While signage has been a staple in business practice for decades, dynamic digital signage is a relatively new player. What makes dynamic digital signage stand out from traditional displays and static digital signage is that the information can be updated automatically and/or in real-time, making them even more valuable to the viewer.

Dynamic digital signage uses display technologies like LED walls, LCD monitors, and content management platforms. They are useful in businesses ranging from museums to retail to office buildings — any place where people need to find information.

If you’re interested in adopting dynamic digital signage in your business, here are five examples of how you can utilize it:

1. Maps, directories, and visitor information

If you have a large space, maps and directories are helpful for visitors. Dynamic displays can show these maps and directories, as well as visitor information that is timely and relevant. For example, if there is an event going on that 95% of that day’s visitors will be coming for, you can display check-in or schedule information for that event. They can be updated in real-time to reflect location changes and accept search queries so visitors can type in what they are looking for and be directed.

2. Calendars and event schedules

Whether it be for employees, visitors, or event attendees, having calendars and schedules easily available creates a more streamlined experience. These can be automatically updated to remove events that have already taken place and replace them with newly scheduled events, which is ideal for conference centers, entertainment venues, or offices that host a lot of meetings.

3. Interactive content and forms

Dynamic digital signage can also be a great tool for engagement and lead generation. This is great for vendors at trade shows or entertainment spaces as they can entertain visitors while they wait with video content, games, and more. They can also feature responsive forms so users can enter their information in exchange for the interactive content, bolstering lead generation efforts.

4. Video demonstrations and customer kiosks

In the retail space, product demonstrations and FAQ information are key for making a sale. Having a digital display for this purpose allows customers to shop on their own and get information on-demand, which is a more enjoyable experience for the typical shopper. They can then continue shopping, alert an employee for assistance, or even in some cases start the product ordering process.

5. Real-time information for better visibility

Especially in large organizations, it’s difficult to ensure everyone sees vital communication. While the details of what’s considered “vital” will differ greatly from business to business, ensuring visibility through communication is important for all. Whether it’s a real-time weather report, emergency alerts, stock, or inventory information, dynamic digital displays are a highly visible way to convey important information.

Dynamic digital signage is a great choice for businesses because they are easy to control and modify, is cost-effective, offers important analytics and insights, and helps grab (and keep) attention better than any other kind of signage.

If you are considering dynamic digital signage for your business, it’s best to trust the design and implementation process to an experienced IV integrator like IVCi. Contact us today to talk to an expert team member and learn more.

The recent rise in popularity of telehealth and virtual visits has opened the door for many hospitals to utilize AV/VC technology more than ever.

But as healthcare professionals see the true value in audio visual and video conferencing systems for their facilities, we can expect usage to go far beyond telehealth in the coming years.

Based on emerging trends, here are some ways hospitals will utilize AV/VC technology in the future:

1. Using interactive digital displays for patient education and entertainment

Digital displays are becoming more advanced and interactive. By strategically placing them throughout the hospital, patients can access information that’s relevant to them and/or that helps them make informed medical decisions.

Interactive displays can serve an entertainment purpose too, especially in units like pediatrics. Allowing patients to focus on something other than their hospital stay will put them in better spirits and help alleviate stress. In some cases where visitor access may be restricted, interactive displays can help patients stay in touch with loved ones via video chat, which is a very effective way to make a patient more comfortable and relaxed.

2. Wireless capabilities for interconnected devices

In the hospital setting, it’s essential for many monitors and devices to be interconnected and/or usable in many different parts of the hospital. However, wires and plugs can slow down emergency care and pose a safety hazard for those who need to move quickly.

Wireless capabilities for interconnected devices allow for seamless transition of care and ensure better capability with network configurations, video conferencing, and software needs. The future will see hospitals move to a wireless environment, and advancing AV/VC technology is a great way to do so.

3. Better access to real-world training for medical students

While training labs are far more advanced than ever before, they still don’t allow students of medical professions to get a real-time look into a hospital setting. High-quality video conferencing solutions, however, can bring students into operating rooms, hospital rooms, and emergency situations that they may not otherwise have access to.

This also opens the door for students to observe treatments in facilities that have state of the art equipment or specialty departments that may not be near the schools they attend. The next generation of medical professionals will potentially be the most prepared and well-rounded, thanks to AV/VC technology allowing them to access higher levels of training.

4. Resource sharing between doctors and staff at different hospitals and locations

There is strength in numbers when it comes to healthcare. Doctors and other care providers can learn from each other, seek additional opinions, and collaborate on treatment plans from different physical locations with video conferencing technology.

This is also a game changer for conferences, as care providers don’t need to spend time and resources traveling to attend conferences with world-renowned specialists; they can simply join from their hospital or office and still remain in close proximity to patients who need them.

For healthcare facilities that are looking to get on the ground floor of these emerging trends, now is the time to make sure your AV/VC systems are up to the challenge.

We recommend starting by setting up a consultation with an AV integrator, like IVCi, who specializes in designing, implementing, and supporting AV/VC technology for hospitals and healthcare networks. Contact us today to get started!

While the last few months of the year tend to pass in the blink of an eye, it’s important to use this time to plan ahead for next year. Most managers and decision makers are in the thick of their 2022 planning, including budgets.

If you know you are in need of a technology upgrade, it’s important to include that in your budget. But that can be confusing when you are not entirely sure what you need, or what the total cost will be for the year — after all, there is no way to really predict what is going to happen in a given year (2020 taught us that!).

To help you navigate this challenge, we’ve put together some tips for budgeting for audio visual and video conferencing solutions.

1. Consider every cost

While AV equipment will likely make up the bulk of your expenses, that doesn’t cover the whole scope of associated costs. If you don’t take into account all related costs, you could end up having to sacrifice something important down the line, which can impact functionality and team productivity.

Some common costs you may not initially think of:

• Upgrades to power equipment
• Furniture considerations
• Subscriptions
• Service agreements
• Support services

The type and amount of cost will vary from setup to setup, but this will give you a good place to start.

2. Understand your network requirements and business needs

You’ll also need to understand how a video conferencing system would work on your existing network. For example, are there currently enough network drops and bandwidth to support bringing in your ideal AV setup? If not, a network upgrade may be necessary and that would factor into the budget.

Also, consider your business needs and goals for the upcoming year. Are you developing a full return to office plan, or are you adopting a hybrid workplace? Knowing how and from where your teams will work is essential in setting an AV budget.

3. Choose a fixed-cost option

Sometimes the biggest challenge of budgeting for your audio visual conferencing systems is the fluctuation of costs throughout the year. However, there are AV as a Service options that operate on a subscription model, allowing you to move the expense from CapEx to OpEx and have it be more predictable.

For example, the IVCi Evolve AVaaS program provides all inclusive upgrades, flexible term lifecycles, on-demand QR code support, and a dedicated team to assist you with anything you may need — all under one subscription.

4. Trust the experts

If you are still unsure, you can always reach out to a trusted AV integrator like IVCi to discuss your current landscape and where you hope to be in the future. They can make recommendations and provide estimates to help you budget accurately.

If you need assistance planning for your 2022 AV and video conferencing setup, reach out to IVCi today. Our team of experts is ready to assist you in all areas of your AV integration process, so you can budget and plan accordingly to be prepared.

When making the decision to install or upgrade your audio video technology, there are a lot of steps to consider. End-to-end AV integration eases the confusion and concern of having to piece together all those steps by utilizing one integrator for the whole process from start to finish.

In order to maximize your experience with an end-to-end AV integrator, you should take some time to understand what it really entails. That way, you can be prepared to find the right company, ask the right questions, and complete your project in the most efficient way possible.

Here are the four main steps of end-to-end integration to understand before embarking on your project:

1. Creating an AV strategy

Before any action is taken, it’s important to make a holistic plan that looks at all aspects of your organization. Are your employees working remotely? How many huddle rooms or meeting spaces do you have onsite? What is the user experience you’re looking to create?

Answering these questions, while factoring in other strategic goals and budget considerations, will help create the foundation on which the remaining steps are built. This is also the step where KPIs and goals are set in order to measure progress and adjust accordingly. Each subsequent decision is made in consideration of the strategy to help ensure success.

2. Designing an AV setup

Once the strategy and goals are set, your integrator will present options for technology systems that work to bring your plan to life. They will give an overview of different cameras, microphones, AV carts, digital displays… anything you would need to meet your goals.

There will also be a review of overlays, flows, roles, and responsibilities to map out expectations so they are clea every step of the way.

3. Deployment of AV technology

These plans are all well and good, but they don’t mean anything until they’re brought to life through installation. The best end-to-end AV integrators put an emphasis on efficiency, yet take the necessary steps to ensure availability and quality before installation begins.

They will utilize project managers, technicians, engineers, and supervisors to ensure your installation happens on time, within budget, and with as little interruption to your business as possible.

4. Ongoing support for AV environments

Some companies think that “end-to-end” ends once the technology is installed, but that’s not the case. In a sense, the term “end-to-end” is misleading, because there never really is an end to our work.

We also provide ongoing support in the form of strategy health checks, one hour telephone response times, fast track troubleshooting, live video assistance and more.

The key to successful end-to-end AV integration is finding an integrator that doesn’t just do all steps, but excels in them with a level of expertise that gives you the confidence you need and the peace of mind you deserve. IVCi has been a trusted end-to-end integrator for organizations of all sizes and many industries. Our team is here and ready to help you from start to finish — contact us today to get started.

When we think of remote setups, we typically think of things that are visual in nature: monitors, webcams, lighting, etc. While those are certainly important parts of a remote setup, there are other factors that are equally important — most notably, audio.

Without proper audio configuration, your remote setup can be a major hindrance to your collaboration and productivity. Let’s dive further into the importance of audio in a remote setup

1. Blocking out distractions

In many situations, remote setups come with a level of distraction. Whether it’s the hum and drum of a coffee shop, the inconvenient timing of landscapers at your home office, or other people taking calls in a shared workspace, background noise and distractions can be an issue.

High-quality audio setups help keep the main audio crystal clear while drowning out unwanted noise for those who need to speak and can’t mute out their background. This keeps meetings focused and on task, regardless of what’s going on in people’s environments.

2. Keeping meetings on track

Spotty audio can be frustrating during important meetings and collaborative sessions. Having to pause to correct audio issues and constantly ask “can everyone hear me?” can quickly derail a meeting.

Today, people are busier than ever on calls. Sometimes it’s difficult to even find a half hour time slot that works for everyone on a larger team. Spending five minutes each call sorting out audio issues is a 16% loss of time. If that happens each time you try to have a meeting, you’ll be quickly looking at significant productivity losses — and the frustration that comes along with it.

3. Avoid stops and stalls

Having to continuously stop and stall because of spotty audio can be very frustrating for participants, especially clients. Repeating yourself, asking people to repeat themselves, and missing key pieces of information can cause choppy meetings that lack efficiency.

Strong audio keeps meetings moving forward and keeps all participants on the same page. The end result is a better use of everyone’s time, which both team members and potential clients can appreciate.

4. Make recordings more effective

Meeting and training recordings are an important part of remote work setups. Meeting recordings can be used to fill in participants who were not able to attend or as notes for action items following the meeting. Training sessions and tutorials can also be recorded to support self-paced learning and prevent training teams from having to repeat the same training multiple times.

However, if recordings have poor audio quality, they are essentially useless. Organizations need to be able to rely on their audio all the time to ensure recordings can be used in the future.

If you are looking to upgrade your audio for your organization’s remote setup, enlist the help of an industry expert who can guide you every step of the way. That way, you can be sure that your team is working with top quality technology backed by unparalleled support, working towards your strategic goals and building business.