Forward-Thinking UC Providers are Racing to Gain AV Skills

With videoconferencing now being a primary interface for B2B engagement, IT service providers responsible for the delivery and support of UC solutions are increasingly evaluated against a new high-profile KPI: the quality of meeting experiences.

The rapid increase in UC-enabled collaboration spaces has already put a spotlight on the inadequacy of clients’ existing audiovisual (AV) technology. IT channel partners must now respond to what is becoming a growing challenge, and opportunity, for their client relationships.

From a defensive perspective, providers without an answer to the meeting room audio question are placed at a distinct disadvantage and vulnerable to complaints. Even though there may be no formal contracts for maintaining meeting room peripherals, MSPs are likely on the hook the next time a Microsoft Teams or Zoom call becomes an unintelligible nightmare.

On a more opportunistic note, being able to provide technology solutions that cater to increased expectations for better AV meeting experiences not only drives client satisfaction but also helps IT channel partners distinguish themselves in a crowded marketplace while creating new revenue sources.

While UCaaS has seen massive growth, the conference room experience is still a largely untouched market opportunity for the IT channel. Forward-thinking companies are acting quickly and scaling up in-house AV capabilities. With more and more clients investing in new technology to ensure effective hybrid collaboration, IT solution providers are rushing to gain AV skills in an effort to get a slice of the growing pie. There has already been a wave of notable M&As in recent years as IT players seek to quickly fill audiovisual knowledge gaps.

With the latest IDC report stating that revenue from Huddle Room and Enterprise Videoconferencing Room Endpoints increased to more than $2.8 billion in 2022 alone, this is a channel opportunity that few partners can afford to ignore.

Read more in the latest white paper from Shure, “Sounds Good – The Growing Opportunity for the IT Channel in the AV Market.”

This guest blog is part of a Channel Futures sponsorship.