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3 Ways to Build Quality into Integration Projects
Navigate has worked with hundreds of AV and Systems Integration companies, and one thing that continues to amaze us is the difference in process maturity between companies – and the results. There are several areas where you can distinguish mature and immature companies – especially in their approach to
Knowledge is Power
There is a lot of drama and myths around finances, and this is largely because people do not understand the meaning of the numbers. On this episode of The AV Profession, Tim Albright and Brad Malone discuss how financial metrics can give your integration business the power of knowledge.
Forecasting for Successful Project Management
How do you hand project management forecasting in your integration business? One of the challenges Navigate often hears from project managers is a lack of ability to manage and forecast resources. In this video, Brad Malone is joined by Brad Dempsey, CEO of Solutions360, to discuss how forecasting leads
3 Steps for Building a Service Department from the Ground Up
Integrators regularly ask Navigate for advice about how to grow their services revenue. It often goes something like this, “How do we start this, because right now we have a break fix business? We get calls from our clients and we are very reactive and we take care of them,
What Happened to Joy and Fulfillment?
As I work with multiple companies and facilitate numerous courses, I’m often struck by the apparent lack of joy and fulfillment I see in and feel from executives, managers, and employees. Have you also seen and felt this trend in your workplace? What happened to the adage “Choose
Navigate’s Four Pillars of Support
Integrators are making the shift from a reactive service model to a proactive support model There has been a lot of discussion in the integrator community about best practices for developing services and support revenue, and how to embrace a recurring revenue model. Today, our own Steve Riley is
If There’s One Thing I Know about Sales, It’s This…
I’ve been a student of human behavior and performance for as long as I can remember. In second grade, I noticed that the kids who were the loudest in class also did poorly on their schoolwork. I correlated loud voices with bad grades. (For the record, I have no data
Women in Project Management
Is the systems integration industry ready to fully acknowledge the value of women in project management, and support their growth? I hope so, because whether the job is filled by women or men, it’s time to shift the paradigm of project manager from a through-the-ranks, glorified technical lead (someone who
Introducing Navigate Academy!
Introducing Navigate Academy, an online training platform developed exclusively for systems integration and related technology companies. Over the last decade, the audiovisual integration industry has seen monumental advances in technology and systems. With those advances come more difficult challenges when it comes to selling and managing multiple overlapping projects, which
Who Owns the Estimate – Sales or Operations?
Who should be responsible for the estimating process? One of the issues Navigate often addresses with customer is the estimating process. Today, our own Steve Riley is joined by Tofiq Indawala, Director of Product Management at Solutions360, to discuss who should be responsible for the estimate. “This is a conversation
It’s Easier to Be a Friend Than a Manager, But That’s Not Your Job
Friend vs Manager I’ve had many conversations recently with owners, directors, managers and employees at AV integration companies about the topic of accountability — or the lack thereof. When I ask them about their frustrations with both their direct reports, peers and others in the organization, I hear answers like,
How to Walk Away from Bad Business
What Should You Do When Customers Have Unrealistic Expectations? In the middle of 1999, I was a regional sales manager for a manufacturing company, covering most of the eastern US and Canada. My boss, Scott, decided to join me on the road one week in the Philadelphia area. Although the
AVI-SPL Manages Growth with a Commitment to Standards and Process
With 2,500 people, and 7,800 installations in 2019, how does AVI-SPL work through standards, process and accountability? There is a lot of growth in the AV industry, and 2020 could be the first year an integration firm hits $1 billion. Some of this growth can be attributed to the rampant
Best Practices for Global AV Deployments
In today’s global economy, there are more opportunities than ever before to deploy technology systems around the world. But working globally can create some logistical challenges as businesses try to scale their operations. To overcome the challenges of global AV deployments, companies need global technology partners that can deliver high-quality projects
Hypocrisy Kills Company Culture
Why is hypocrisy a killer of a company culture? In previous podcasts, Brad Malone and Tim Albright have touched on the concept of hypocrisy, such as instances when the superstar salesperson is given preferential treatment. But we have never really delved into this idea, and explored the negative impact hypocrisy
Top Challenges of Global Project Management
Make it or break it profitability on global integration projects can come down to project management. This week, Brad Malone is joined by Chris Miller, Executive Director of PSNI Global Alliance. PSNI has built a global network of technology solutions providers that now includes 74 integrators, with 188 offices in
What is the Purpose of Your Processes?
Everyone should understand why processes are in place. If an integrator is engaging in an activity on a daily basis, the people need to know why. What is the purpose of your processes? And does everyone understand the value? Mature companies document and improve their processes incrementally — in a
What’s the Best Thing a Salesperson Can Do in December?
How many days of selling do you think you have left this year? Think about it: you have three days this week, five days next week, and four days the week of the 16th. If you think you’re going to get anyone’s attention on Friday the 20th, or any day of the
The First Thing an Integrator Should Do When Selling to a DIY Customer
About six years ago I was having a beer with a business development director of a system integration client of ours. He shared a memorable story with me, which I’ll paraphrase below. “Chris, I’ll tell you what concerns me – and it’s not our competition. A few weeks ago, I
Where Should Integrators Start with their Services Offering?
A question that Navigate often hears from integrators is, “How do we grow our services business?” Steve Riley is our resident support and service guru. Today, Steve talks with Brad about some best practices for integrators that want to build a service and support offering. “Many customers ask me how
Why Are Standards Important, and How Do We Get Our People to Follow Them?
When we follow standards, it allows us to establish, measure and assure a level of quality, and predictability to our clients, and to one another. These days, many people have a hard time understanding why some people don’t seem to know how or care about doing the “right things” the
Quality and Metrics Should Start with the Design Process
One of the things Navigate often hears from integrators is that they focus on putting quality into commissioning. Today, Brad is joined by Jim Maltese, Vice President of Quality Standards with Level 3 AV, to discuss why you should also build quality and metrics into the design process. “It’s like
Using Metrics to Drive the Right Behavior
Metrics drive behavior, but what behavior are we trying to drive? The goal should be to have the right people, with the right skills, doing the right things for the company to meet today’s and tomorrow’s business strategy. Navigate works with integrators to set up key performance indicators,
Which Direction is Your Company’s Morale Spiral Heading?
I find that “morale” is one of those words like “culture.” We know we’ve got one – it just usually isn’t what we exactly desire or picture it to be. And somehow, we often feel powerless, or at a disadvantage to measure it, and take action to directly impact it.
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Online training for systems integrators and their technology partners.