A National Approach to Managing AV Labor and Installation Logistics
By Mike Krapf, VP of Sales at Atlantis Partners
When you’ve been at the heart of the AV integration and installation business as long as I have, you’ve learned that adaptability is the key to success. Having worked with some of the industry’s top AV integrators, involved in some of the most sophisticated installations in the country, I learned long ago that there is no substitute for having the right people on the ground, when and where they’re needed. That no matter what the budget of the job, and how impressive the equipment list, installing it all correctly, on time and on labor budget is what separates the pretenders from the contenders. Making the client 100% happy while bringing the job in profitably requires thorough understanding of the both the technical and soft skills sets of technicians, project managers, programmers, and more. The culmination of those lessons learned? As 2021 unfolds, we’re well-positioned to help AV integrators balance and manage their job-specific labor needs in an era where there is really no margin for error. Atlantis Partners is known for providing highly trained, imminently qualified, experienced contract-based AV technicians (as well as project managers and other roles) to AV Integrators. That’s our reputation and our business model. But 2021 is seeing the broadening of the company’s capabilities, resources, and services and the establishment of a truly national footprint.
For top AV integrators, Atlantis Partners has been their steady partner when it comes to suppling the best, most experienced, most trained technicians, in the top regions of the country. Our track record is clear. What’s changed? Well, what’s changed is the track itself. It’s not a ‘track’ now, but the entire circuit. We’ve been working hard, hiring people, and ramping up. So we’re now ready to serve that role, regardless of where you are.
In the AV industry, we’ve seen a mindset for years, when it comes to sourcing people, gear, or services, of just going to your contact list and old habits of doing a patchwork of solutions from different suppliers. Fortunately, that mindset and approach is now out of date, because the landscape has changed, for the better.
We’re growing. Because in any economy, especially this one, great labor is in great need. But more importantly for the AV integrator, they need to know that there’s a one-stop shop for getting the best AV technicians where they need them. The days of using different labor companies in different parts of the country are in the past, for the smartest integrators. The west coast? We’ve just opened even more offices there, and brought on the best. Wherever you are, we can cover you. We are continuously increasing our national footprint, and we can bring technicians to you, on any job in any location.
And this year more than ever, it’s important to emphasize that while many integrators have used the company for AV technicians and installers, Atlantis Partners’ expansion and growth now means we can provide other, very in-demand positions/skill-sets.
It’s no longer a ‘best kept secret’, it’s now in demand from our best customers: Atlantis Partners now provides AV Project Managers, Field Engineers, and more. We’ve invested big time in bringing those folks on-board. And, as you’d expect, we only hire the best… and with an emphasis on ‘hire’: our folds are employees, not a thrown together band of freelancers. We bring the same high demands for the best experience, training, and qualifications to these new positions as we do for all our techs.
While a booming economy masked and papered over many labor and other inefficiencies prior to 2020 – and a rising tide lifted all boats – 2021 will solidify and propel the biggest trend if AV going forward: positioning your AV integration company for growth while mitigating risk. And the primary risk at top of integrators minds is balancing the need for hiring staff with the need for cautious management. 2021’s new normal is more budgetary caution around all labor outlay. Cautious and careful labor planning may seem like an obvious need, but what’s different this year? Industry leaders like Atlantis Partners are not cutting back. On the contrary, we are bringing even more resources to the table. From an industry-wide perspective, that’s nothing but good news. It really means a more national footprint of services to address an increasingly more national market. If you’re an AV integration/installation company, that can help you grow in 2021.
Mike Krapf is VP of Sales at Atlantis Partners, LLC. He is a 30+ year audio visual industry veteran with deep experience in corporate AV, global sales, and national service. Mike’s contact info is below.
Mike Krapf
VP of Sales – Southeast Region, Atlantis Partners
c: (813) 469-4729
o: (813) 602-0900
mikek@atlantispartners.com
