At ISE 2020, Kramer will be sharing its IT-centered ProAV message — AV over IT — as well as a suite of new AV solutions designed to work seamlessly within IT workflows and IT methodologies.

Kramer has been shifting its strategy and investing in IT-friendly ProAV solutions in recent years. Integrating hardware, software and cloud systems like Kramer Control, Kramer Network Enterprise AV Management Platform, VIA wireless presentation, KronoMeet Room Booking & Scheduling, Maestro integrated automation and more. Software-driven AV functionality on a single device is implemented throughout different systems, creating Kramer Open AV Platforms. This scalable and smart approach to AV architecture enables multiple features like integrated videoconferencing coupled with room control and automation, digital signage, and much more.

User-experience is what stands at the core of any easy and straightforward accessible technology — and AV is no exception. Whether it is a videoconference or a wireless collaboration, AV must be fail-safe and user-proof, and always simple to navigate. For the end user, Kramer’s focus on operation results in a fully transparent AV experience.

Zero-touch automation with Kramer Maestro is the company’s way of creating meeting space AV systems that do not require user intervention. The user can enter a room, connect his or her device into the BYOD interface — wired or wireless — and Maestro instantly activates a set of pre-configured actions to prepare the environment for collaboration.

Kramer also equips its VIA line with fully native support for AirPlay, Miracast and Chromecast, enabling Windows 10, Apple devices and Android devices to connect wirelessly and present content quickly and natively. “This is what we call ‘True BYOD,’” Margolin explained, “which means users don’t need to install any extra piece of software to get connected and present wirelessly.”

Easy in the age of AV over IT also translates to the AV installer and the IT department. For the IT department, solutions are designed to be fail-safe, so they will not generate service calls. To meet the technology and management needs of huddle spaces and small-to-medium size rooms built for ad-hoc meetings, Kramer delivers solutions consisting of as few hardware components as possible. This strategy reduces points of failure and overall costs.

For AV installers, easy also means selecting products that are simple to integrate into a more extensive system. Kramer’s cloud-driven control does not require programming/coding, and it offers a drag-and-drop process, making AV configuration and setup significantly quicker. Installers can configure a space, remotely access and update the AV without having to leave their office or make local adjustments.

IT departments also expect management tools that provide an instant overview of the organization’s AV, understanding — at a glance — the status of all connected devices. With the Kramer Network Enterprise AV Management Platform, Kramer is enabling IT departments to commission, deploy and manage AV just like an IT domain, with the power to remotely manage, access and make remote firmware upgrades and notifications via a dashboard accessed from any type of device.

Recent research has found that more than 95% of IT professionals would rate security as the primary factor when choosing any type of technology. That’s why Kramer considers security a strategic goal — as essential as product functionality — and the company applies IT industry security standards across its AV portfolio.

Kramer’s products comply with industry security standards such as OWASP 2019, IEEE 802.1x, 2048-bit SSL encryption, LDAP identity management, Common Criteria PPS 3.0 and more. Pursuing better quality standards, Kramer is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant.

Kramer Open AV Platforms will show ISE attendees how the company is delivering on the promise of smart AV. Open AV Platforms is multiple software-driven AV functionality that runs on a single device. The license-activated nature of Open AV Platforms lets the user or customer determine what he or she needs, when they need it, rather than paying for additional functionality. At any given point, a client can add an available feature or expand AV functionality by merely activating it as software. This software-driven method makes AV more scalable and more cost-effective; users can add features on an existing device and reduce the need to replace devices when extra functionality is needed.

Kramer Academy courses and training also confer industry certifications, such as AVIXA CTS RUs (Renewal Units). Offering courses in AV/IT fundamentals to more complex system design and configuration, Kramer Academy is accessible online, in several languages. Training is also available onsite at events and locations across the globe.

Kramer has an ISE microsite here.