Q Can the hardware keep pace with software and as-a-service offerings? Mark: The technology is keeping pace quite well. We’re seeing a lot of advances in different areas now. With centre- of-room cameras, for example, that genuinely support meeting equity. That’s becoming a reality – where everyone gets the same space and visibility.
Q What’s the future hold for converged AV/UC? Nick: Increasingly, we are seeing a growing role for AI in managing the entire workday. Tools like Copilot and Google Gemini are enhancing collaboration by supporting tasks such as transcription, note-taking, and action tracking during meetings. Beyond meetings, AI is being integrated into workspace management, helping employees book desks near relevant colleagues and automatically assigning meeting rooms based on attendee needs and agenda requirements. Mark: It will run all the way through from virtual reception areas with digital sign-ins and digital signage being used for wayfinding, so it starts to become a lot more than collaboration, with the entire experience delivered through the platform. It could then go even further and start scheduling your days and your business trips for you:flights, hotels, transfers, restaurants, everything. That’s when it starts to become really fascinating and a really good opportunity. We already see call analysis being used in UC to assist customer service, and if you extend that into the rest of your working day, you become instantly more efficient and effective and that will make your in-office or remote experience the best it can possibly be. Q How does the market look two years down the line? Mark: Being able to offer the full solution will be where partners need to focus. I think there will be consolidation in the market, with larger IT resellers and AV integrators making acquisitions. AV/UC is going to become more important to our everyday working lives. The AV won’t be unrecognisable within that, but it will increasingly be part of the whole solution. n
We already see call analysis being used in UC to assist customer service, and if you extend that into the rest of your working day, you become instantly more efficient and effective...
UC
Q Where are the opportunities coming for MSPs and reseller partners? Mark: Any ‘box-shifting’ opportunities quickly become a race to the bottom. Most MSPs and solutions partners are looking at their total service and solutions offering, taking an end-to-end approach and providing the service-wrap that goes with the solution. As AV and UC come closer together, we are also seeing more interest in financial, recycling and lifecycle services. Partners with an IT background are more used to offering those kinds of services and for AV partners who are adopting UC, there are opportunities here as well.
Nick Stancliffe collaboration and UC lead
tdsynnex.com
ucadvanced.com
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