Building up towards ISE 2018, AVTE spoke to some of the industry’s leading manufacturers about their experiences of the show and the importance of speaking to end users and what they can expect from their stand this year
Ahead of the world’s biggest AV trade show on earth, AVTE wanted to find out what it is about ISE – a show that attracts more than 1,200 exhibitors and (this year) a record breaking 77,000 visitors – that keeps them coming back for more.
We sat down with Oblong Industries’ VP, EMEA Mary Ann de Lares Norris, for her thoughts.
Hi Mary Ann. Thanks for your time today. To kick things off, why is it important for you and your company to be present at ISE?
The Oblong team is looking forward to being part of ISE again in 2018. It’s a key fixture in our calendar of industry events and a proven opportunity for us to showcase our latest innovations, network with our partners and meet new contacts.
In the European market, ISE is the most important trade show for us – it is the main destination for the channel by a long way
How many ISE shows have you and your company attended including this one?
This will be Oblong’s 5th time at ISE and our offering has grown over that time to now include an impressive range of collaboration solutions. We’ve seen the show evolve considerably in that time and become bigger every year. With more effective organisation of space in the halls and more exhibitors every year from global brands, it is an extremely busy environment – that’s one reason why it is key that exhibitors remain relevant to the hall they are in – we want to see that our spot in the Unified Communications Hall remains appropriate. We’ve also been impressed with the improvement every year in the communications; from the navigational maps, to the interactive app and useful show guide.
How does ISE compare to other shows around the world that you exhibit at?
In the European market, ISE is the most important trade show for us – it is the main destination for the channel by a long way. We know that visitors come to see all the latest innovations from the market and we want to remain a key part of that. Not only is it the biggest event of its kind in Europe but it’s widely regarded as the key date on the trade show calendar for anyone working in professional AV in the region.
It’s hugely important for end-users to speak directly to us, so they can ask questions specific to their own business needs
Who are you looking to appeal towards at the show?
We are looking to appeal to a range of attendees; from CIOs of large scale organisations who want to find out about innovative collaboration solutions for their businesses, to integrator partners looking for dynamic brands to partner with. With our family of Mezzanine products, we have the collaboration solution for every meeting, every team, every space. The flexibility of our immersive, visual, multi-streaming technology is unique in the market.
ISE has become a major destination for end users. How important is it for you to be able to speak directly to end-users?
As well as meeting with our channel partners, it is also really important for us to speak directly to end-users at ISE as it gives us a valuable opportunity to showcase our Mezzanine solution to them first hand. We find that once people experience Mezzanine for themselves, use the gestural wand and see the dynamic UI it offers, the technology speaks for itself. It opens people’s eyes as to the very real business benefits that they can have access to – and in fact, having the opportunity to really experience our technology first hand is a great way to learn more about Mezzanine.
Oblong will be showcasing the full Mezzanine Series of solutions, demonstrating that we have an innovative collaboration solution for every meeting, every team, every space
Likewise, how important is it for end users to be able to speak directly to you?
Yes, its hugely important for end-users to speak directly to us, so they can ask questions specific to their own business needs. Our technology is in use in so many different ways in lots of markets – from the automotive world, to petrochemical, medical, real estate and the creative industries to name just a few. The beauty of Mezzanine is that—at its core—it is a flexible software-based solution that can be easily adapted to customer use cases. At the show, we can take time to show Mezzanine’s capabilities and explain not only the wide range of customer use cases but also the variety of collaboration spaces that Mezzanine can support; from huddle rooms to command centres.
The Oblong team will again be taking part in a range of speaker sessions at ISE
What can our readers expect to see at your stand and why should they take the time to stop by?
Oblong will be showcasing the full Mezzanine Series of solutions on stand 11-D170, demonstrating that we have an innovative collaboration solution for every meeting, every team, every space; from the full-scale dynamic experience of Mezzanine 600 Series to our very latest huddle-room solution, the Mezzanine 200 Series. We want visitors to have a demo and experience that wow factor first hand. There’s nothing like commanding pixels all the way around the room with a wand, or scaling multiple streams of content together simultaneously.
Are you making any announcements at the show? If yes, perhaps give our readers a bit of teaser?
We’ll be revealing more innovations and new functionalities at the show – watch this space!
Beyond the stand itself, is there anything else you or your company will be doing at ISE?
The Oblong team will again be taking part in a range of speaker sessions at ISE as part of the UC Theatre programme, including:
A talk on the opening day, Tuesday 6th February, where I will be talking on The Factory of the Future and the importance of collaboration for Industry 4.0.
I will be discussing how the physical world and the digital world are becoming more intertwined – particularly in the manufacturing sector. I’ll talk about the importance of businesses to embrace high-tech strategies, characterized by adaptability, innovation, resource efficiency and seamless collaboration, which can meet the challenges of a distributed workforce and create value.
I’m also looking forward to a session on 9th Feb on Driving Innovation and Creating Impact; The Workplace Of The Future.
This will be a fireside chat with Dan Alldis, Future Technology Manager at Inmarsat who recently launched their stunning iMPACT room at their London HQ. We will be discussing how enterprises must adapt to changing business needs by creating more dynamic, creative and collaborative work spaces.
Where can they find you?
You’ll find Oblong on stand 11-D170.
Make an appointment to meet the team on the Oblong stand and join us for happy hour every day at the booth!
