5 Reasons to Invest in Training
Whether you are the owner of a small AV integration firm or a manager at a large national integrator, chances are, you are faced with the same struggle of finding the time to attend training for yourself or send your employees for training. Oftentimes, this can be costly and time consuming. However, the benefits of a highly trained workforce will almost always outweigh the short term costs.
Here are 5 reasons you should consider training for yourself or for your staff:
1. Staying on Top of the Latest Technology Trends
I think we can all agree that, like many industries, the world of commercial AV technology is constantly changing and evolving, not only with the technology itself, but with the needs of our customers. A few examples include the major advancements in Direct View LED (DVLED) for large video-wall displays, and the skills required for successful installations. If you are not aware of the latest trends or not equipped to handle them, you may find yourself losing business to competitors.
2. Enhance Customer Service
Think about a time when you were interested in making a purchase (any type of purchase — it doesn’t have to be technology), and you felt your salesperson was not educated about the product. How did that make you feel about that company? Your customers will always get better service from a well-trained employee, whether it is your salesperson, project manager, or installation technician.
3. Keep Your Certifications Current
While there are many certifications in our industry, the most common and well recognized is AVIXA’s CTS. The CTS, CTS-I, and CTS-D are important designations and require a significant amount of time and effort to achieve. Any CTS holder understands the importance of continuing education and obtaining CTS RUs in order to maintain their certification. RUs can be obtained in a variety of different methods, including live classroom training and various trade events, like the Exertis Almo E4, and webinars.
4. Less Supervision
As an owner or manager, you are faced with the difficult challenge of running your business and managing employees, often while being involved in work that could be handled by properly trained employees, freeing you up for other tasks. Well-trained employees will be able to work more independently without the need for constant guidance and will help your staff be more confident and satisfied in their job.
5. Reduce Employee Turnover
Hiring new employees can be time consuming, expensive, and involve risk if the right hire is not made. Providing training opportunities for your employees shows them your interest in advancing their professional skills and will enhance company loyalty and increase employee contributions to your business. Often, employees thrive on knowing they are a key contributor to their company as much as they enjoy monetary compensation.
Exertis Almo’s E4 Experience has stops in DC Metro on March 5th, and in Chicago on April 16th. In addition to an exhibit hall with the newest technology from over 40 top manufacturers, attendees will have the ability to earn AVIXA CTS RUs throughout the day via classroom training. If you are in one of these regions, I encourage you to invest your time with us for this free one-day event.
For Crystal UHD
For The Frame
Getting involved in the Drone Solutions category is a low-cost way to enter this new market with significant demonstrated growth and opportunity. We are here to help AV integrators get their feet on the ground in this area by providing subject matter expertise and content training to help quickly bring an integrator up to speed. 
2. Sound, Lighting, and Imagery – Uplift with Immersive Experiences
Podcasting studios within houses of worship have become more common, enabling the creation of audio content for a broader audience beyond those attending in-person. Acting as a supplement to traditional worship, podcasts have become a powerful tool for sharing discussions and teachings with a global audience, extending beyond the physical congregation.
While still emerging, some houses of worship are exploring the use of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies to create unique and immersive spiritual experiences, transcending traditional boundaries. By embracing this new technology in the House of Worship space, spirituality can become more accessible and adaptable to the evolving preferences of congregations.
It would seem to make sense then that we should be designing the room, and the meeting environment, first around the human and then applying the appropriate technology within the boundaries of human factors and ergonomics.
A close second to the maximum allowable background noise level is the acoustical performance of the space. This is the actual sound signature of the room, and I can think of nothing more important that is also the least considered or even ignored. While the trend has been towards glass walls, shiny floors, wood panels and other acoustically “hard” surfaces, these materials are the least friendly when it comes to the acoustical criteria needed for human communication. Jun Lim recently wrote, “No matter how excellent an audio system is, it cannot surpass the limitations imposed by the acoustic environment.” The late John Murray once said, “Once the sound leaves the loudspeakers, it’s out in the wild”. “Acoustically friendly” doesn’t have to mean plain or ugly but aesthetics devoid of acoustical considerations impedes the ability to communicate.
