The ability to monitor AV, lighting and HVAC system assets means you can use them at their full potential.

through the IT organization where they keep track of A/V issues like how many hours are on the bulbs, in the projector and who has access to a room. The directory of service for the devices could also be included in that. “There is a tremendous amount of existing IT infrastructure that we leverage by bringing a convergence solution in to the space,” says Carroll. “The core of our system is an Apple OSX Unix platform with IT-centric competency. It has been proven to have high reliability and availability.”

Jay McArdle’s clients at Zdi, Inc. in Normal, IL are very focused on maximizing their system to monitor maintenance needs. “That’s where we’re seeing the RMS from AMX and the RoomView and GlobalViewer from Crestron,” says McArdle. “The main selling point and the main area of concern for our customers is to manage those assets from a centralized location. Staffing keeps getting cut and they don’t want a burned out bulb holding up an important presentation to be the indicator that it’s time for a new one.”

Managing Assets, Managing People

Assets that would be considered real estate include boardrooms, hotel rooms, or storage areas. “Once someone is in one of those areas, we make the area as easy to use as possible so that those assets are used effectively,” says John Epeneter, Control4 senior product manager. One of Control4’s customers out of New York is an example of creativity in optimizing assets. A dealer/integrator collaborated with a retail clothing store on design and they placed Control4 touchpanels in the dressing rooms. A guest could go in, try on clothes, and if they got the wrong size, the guest could use the intercom on the touchpanel to ask the attendant to get another size.

“Time and real estate had been an issue for this retailer,” says Epeneter. “One guest would be tying up a dressing room for a long time while they went out and got a new size and came back. With the touchpanels, it was not only a better experience for the customer, but also for optimization purposes since that person was able to get in and out more quickly.”

Everything is Connected

For more traditional asset management, Control4 is beta testing tools to allow the manager of multiple systems throughout a large number of sites, the ability to remotely monitor and manage a location to determine the need for and then initiate software updates remotely. If a control system is added to an office building, there’s the ability to monitor that system via SNMP. “That is a powerful capability which can automate management functions in terms of global updates and IT functions,” says Epeneter.

With regard to remote asset management, the Enterprise Software team at Crestron finds

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