In 2019, the US wasted over $399 billion on unproductive meetings. Some of these meetings damaged client relationships; others took away valuable time that could have been used toward other tasks. While one bad meeting can be a source of frustration, multiple bad meetings can be damning. And if the reason behind these problems in meetings isn’t addressed, those issues will continue to build and spread.
One of the main causes of bad meetings is poorly functioning, outdated AV. Sure, a meeting can go off track because someone isn’t prepared, but it’s more likely to face issues when a camera stops working or a livestream cuts off. The degree to which bad AV can impact these meetings is alarming, and it’s important to understand its negative impact—that way, your company can feel empowered to update and optimize its audiovisual tools.
Here are 4 ways in which bad AV equipment can cause problems in meetings:
Bad AV Makes You Look Bad
We already mentioned that the US lost billions in 2019 to unproductive meetings. But the real costs might be even higher—while it’s easy to put a number to time lost in a meeting, opportunity loss also plays a part. In other words, you’re not just losing money from the time spent in a meeting; you’re also losing out on potential partners and clients.
Simply put, bad AV makes a company look bad. They appear less reliable and less professional than a company with modern, effective AV. And when a client is looking to sign on with a company, this lack of professionalism can be a deal-breaker. If you want to prove that your company is the best option, it only makes sense to show off your best AV.
AV Problems Lead to Productivity Loss
Every time an audiovisual tool stops working, it takes time to fix it. As a result, other meetings are pushed back, or key talking points get passed over. Thus, if your AV malfunctions frequently, the rest of your schedule is going to suffer. And the more times you have an AV issue, the more times you’re sacrificing productivity.
In our recent survey, we found that 61% of employees face AV issues on a daily or weekly basis. Over time, these issues add up. And as the cycle repeats, it leads to further revenue and opportunity loss. In other words, bad AV isn’t detrimental to just a single meeting or group; a single AV issue can set you back hours, if not days, as you try to recover.
Poor AV Can Obstruct Communication… Which Leads to More Problems in Meetings
Remote workers are becoming more and more common. In fact, over 70% of employees work remotely at least once a week. And as their numbers increase, it’s important that your company has a means of contacting them.
A majority of employees use AV tools to connect with remote coworkers. If these AV tools aren’t working, communications will delay. Nowadays, quick communication is key to closing sales and providing important updates. So, if your AV isn’t doing what it needs to be doing, your remote workers won’t have the support they need to do their jobs.
Other Problems in Meetings
We’ve only scratched the surface of bad AV’s negative effect on meetings. From decreasing productivity to creating issues for the remote workforce, bad AV is a hindrance. When a company has poor audiovisual equipment, employee morale decreases. Additionally, bad AV can negatively influence opinions about IT in general, thereby harming IT Maturity.
In short, bad AV is bad for meetings—and if your AV tools are hurting your meetings, it’s time to invest in some new ones. Unlike bad AV, good AV increases productivity, streamlines communications, and makes your company appear professional and trustworthy. And if you want the best AV for your company, you need the best MSP to help support it.
Check out 1Path’s new AVaaS offerings and contact us today to see how we can help.
