Technology

The White Board And Flip Chart - It's Time To Let Them Go!

Issue 101

The 21st Century is here so you need to sort out your audio-visual kit.

And there is no better way than with Universal AV, they are an award-winning audio-visual integration specialist who have been helping businesses with communication solutions for over 30 years…businesses like Newcastle Utd FC, Durham and Newcastle Universities as well as hundreds of other clients around the UK.

They also work with small and medium size firms as well as with single people who are working from home and just need to make sure that they have the right sort of kit that, crucially, works.

“We live in a world of Teams, Zoom, Skype and Google Meet, so it’s important that businesses have the ability to communicate effectively,” said Mark Atkinson, Sales Manager for Universal AV. “Covid 19 forced companies and individuals to work in a completely different manner. Face to face meetings were not possible; travelling to visit a company was not allowed; if people wanted to speak to clients… new and old…it had to be either via video link or telephone.

Consequently, it saw a surge of interest in audiovisual equipment. Unfortunately, it also saw a surge in people buying the wrong sort of kit which turned out to be unsuitable or simply refused to work on what was their computer equipment at the time.

And of course, the world of technology is moving quickly. For example, the work we have just completed for Newcastle Utd allows the players to listen to their own music in different areas of the gym. In the Café area we have installed some digital signage to enable swift information sharing with staff and players. That would not have been possible until very recently because technology was not available.”

Hybrid working is something most firms did not consider before Covid 19. Now, for many, it is the norm. A lot of firms reading this article will have a mix of people working permanently from home or mixing home working with days in the office.

And of course, hybrid working means that you can operate from anywhere. But that brings us back to the familiar problem of having the right sort of kit and ensuring that it works.

Which is precisely where Universal AV come in.

“Companies frequently have staff and clients scattered around the country; some can be working from home; others can be working in branch offices. How do we communicate and collaborate effectively, working together as though we were all sat together around a boardroom table? Simple. We use technology to speed-up the decision-making process by getting everyone together in a virtual office space.

The nightmare scenario is the thought of discussing a potential multi-million-pound deal with a group of clients who are sitting around a smart boardroom table while you are struggling with a small webcam on top of a creaking PC in a scruffy office…or even your kitchen.

We can sort that. For example, we can now organise that if there is a room full of people using a single camera, we can use technology to allow, in effect, the camera to zoom in on the person who is talking. We can block out external noise like an air con system or office hubbub. We can give you a false background.

Audio-visual equipment can also help contribute to a company’s sustainability record for the simple reason that when an online meeting can be so good and so effective, why travel long distances for a face-to-face chat? The new AV meeting technology really does feel as though you are there…in the room…in person.”

The bottom line in all of this is that, although you may feel that popping to your local computer store will enable you to get adequate AV equipment, you could be wasting your money. A chat with Universal AV on the other hand, will mean that you get exactly the right equipment that does the job you are looking for. It is a tailored solution for you, your business, your requirements, your surroundings, and your budget.

And it will work.

Universal AV…helping you do future business… clearly.

The best idea is to speak to Mark and the Universal AV team. Go onto www.uniav.com to find out what Universal AV can do for you. You will also find all their contact details.

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