. The AV industry, like every industry, has leaders and laggers when it comes to hardware and solution quality. An integrator’s job is to partner with leading manufacturers and help clients avoid solutions that won’t meet their needs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Our Manufacturer Partnerships Allow Us To Offer More To Clients

As a partner, AV integrators specialize in the products and solutions manufactured by partnered vendors. There isn’t a limit to how many partnered manufacturers an integrator can work with as AV integrators don’t work for the manufacturer. If you’re working with a reputable integrator (like us), every AV solution is built to fill a need, not a quota. In fact, reputable integrators leverage our manufacturer partnerships to provide more to our clients. Some of those advantages include:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Access To Advanced Certification Programs

AV technologies are developing at record speed, and if an integrator doesn’t keep up with those changes, they won’t be able to offer their clients the most effective solutions. Certification is how AV technicians, installers, designers and project managers maintain their industry knowledge. Certification is also a commitment to AV excellence, so it’s highly recommended to choose a certified integrator when considering AV. Most top certification programs are offered by top AV manufacturers - the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) is a notable exception. By partnering with these top manufacturers, AV integrators gain the inside track on accessing and enrolling into certification programs as they open up. Manufacturers also respond to integrator feedback when building their certification curriculum, and integrator feedback largely consists of client concerns. That means partnered integrators shape the industry in a client-focused direction.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Design And Installation Assistance

Experienced AV integrators are well-versed in AV installation and design methods, but every project is different. Every project presents its own challenges, and these challenges may involve designing or installing a solution. Integrator teams can overcome most of these challenges, but it’s common for AV professionals to consult with the manufacturers regarding best installation, design or use practices. Doing so ensures integrators can provide the best possible return on AV investment for their clients. Manufacturer partnerships give integrators additional access to support personnel and better, faster answers to installation or design questions.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Access To Latest Technology Developments

Partnered AV integrators are the first to receive notice of new features or technologies coming down the pike. And new features and technologies are being pushed out at a record pace. The rise of remote work across nearly every industry has greatly expanded the AV market, and manufacturers are competing with better and better solutions. It’s far easier for AV integrators to remain on top of these developments if they are partnered with the manufacturer. Manufacturers communicate with their partnered integrators first, sending out news alerts and technical resources that prepare integrators. By the time new solutions or features are available to our clients, we’ve already had a chance to get familiar with them. That greatly improves the quality and availability of training, which will help your team get more from the technology.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

More Reliable Hardware And Solutions

A common question put to AV integrators is whether they can offer an alternative to a partnered manufacturer’s product. Integrators can, but they may prefer not to. There are a couple reasons for this. For one, reputable integrators only partner with reputable manufacturers. Reputable manufacturers offer the most effective and reliable AV solutions on the market. Partner solutions aren’t recommended for business reasons, but because they provide maximum value to clients. It’s understandable why businesses, schools and other organizations prioritize price to the degree they do, but an unreliable solution is far more expensive to compensate for. Also, integrators tend to be more familiar with the products their partners provide. This added familiarity makes it easier for AV professionals to support and maintain partner solutions over time. As most SMBs require added support for their AV solutions, integrators prefer to install solutions they can thoroughly support.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Reduced Hardware Pricing And Greater Product Availability

AV integrators are able to secure preferential pricing through their manufacturer partnerships, and these savings are passed on to the client. The larger your AV project, the greater your savings, too. Hardware availability is also an advantage of manufacturer partnerships, as partnered AV companies are the first in line for products. This may not have been a major advantage a few years ago, but it’s huge during a time when supply chains are badly stressed. If your organization is having trouble sourcing its AV hardware, working with a well-connected integrator can help expedite your timelines. This is particularly important if you’re considering AV-as-a-Service, or AVaaS. With AVaaS, companies pay for their AV solutions monthly, instead of investing a ton of capital upfront. There are numerous benefits to AVaaS solutions, including the flexibility to switch our alternative hardware and solutions if needed. To do this, though, you’ll need an integrator who has good manufacturer connections.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Our Manufacturer Partnerships Ultimately Benefit Our Clients

There are hundreds of AV manufactures and solution providers in the industry, offering thousands of products between them. It’s a lot to keep up with, even for AV integrators. The answer to this challenge is partnering with leading manufacturers. Establishing manufacturer partnerships means we can pass on several benefits to our clients, including more reliable and cost-effective products. It means better solution support, better training, and therefore, better results for your AV solution.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]