As we all know, the global pandemic created a new normal for millions of office-based workers around the world. Work moved from the office to the home, and communication and collaboration moved to digital mediums on computers, tablets, and smartphones. Now, with vaccines rising and the most dangerous health threats receding, employers are looking to bring workforces back to the office.

But guess what? Many don’t want to return. The increased flexibility of working from home has its appeal – no commutes and every day is casual Friday. No matter how gourmet the coffee and food are at the office, what they have at home is more convenient. And the ability to pick up a child from school, get out for a refreshing walk or workout at a break in the day, or be home for a service call gives workers a sense of flexibility and empowerment. A variety of surveys have made it clear – more than half of information workers don’t want to return to the office full-time. And many of today’s most successful companies like Facebook and Microsoft have already announced that they will allow some employees to continue working remotely permanently, creating a new hybrid work model that is anything but well understood at the moment.

Yet, with the new reality of coping with a hybrid model, only 13% of organizations are planning to reduce their physical space footprint, while over 50% of workers want to work at least part of the time remotely. So the new challenge is: how do you use your office space to create an engaging hybrid workplace environment that gets people in the office? And one that doesn’t exclude those working remotely? Let’s explore the implications for your physical locations in Phoenix, AZ and around the world.

SaaS – Software as a Service – is a highly discussed topic in the technology world. Is there a software product on the planet that hasn’t moved to that model or is working on doing so? Even ubiquitous software with long histories like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite have moved in that direction. If you use Zoom, Slack, Dropbox, Gmail, or a myriad of other popular applications and platforms, you are using a SaaS model.

So, what is managed software as a service (MSaaS)? In this post, we’d like to delve deeper into that subject, comparing the well-known SaaS model with this model that adds a layer of service and support. Read on to see how MSaaS builds on SaaS to provide a more customized, tailored approach to technology solutions for your enterprise, whether in Tempe, Arizona, or your worldwide locations.

Your business never stands still; it is always evolving and changing. Even if your business is stable and not high-growth, change is inevitable. Industries, partners, suppliers, and customers all evolve, grow, and change, and technology influences much of it. You may still do some business via fax machines, but is that tool as indispensable as it once was 30 years ago? The tools of your trade must grow and adapt with you.

One of your business’s key tools is AV technology. Your meeting spaces, conference rooms, executive boardrooms, and training rooms all employ various communication and collaboration technologies to work internally and with outside constituencies. Is your business keeping up with the investments needed for today’s collaboration? The right AV design and strategy can keep your Tempe, AZ, and worldwide facilities up to speed with the needs and speeds of today's business.

Keep reading below to learn more about how documented AV design standards enable your enterprise AV infrastructure to scale and adapt to current and future business challenges.

Understand How Managed Services Companies Advance Your Company’s Efficiency

Managed services are increasingly common in the business world. From payroll processing to outsourced IT support, companies are taking advantage of the expertise and efficiency of external organizations to provide essential services while focusing on building infrastructure that’s core to the business.

With today's rapid technological change, organizations are taking a closer look at technology investments and the support staff needed to deploy them. While many organizations have migrated to utilizing managed services for a wide range of IT technology needs, only recently have they looked at using a managed model for audio-visual and communication infrastructure like conference rooms, meeting spaces, digital signage, video walls, and other applications.

In this post, we want to explore three critical areas where AV infrastructure managed services companies can add value to a company, whether here in Phoenix, AZ, or globally. Keep reading below for more!

4 Ways Turning AV into a Service Helps Your Company

What is AV as a Service, or AVaaS? AVaaS is turning the purchase and maintenance of a company's AV infrastructure into an expense item. Many corporations have sold corporate headquarters buildings and turned around and leased them back in long-term arrangements. Why? In many cases, highly valuable real estate generated large returns, but they didn't reflect in the company's valuation. They turned that investment into cash that could be reinvested in the company's products and services that are the core drivers of the business.

You could think about your company’s AV infrastructure the same way. Is your investment in video conferencing equipment and software, control systems, displays, digital signage, and other assets something that adds to your company's business value? Most likely not, as these investments depreciate over time and become obsolete in a few years as technology advances. This generates depreciation expenses, and while there may be tax benefits, there are also real cash outlays for maintenance and staffing to support these systems.

AVaaS is a way for a company to outsource AV and consume it as a service. With a predictable upfront startup cost and maintenance, a company can hire an expert AV integrator and avail itself of several advantages beyond the financial aspects, although it will also save money in the long run. Keep reading to see four ways AVaaS can help your company in Tempe, AZ, or anywhere in the world...

Managed Services Let You Focus on Your Business

What is an MSP provider? Your business may already be using one even if you don’t use that term. Does your business use ADP or a similar company for payroll and benefits administration? This is one of the most common managed services, and even the largest corporations use them.

When it comes to vital business functions like payroll, why would a company use an MSP like ADP? The reasons are straightforward. While important, payroll is a standard function. With a managed service, companies don’t have to deal with the ins and outs of changing tax laws, reporting, and running a site for employees to track benefits and pay.  These things are necessary and essential but don’t differentiate your company in its core business. 

Another area that is increasingly popular for managed services is technology. Technology is constantly changing and often becomes rapidly obsolete. A laptop from five years ago may not efficiently run the latest Windows or Macintosh operating system, and your 720p conference room cameras lack the resolution for today’s fast-paced world of video meetings. If keeping up and managing technology isn’t part of your company’s differentiation, managed services can help you stay current and focus on what’s important. Keep reading to see how MSP providers can improve the bottom line in your Phoenix, AZ organization. 

What Business Are You In?

Technology is a necessary tool for business. Your organization depends on technology for the systems that enable communication and collaboration both internally and externally with partners, customers, clients, suppliers, and more. Without a doubt, you have a substantial investment in technology tools as an underpinning for your enterprise, perhaps more than you realize.