Unique Challenges Faced by AV/US Systems Integrators and Dealers
As we prepare for the AV Cloud Summit, I’ve been thinking a lot about the very unique challenges facing AV/UC system integrators and dealers – challenges that are arguably tougher than most other industries.
One big challenge is the sheer number of solutions that integrators and dealers need to juggle. Without a "one size fits all" platform, managing different brands with their own systems can be very time-consuming and difficult to scale. And existing platforms are set up for managing single brands. But in an integrated solutions environment like AV/UC, offering a solution with devices from just one vendor doesn’t make sense. Most spaces and rooms contain UC devices, audio devices, displays, as well Zoom or MS Teams – each of which is made by a different vendor. Until now, there was no way to manage everything in one place.
Then there’s the hardware challenge. A lot of systems require extra, often expensive, on-prem equipment. These systems also need approval – and getting multiple platforms approved by IT teams and CISOs can be an endless loop of red tape. What’s more, AV/UC system integrators and dealers have to stay on top of security—making sure that any data they’re managing is locked down tight.
The Solution: Connect+
That’s why our newest solution, Connect+, is such a game-changer for professional AV/UC integrators and dealers, not to mention their customers and the manufacturers themselves. Since Xyte has primarily focused on the manufacturers’ angle thus far, I’ll focus this piece on integrators and dealers.
Connect+ tackles all the challenges discussed above—multiple systems, complexity, the need for extra hardware—by providing a single, all-in-one interface to manage all AV, UC, IT, and other intelligent building devices. There’s no need for additional hardware or coding. AV/UC system integrators and dealers just sign up, connect with the brands they work with, and get to work.
Connect+ lets integrators, dealers and (importantly!) their customers manage devices from multiple vendors, all in one place - bringing SaaS-like interoperability (which is the standard in most industries) to the AV/UC market. The Connect+ platform supports all Zoom rooms, MS Teams rooms, Crestron, QSC devices, BrightSign, all Xyte-native devices, and more. Our development team is working on adding Biamp, Domotz, and many other AV/UC brands, alongside climate and HVAC control and others.
Xyte’s cloud allows AV/UC partners across the entire value chain to view all the rooms, spaces, and devices they’re responsible for. They can even track warranties, manage all project files, and drill down into specific devices to see their status—whether it’s a firmware update or an issue that needs immediate attention - all from a single interface. It integrates with ticketing and messaging systems too, meaning they can handle problems remotely, be proactive, and communicate with clients seamlessly.
What does all this mean? Effective RMM means fewer truck rolls, lower overhead and higher profitability. Plus, being able to support clients from anywhere means faster resolutions, which equals happier customers. Connect+ also opens the door for AV/UC system integrators and dealers to develop recurring revenue streams, like bundling hardware with value-added software and services.
The Next Level: Ensuring Cloud Interoperability for All
For the industry as a whole, Xyte is democratizing cloud technologies, making them accessible and easy to use for all manufacturers, dealers, and customers, promoting cloud interoperability. Xyte helps manufacturers, system integrators, and end users work together more efficiently in the cloud.
Think about it like this: instead of everyone using different platforms that don’t talk to each other, Connect+ is bringing everything together into one unified system. It’s like what HDBaseT did for video transmission or Dante did for audio networking. Xyte enables an ecosystem that allows all the diverse devices and services to work together seamlessly, which directly benefits all - manufacturers, integrators, and end customers.