Monday, February 20, 2017

Avitecture Partners With Green Flash Brewing Company To Provide And Service Fully Integrated Audiovisual Systems For New Virginia Location

24 Jan 2017
Avitecture, Inc. is pleased to announce its recent collaboration with Green Flash Brewing Company to furnish and install audiovisual systems for Green Flash’s new location and retail store. The San Diego-based purveyors of craft beer sought a partner to provide and service audiovisual programs and equipment emulating its California locations.
“Requiring audio and visual support in the brewery, the beer garden, a large tasting room and an event room as well, the Green Flash project was complex and a challenge for our team,” said Greg Boyd, president of Avitecture, “We’re well known for our imagination and creativity; our precision; and our craftsmanship. Our commitment to excellence resulted in yet another success and a satisfied client. ”
To realize Green Flash’s vision, Avitecture developed a four-part integrated audiovisual and information technology solution.
  • In the large tasting room, an audio system comprising of a wireless handheld microphone, a stereo mixer, an amplifier, and ceiling-mounted pendant speakers
  • In the event room, a large projection screen and projector, a stereo mixer, two handheld microphones, ceiling-mounted pendant speakers, and HDMI as well as audio connectivity
  • In the beer garden, 10 hidden speakers that cast music from the large tasting room
  • In the brewery touring area, a handheld microphone and a powered speaker to serve each of five stations. These microphones were configured to automatically interrupt music channel playing when switched to ON.
Green Flash Brewing Company was founded in 2002 by Mike and Lisa Hinkley and in the years since has become one of San Diego’s favorite beer-makers. With a portfolio of specialty craft ales, including the popular West Coast IPA, Green Flash produces experimental, limited-edition and seasonal offerings in addition to a solid lineup of long-time favorites.
About Avitecture 
For four decades, Avitecture, Inc. has integrated audiovisual systems with information technology to meet clients’ needs for accessing and sharing information, interaction, and decision-making. Avitecture is an employee-owned company of engineers, programmers, technicians, project managers, service and support team, sales consultants, and administrative personnel committed to delivering unified communications and to maintain the highest standards of responsiveness and excellence.
Originally seen on our Audio & Visual News

Friday, January 20, 2017

NEEDS ANALYSIS—DRIVE THE TRAIN. DON’T HANG FROM THE CABOOSE!


Picture this:  A handful of stakeholders and one subject matter expert/service provider in a room.  The question for the service provider, “What do these folks want or need?  They are looking to me for advice.  How do I get them to the point of achieving their goals?”
I work in a technical field but I believe the issue is similar across many sectors of business.  The “committee” of clients that you are meeting with has ideas for help they need.  Maybe these ideas are organized, well thought out and structured or maybe they are scattered like loose leaf paper in the wind.  When gathering requirements the service provider must lead the charge.
Big Picture First Please
It happens all the time.  All these folks are suggesting ideas and approaches and you barely know what the organization does or what the work environment looks like.  Don’t be afraid to put the discussion in pause-mode while you get up to speed on the basics.  While you try to be as prepared as possible ahead of time, try asking questions such as these: What does your organization do?  How many audio visual rooms do you have needing my services? What sort of person uses your rooms?  You can’t get into the weeds until you have surveyed the land.  Don’t allow stakeholders to steer you into a very specific discussion before you know the high level broad strokes. Doing so can leave you with a lot of pieces without knowing what the puzzle as a whole should look like.
Get In Your Groove
Whatever service you offer, develop ritual habits of how you guide your client through their needs-analysis process.  Try to do it the same way and in the same order every time you get in front of a client.  You can fine tune your approach as you grow but keeping the basic steps the same each time will help you remember topics to cover and help keep you organized.
Listen Up
While it’s your job to steer the discussion, it’s also your job to listen to the feedback you are given.  The stakeholders know what they want they just may not know how to relay what that is.  Ask intelligent questions and then hear and understand their answers.  If you go in a direction they don’t like, move on.  Don’t force the issue.  They will just get annoyed with you.  Listen to the feedback they give and proceed accordingly.
Educate As You Go
Clients often don’t know the vocabulary or basic concepts behind the technology that my field can offer them.  I like to tailor my presentation to match their ability to understand.  Your stakeholders will comprehend that you know what you are talking about when you show them that you understand their needs and when you help them to be better understand their goals.  If you speak over their heads however, they will tune you out and you’ve accomplished nothing.
What’d We Say?
Once you have finished your needs analysis meeting, follow up with a summary email.  This documents your findings that can be used as fodder for more formal descriptions of services at a later time.  It also allows your client to review what was discussed after they have had a chance to think about the discussions.
Wrap it up—I’ll take it
Showing the client that you are well versed in your subject matter will help you make the sale.  Your process should be automatic.  You shouldn’t have to think about what you are asking but instead focus on the information you are getting.  This information can then quickly be developed into a thoughtful conversation with your stakeholders—a conversation that your client will value and think positively about.
Bryan Welsh is a Pre-Sale Design Engineer with Avitecture, Inc. which is an Audiovisual integration firm located in Sterling, VA.  He has been in the AV industry for 22 years as an end user, consultant and integrator.

4 ADVANTAGES TELECONFERENCING CAN BRING TO YOUR BUSINESS

3 Jan 2017
Teleconferencing is a great method of communication that has gained some speed in recent years. Not only is it a great communication tool, it is a fantastic way to bring employees together from multiple different locations. Here are some advantages of implementing video or audio conferencing into your business.

Reduces travel time
More and more businesses are allowing the ability to telework, not only because it boosts productivity but because it leads to increased employee happiness. So not only would AV videoconferencing allow these employees to stay at home with their families during the work day, it will make it easier for everyone to communicate no matter where they are. The ease of teleconferencing will save travel costs, travel time, and allow you to concentrate on the work at hand rather than figuring out travel details.
All inclusive
Audio conferencing allows everyone to join in on the call, including your consultants, employees, clients, and trainers from far away. With the click of a button, you will be able to connect anyone without have to hold multiple meetings and consultations. This will also boost employee morale, as nearly 90% of all remote employees surveyed say that video conferencing helps them feel more connected to their colleagues.
Short-notice scheduling
Another advantage of an audio conference is that you are able to schedule them on a moment’s notice without having to worry about conflicting schedules. Remember, flexibility is key, and so having a meeting on short notice will ensure that an employee who stayed home during the day to stay with their sick child is able to come to the meeting. Plus, and this could be a minus depending on your perspective, this technology will ensure that your CEO can listen in to the call whenever he or she so chooses.
More personal
Do you work in an office that is removed from some of your employees? Sometimes, it is just a good idea to have a face to face or voice to voice check in instead of another email back and forth. Involving employees you rarely see in a teleconference is a great way to deliver personal feedback while still maintaining a great work relationship.
Audio conferencing can bring great advantages to your businesses. If you have any questions about how to implement this service into your company, contact our professionals today.
Originally Seen At: http://avitecture.com/4-advantages-teleconferencing-can-bring-business/