AVI-SPL Leads in Unified Communications, Immersive Telepresence

By Nicole Zaro Stahl, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Company Brings Distant Personnel Together Via Advanced Technology

Collaboration is a hallmark of the 21st century workplace, and not just with the team down the hall.

"Today's big companies want the opportunity to collaborate across a global campus," observes Mike Dunn, General Manager of Hacienda tenant AVI-SPL, which moved into 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard last fall. AVI-SPL's technology solutions make it possible "for people in Santa Clara, Chennai, India, and London to walk into different rooms for a scheduled meeting and feel as if they are physically together in one work environment."

AVI-SPL is a market leader in the delivery of unified communications, "providing comprehensive solutions and services for professional AV installation, telepresence and video conferencing, digital media systems, control rooms and network operations centers," and more. The company specializes in building the technology backbone and integrating components like high-definition pan-tilt-zoom cameras, smart boards, and messaging to create the new field of immersive telepresence. This latest iteration of video conferencing is so effective at erasing geographic boundaries that people can interact with each other as though they were face to face.

More and more enterprises are seeing the value of immersive telepresence in multiple scenarios, from product development to sales training. In addition to accelerating projects through enhanced communications, it cuts down on employee travel, reducing costs and increasing productivity by improving the work/life balance, Dunn explains.

"One of our clients, a Fortune 50 company, is rolling out collaborative technology geared toward the sales team across its global footprint," he relates. "The company will be able to implement top-down management of the sales staff from headquarters in Silicon Valley to roughly 75 brick and mortar locations throughout the world."

In the education market, having the latest in advanced technology is not just a source of pride but an imperative for institutions that strive for a world-class reputation. "Top-notch schools want to introduce their students to the technology they will be using in the corporate environment," Dunn points out.

AVI-SPL also plays a key role in this arena as a supplier of the distance learning infrastructure. "We have worked extensively with the UC system creating the capability for anyone in the world to log on to the website and participate online in a growing number of courses. The classes are broadcast through high definition cameras, providing incredible access to education from remote areas."

The Hacienda office recently completed a large installation at UCSF's School of Medicine, including a project that captures video of students as they perform procedures on computer-controlled mannequins in a simulated hospital setting.

AVI-SPL is the result of a venture-backed merger between Audio Visual Innovations, founded in Tampa in 1979, and SPL, Signal Perfection Ltd., which originated in Columbia, Maryland, in 1992. These two companies were merged in April 2008 by Menlo Park-based Silver Lake Partners, "the leader in private investment in technology and technology-enabled industries." Combined, they represent an entity that is several times larger than any of its competitors. "Large doesn't make the best. What makes us the best is our combination of extensive resources and capabilities that include the highest level of vendor and industry certifications from partners such as Polycom, Cisco, Crestron, and AMX, as well as InfoComm. This truly validates our position as the global market leader," Dunn says.

For more information, visit www.avi-spl.com.

Photo: The UCSF Kanbar Center for Simulation, Clinical Skills and Telemedicine Education uses AVI-SPL equipment.

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