{"id":11543,"date":"2021-02-08T16:18:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T21:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ddbuilding.com\/?p=11543"},"modified":"2021-06-25T16:13:57","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T16:13:57","slug":"connecting-the-showroom-experience-in-todays-virtual-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddbuilding.com\/2021\/02\/08\/connecting-the-showroom-experience-in-todays-virtual-age\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecting the Showroom Experience in Today’s Virtual Age"},"content":{"rendered":"
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News<\/div>\n
Connecting the Showroom Experience in Today’s Virtual Age<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Posted on 02\/08\/21<\/div>\n
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\n By Bryan Celli\n\n \n\nWe can all agree that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in many ways. Some changes will only be temporary, while others may be permanent.\u00a0 One area that\u2019s been greatly impacted is activities that take place in-person. Whether it\u2019s going to concerts and movie theaters or purchasing a car and retail shopping, adjustments have been necessary, regardless of our personal feelings. This has led many people in these industries to think outside-the-box to provide an alternative solution. The custom electronics industry has been no exception.\n\nHave you ever heard someone say, \u201cI\u2019m more of a hands-on type of person\u2026I learn and retain information better when touching and feeling versus just seeing or reading\u201d? It\u2019s long been said that the best way to understand something is to experience it for yourself. This is especially true for the technology industry, regardless of the individual\u2019s \u201cdigital IQ.\u201d For this reason, many custom integrators and manufacturers have invested in building out \u201cexperience\u201d centers or showrooms so that decision-makers and design\/build professionals can come to interact with the tech themselves.\n\nThe positives of such an in-person visit are consistent: greater opportunity for the visitors to leave more informed and educated; greater opportunity for the design\/build professional to understand how to blend or hide the technology into their design; greater opportunity for all parties to get on the same page to ensure a smooth project. As a Design Showroom Manager for Crestron over the past 9 years, I\u2019ve witnessed all of these play out time and again firsthand.\n\nIn a time when home technology is more in demand than ever, providing the homeowner and design-build professional with the ability to understand and experience their options is critical. While most of these requests still include control of traditional items such as video, music, and lighting, the \u201cnew normal\u201d has also introduced the growing concept of\u00a0<a href="https:\/\/www.crestron.com\/Products\/Featured-Solutions\/Home-Conferencing">home conferencing solutions<\/a>. These blend the office and work-from-home environments into their current space. While in-person visits to experience these technologies are gradually resuming in most areas, it\u2019s nowhere near to the levels prior to March 2020. Therefore, adjustments are required, one of which is offering virtual tours.\n\nAs early as nine months ago, many would have viewed a virtual tour option as unacceptable because it\u2019s \u201cnowhere near the same thing.\u201d Could you imagine selecting a paint color for your walls or choosing a shade fabric for your windows through a photo or a webcam a year ago? Today, the ability to accomplish this virtually has been embraced as a viable alternative, with many people grateful they were offered an option at all! Crestron Design Showrooms in the U.S. have been offering this alternative tour, in addition to protocol-specific in-person tours, for the past few months (NY, FL, TX locations). The feedback has been very positive, as have been the results. Many of the virtual guests have expressed sincere appreciation for the opportunity to participate in these tours, so far.\n\nTwo important questions that in-person tour experiences can help answer for guests include, \u201cWhat are the capabilities?\u201d and \u201cWhat do I need to make this happen in my\/the client\u2019s home?\u201d Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) combined with Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) help clarify and define that narrative. A proper and successful virtual tour experience allows for this, minus the ability to physically touch. For example, seeing what happens when a button on a TUI, such as a keypad, is pressed; observing how to navigate a GUI on a mobile device or tablet; and learning how to create a lighting scene. These can all still be demonstrated live in a Crestron virtual tour. This is not the commonly seen prerecorded tour or a 3D walkthrough. This is a live person in the showroom communicating directly with you and your client! If getting to a Crestron showroom in-person is not a reality, you don\u2019t have to settle for trying to explain it the best way you can. Please take advantage of the adjustments we have made to support your opportunities!\n\nTo schedule an in-person or virtual Crestron tour, submit a\u00a0<a href="https:\/\/www.crestron.com\/How-To-Buy\/experience-centers-and-showrooms\/request-a-tour">tour request here<\/a>. One of our Design Showroom Managers will respond. Please note that for in-person tour requests, there are COVID-19 protocols that need to be followed (U.S. states on the quarantine list, PPE requirements, temperature checks, etc.). Help set expectations with guests in advance of the scheduled tour. Any information about them that you can provide us with is beneficial. Some examples include: any experience they may have had with home technology; any defined system \u201cmust-haves\u201d; and any questions or concerns they may have expressed. This information will help the presenter customize the tour to better suit the guest\u2019s comfort level and deliver a more connected experience.\n\n<strong>Final thoughts<\/strong>\nUnexpected challenges and adjustments are going to be part of our lives as we learn to navigate the \u201cnew normal.\u201d Technology has an opportunity to play a lead role in both the process and the solution. Please let us help support you in your efforts to provide your clients with solutions that benefit them and their families. Please stay healthy and safe!\n <\/div>\n
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TAGS<\/div>\n
\n Crestron<\/span>\n Home Automation<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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