Latest headlines: Christopher Gillespie on ITIL, ITSM and AV, Lee Distad on making cold calls during a pandemic, Gary Kayye on CEDIA and Crestron, Scott Tiner on invention in the “new normal” of AV, plus news from Extron, AVer, PS Audio, Atomos, Z CAM and more
May 13, 2020 | Volume: 18 | Issue: 18
There is a resounding call-to-action lately in AV news: We need creators right now. We need thinkers right now. We need inventors right now. Nearly every AV vertical is having to shift to meet needs we hadn’t anticipated at the end of last year. Manufacturers have to build new products. Integrators need to find new ways to install them. And end users don’t need the same things they needed a few months ago — they’re tasked with figuring out what works and what doesn’t.
The situation seems bleak. But look at the people who are meeting the challenge and already developing technology to meet these new standards.
In that vein, today we are working with columns and product news abound — words from Christopher Gillespie on how ITIL and ITSM could (and should) apply to the AV world, Lee Distad on cold calling during a pandemic — because yes, we still want business but also we shouldn’t be insensitive to the matters of the world. Also we have a blog from Gary Kayye — his thoughts on CEDIA welcoming Crestron back to the show. Finally, a column from Scott Tiner on how we can pivot to meet the new challenges that are more than likely coming our way in each market vertical.
We have all the hot gossip, and by hot gossip, I mean product news. Panasonic has a new PTZ camera; AVer has a new conference room solution. Extron came out with what GK says is the “coolest in-wall touch panel ever.” Plus, Nureva added connectors to its Span Workspace solution.
OK, now I’m going to stare at my TV to see if I can make Hamilton appear on Disney+ with sheer will-power. Bye!
Many of us in the AV industry are somewhat familiar with ITIL and its various relatives. However, it’s been my experience that not many of us understand what it’s about or why it exists. I was in that same boat for a long time, but as I started to learn more about these systems, I realized they are the missing link to our world. The entire purpose of this article is to help others see how this can help us, and maybe even kick-start adoption of (what I see as) the next stage of evolution in our industry.
Cold calling isn’t always easy at the best of times — and right now is definitely not the best of times. That’s why I’m approaching things a little differently, with some changes in nuance. If you’re in the same boat, here are some suggestions on how to proceed.
CEDIA Expo announced that Crestron Electronics will return for the 2020 show, optimistically scheduled to take place Sept. 8-12 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. And, CEDIA Expo also said Crestron will work with closer to continue the advancement and success of the custom integration channel. We’d love to see CEDIA Expo return, and it could, very well, mark the return of trade shows in the AV space! Let’s cross our fingers. But, the show needs to consider ridding themselves of the app-based exhibitors that aren’t really part of the custom-installation segment of the HomeAV market.
Many of us are approaching our third month of stay-at-home orders (while others on the West Coast are looking at their fourth month). We — or at least I — spend much of our time thinking/dreaming about when this will come to an end so that we can get back to a normal routine. There will never be a “new normal.” That frame of mind will apply to our industry, too. Forward-looking firms are thinking right now about what this new normal will look like, and are beginning their pivot to meet that standard.