Level 3 Audiovisual is proud to announce that we have once again been recognized as a Top 50 Systems Integrator by Systems Contractor News (SCN) for the year 2023. This prestigious honor, now in its 15th year, acknowledges companies that exemplify outstanding innovation, creativity, and excellence within the audiovisual industry.

Using technology effectively is an increasingly vital goal for businesses and organizations of all kinds. As a result, there are many different services that can help your group make the best use of the tech tools it uses on a daily basis. When selecting which of those services is best for you, you'll often reach a point where you need to choose between SaaS and managed service. However, if you don't know what those terms mean or how they differ from one another, this article will provide an overview of the main differences between SaaS and managed service.

Now more than ever before, companies and organizations must continually consider how they can improve communications within their teams. As such, it is no surprise that topics like meeting equity have only increased in their relevance. Despite that, many working professionals still don't have a firm grasp on what meeting equity is and how improving it can benefit just about any organization. For those not yet in the know, this article will give you a quick introduction to what meeting equity is and how to improve it.

In today's fast-paced world, technology plays a crucial role in simplifying our lives. From smartphones to smart homes, the advancements in automation have revolutionized the way we live and work. One such technological innovation is the AV control system. But what exactly is an AV control system, and how does it work? 

As we move towards the year 2023, the demand for seamless integration and control of audiovisual devices is on the rise. Whether it's in corporate boardrooms, educational institutions, or healthcare settings, the need for a user-friendly and efficient AV control system has become paramount. With the vast array of options available in the market, it's important to understand the basics of AV control systems and how they can benefit you.

An AV control system is a centralized platform that allows users to manage and control various audiovisual devices, such as televisions, projectors, speakers, and video conferencing systems, from a single interface. This comprehensive guide will delve into the features, benefits, and future trends of AV control systems, equipping you with the knowledge to make informed decisions when it comes to implementing this technology in your personal or professional spaces. So, let's dive into the world of AV control systems and discover the possibilities that lie ahead in 2023. 

For companies in the private sector, updated technology is critical to beating competitors and increasing revenue, so many businesses build their budgets to prioritize AV and IT spending. For public sector organizations, however, updating technology is not so simple. An incremental, year-to-year budgeting process can make large capital investments in technology difficult. And, because government agencies are not profit—or competition—driven, big tech investments can be difficult to justify. However, updated technology and the way it improves business processes, delivery and customer satisfaction should be just as important to the public sector as it is to the private sector. Here are five reasons government agencies and organizations should update their technology.

Do you know the old saying about the best-laid plans? You can plan for every contingency or occurrence, but inevitably something happens that you didn't imagine and throws a huge wrench in your intricate plan. So while planning is necessary, a great strategy can adapt to the unforeseen. So what does all this have to do with meeting room solutions? 

The internet is breathless with all the discussion around hybrid work, and we've also postulated plenty about the subject on these pages. But as we all know, the future of hybrid work is uncertain. How many people will return to offices? What will be the mix of remote versus in-office staff? Most companies are wading through that right now, with many mandating some minimum days in the office while others adopt a remote-first approach. How, then, do you plan your meeting room technology investments? The best way is to invest in adaptable solutions, ready for anything the future holds. 

As everyone knows, two of the leading platforms enabling and advancing hybrid work are Microsoft Teams and Zoom. And much of the upgrades to meeting room technology in the past 2-3 years have involved integrating these platforms into meeting spaces seamlessly. Some of the most flexible solutions for this come from Poly, a well-known and longtime brand in meeting room technology. They offer built-in Teams and Zoom Room functionality, so you don't have to choose. And significantly, they leverage the latest features of these platforms to give your teams a collaborative edge. 

The point is, whether you have two people in your meeting room versus eight people the next day, your meeting room AV makes each meeting just as productive, no matter where all the participants are. Let's explore some of these key features below.

In the not-too-distant past, setting up a video conferencing room was an exercise in integration. Separate cameras, microphones, speakers, processing, interconnects, and control interfaces all had to be integrated into a cohesive system. Many conference rooms are still custom-built this way, depending on the specific needs of that space and the organization. However, there has been a rise in the “appliance” meeting room solution, an integrated solution that solves the audio and video communication needs of most conference rooms. 

Some of the best of those solutions come from Poly, a longtime player in conference room AV, starting with the ubiquitous Polycom conferencing phones from the 1980s that were found in most corporate meeting rooms. Now, you might think, does an appliance-type solution work for the enterprise? One of the things that aids in deploying meeting room solutions across hundreds or thousands of rooms in disparate locations is standardization. If you can operate a solution in each space that is consistent in usage and operation, you decrease complexity, downtime, and cost. Aided by the fact that Poly is now part of HP and has worldwide distribution and support, solutions like the Poly Studio appliance series are a smart choice for enterprises in Phoenix, AZ, and around the world. 

Keep reading below to explore the benefits of Poly meeting room solutions for your organization.

Customization has long reigned supreme in the conference room AV industry. AV integrators source individual hardware, from microphones to displays, and build conferencing systems unique to each business. 

But as standard solutions like Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms develop, many wonder which is best for their business: a custom or standard system. The answer? It depends. It depends on how much customization you want, your budget, and when you’re hoping to get started with your new conference rooms. 

Whether or not businesses should buy a standard room package or design their own is up to them. But here are some points that can help your company decide.