“We’re stronger together, that’s for sure,” Miller said, as he attempted to sum up just what 2020 has taught us as in industry.
“Over the past 24 months, before Covid, we were seeing regular examples of mergers and acquisitions arriving almost weekly. There were stories breaking in trade press announcing companies, manufacturers and service providers coming together – joining forces for a stronger offering.”
Collaboration has been at the heart of the PSNI Global Alliance’s worldwide growth over the past few years. Today, PSNI has 188 global offices across 49 countries, operating in all vertical markets from healthcare and government to transport and live events – the latter, of course, taking a huge impact from the global pandemic.
“The effects on the live events industry has been particularly hard to witness”, Miller said. “It’s tough, particularly for people who I’ve known for many years who have built their businesses from humble beginnings. However, if there’s one thing that the AV industry does well, it’s adapt. The purpose of technology is to develop and find a better way of doing things and we are seeing that every day. Virtual events and online concerts are helping enormously to fill the creative void, but I think we all look forward to sharing the energy of a concert hall, sports arena, or mosh pit!”
So what of the corporate world? News articles vary hugely on workplace predictions, but flexibility is a common absolute for future working practices as we emerge from the impact of COVID. What upsides are there to be had during these testing times?
Miller continues: “Winston Churchill was credited with the phrase ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’ during the very bleakest days of World War II. It’s a reminder that historically, the very best in people and innovation come to light in a time of need. Today, we might say it differently; we would describe the pandemic as an ‘accelerant to disruption and behaviour’.
“It seems that Covid has kind of cracked the whip behind collaborative comms”, he continues. “The term ‘collaboration’ is now realising its full potential in the workplace as businesses and organisations have been forced to find new ways to operate and connect their workforce. AV has been a welcome, if not essential, component in keeping the planet performing and I think we should all take some pride from that.”
Control rooms and information hubs have also made their way onto the list of ‘must haves’ for companies of a certain size as they monitor all elements of their business. Sharing information, often externally to lower bandwidth networks, is seeing innovative technology being brought to the fore.
“Technology does not stand still, and I am inherently optimistic”, Miller stressed. “On balance, I see a silver lining around many of today’s workplace issues. At PSNI, Zoom and Teams is seeing our members and partners sharing ideas more regularly than ever before and with global thinking on an unprecedented scale.
“All of our stakeholders have experienced both surviving and thriving in business. Business is cyclical in nature. Now, like no other time in history, is no time to accept the status quo. Break the mould and be bold! New ideas and new opportunities are just one breakthrough away!”
Miller is also confident that, emerging into the new order of things, PSNI’s network of elite integrators and manufacturer partners will be better placed than ever before.
“Our regular sharing of ideas, resources, best practice and decades of experience has brought new innovative initiatives to PSNI. Our global support offering is now more effective and streamlined and our commitment to the ultimate in industry standards has never been higher. Across the world, in all aspects of business, this is our opportunity; to ‘change something’ and here at PSNI, we are passionate believers in a change for the better.”
