All clouds shouldn't be thought of as identical entities
Cloud Transformation in the Pro AV Landscape
The Pro AV industry is experiencing a significant shift as more and more companies move towards cloud-based solutions. This transition, while gradual, is set to drive innovation, agility, and competitiveness in the sector.
One key advantage of cloud infrastructure is its elasticity, which allows for the automatic scaling of resources based on demand. This ensures optimal resource utilization and cost efficiency. Cloud platforms also offer automated updates to prevent VMs from becoming vulnerable to attacks or performance degradation.
Remote monitoring systems are another significant benefit, offering integrators the ability to support customer systems remotely. This not only reduces the need for on-site visits but also opens up potential income streams through support contracts. Cloud infrastructure also enables quick and easy deployment and provisioning of resources, accelerating project timelines.
Cloud-based collaboration tools enable seamless communication and collaboration among AV integrators, clients, team members, and partners. Cloud-based systems also allow for remote monitoring and troubleshooting of client systems, further enhancing efficiency.
When selecting a cloud provider for Pro AV applications, key factors include technical capabilities and services, global coverage and scalability, security and compliance, and specialized offerings. Providers must support cloud-managed AV infrastructure with remote management, auto-discovery, intelligent configuration, and integration with IT systems.
Large hyperscalers like AWS, Azure, and GCP offer comprehensive PaaS and SaaS ecosystems, but may lack industry-specific services. Specialized providers, on the other hand, offer tailored services for Pro AV use cases, adding value through managed conferencing, creative cloud integrations, and more.
The cloud-managed, software-defined infrastructure emphasizes the need for providers who can support distributed, flexible, and integrated AV environments with minimal onsite intervention, strong security, and scalable service models. Hyperscale clouds excel in broad technical infrastructure and global reach, while specialized providers add value through dedicated AV service features and content workflows.
For example, the cloud-based audio system for Barista Parlor's Indianapolis shop allows for local and remote control, thanks to the IoT-enabled Network Connect Series 702 amplifier from LEA Professional.
In conclusion, the move towards cloud infrastructure in the Pro AV industry is a strategic one, offering numerous benefits in terms of efficiency, scalability, and cost savings. However, integrators and manufacturers must carefully assess their computing, storage, networking, security, and other service needs when selecting a cloud provider.
Businesses in the Pro AV landscape are leveraging cloud technology to drive innovation, with features such as elastic resource scaling, remote monitoring systems, cloud-based collaboration tools, and cloud-managed audio systems all playing a significant role. Selecting a cloud provider requires a deep understanding of technical capabilities, global coverage, scalability, security, and specialized offerings to cater to industry-specific needs.
