32 01732 759725 SUPPORT SERVICES Video conferencing manufacturer Boom Collaboration has announced a strategic partnership with UK service provider Solvertec, adding an essential new piece to its AV supply proposition. London-based Solvertec specialises in a range of independent support services including preventative maintenance, remote support, site audits to optimise asset investment and performance, plus repairs and technical expertise. The two parties have teamed up for a UK pilot that Boom Co-Founder Fredrik Hörnkvist believes has the potential to be rolled-out globally as service becomes the new differentiator. “Our partnership with service specialist Solvertec is about enhancing our valueadded customer-centric support ethos by combining remote and on-site support integration,” he said. “A lot of organisations just focus on having a video-enabled meeting room without necessarily thinking about on-site IT support or service-level contracts to maintain that system. When you’re not thinking about the bigger ecosystem you’re missing a big part of the puzzle, which is something smaller organisations, in our experience, struggle with more than big enterprises. “SMEs have less internal resources due to economies of scale. They don’t have the knowledge and capacity of bigger enterprises with bigger IT departments and bigger budgets. Larger companies can customise service level agreements more easily. For example: What is mission critical? Does it need to be 24/7? There’s a lot of moving parts to consider, from the initial design stage onwards. But the most important question is who do they call when something goes wrong? It’s not always in-house anymore.” Solvertec can fill this gap. A trusted partner “Sometimes, all customers need is a bit of advice; other times, it’s a complete solution from start to finish,” explained Solvertec CEO and Founder Sebastian Szczesniak. “After more than 20 years in the support industry, one thing has become clear: we’re all looking for the same thing, a trusted partner – someone who’s always ready to help, whether it’s with a quick tip or a comprehensive solution. That’s why Solvertec was founded. It’s not just about audio-visual or video conferencing support. Plenty of companies excel at selling dreams; what sets Solvertec apart is our commitment to delivering real, practical value.” Szczesniak says that the pressure on customers to minimise costs and get maximum value from any expenditure is driving a big increase in demand for on‑site audits. “These make great sense because they allow customers to identify if it’s worth spending money to upgrade systems or if it’s better to utilise existing equipment in a more efficient way, often with more understanding and product knowledge,” he said. When it comes to running and maintaining those installations, he says customers want remote management and support that is truly independent. “Software monitoring solutions used to be brand-specific to their own equipment only, but the game is changing. Being vendor-agnostic is a big advantage. Customers don’t want engineers going to site, they expect issues to be resolved remotely far quicker than a guy turning up with his tool bag.” He added: “Taking care of customers and understanding their needs is our first priority, but just as important is keeping things simple. Customers don’t want to get involved in problems between manufacturers and installers. They just want things to work. Great service isn’t about avoiding problems, it’s about solving them fast and communicating clearly.” Happy customers For Boom co-founder Holli Hulett, Solvertec is a valuable addition to the videoconferencing and collaboration specialist’s customer support proposition on top of its standard three-year product warranties (extendable to five years). She said: “For us, it’s about bringing the right pieces together so customers get the support they need without complexity. Working with trusted thirdparty specialists gives our partners instant access to skills and expertise they may not have in-house without changing the customer relationship. “The key is knowing where to lean on experts. We don’t need to be everything to everyone, and neither do our partners. By connecting great hardware with dedicated service specialists, we can keep customers happy, protect partner relationships and deliver a complete support layer.” boom.co Boom Collaboration enhances offering with Solvertec support services pilot The missing piece AV in 2026 Boom picks five trends to watch for in 2026 1. Simplicity People expect their video conferencing experiences to be easy, platform-agnostic and ‘plug and go’. 2. BYOM vs In-Room BYOM deployments are outstripping in-room systems 5:1. Their total cost of ownership is much less and with the latest connectivity hubs customers can have the best of both worlds – the advantages of Bring Your Own Meeting deployments and existing in‑room systems. 3. Interoperability People no longer wear just a Teams or Zoom badge. It’s all about being vendor‑agnostic; any device, on any platform, in any room. 4. Certification Officially certified products are almost always part of an AV and collaboration ecosystem that isn’t certified end-toend. As meeting rooms become more flexible and more complex in 2026, organisations will prioritise compatibility and real-world performance over strict certification checklists. 5. AI Balance The use of AI will continue to accelerate, but ‘over-speccing’ is a problem. Often, the newest systems offering every bell and whistle, including multiple cameras and extensive automated controls, come with a higher cost, a steep learning curve and ongoing investment in maintenance, licensing and support. A balance needs to be struck.
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