Too many global AV deployments still fall short of their promise. A system that looks flawless on paper can unravel in practice, encompassing swapped-out components, inconsistent installs, or mismatched user experiences from one location to the next. For IT, facilities and workplace leaders trying to scale, these inconsistencies escalate from basic frustration into an expensive, time-consuming, and reputationally risky storm.
As hybrid work demands persist and user expectations grow, the pressure to produce seamless, repeatable experiences across rooms, regions, and continents has never been more pronounced. But while the pain points are familiar, the solutions have matured. Crestron, a long-time leader in AV integration, is helping global organizations turn standardization from aspiration into a repeatable playbook without compromising on quality, support, or user experience.
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Scale Only Works if the Stack Does
The first challenge with global AV standardization is availability. A standard means little if core components can’t be sourced in-region or supported effectively. IT and facilities leaders are looking for partners that not only offer proven technology but also the infrastructure to deploy and support it consistently, anywhere.
Crestron’s value lies as much in its global operational backbone as in its product portfolio. Its solutions are deployable at scale in every major region, covering everything from UC integration and BYOD to scheduling and signal distribution. Critically, that reach is underpinned by a network of trained, certified professionals who can execute consistently in the field.
As Brad Hintze, Executive VP of Global Marketing, put it: “Wherever our products are available, there are thousands of skilled integrators who can support customers. That’s essential for global deployment.”
With that foundation, organisations can roll out room standards globally without making local compromises that disrupt the user experience.
Take Spectrum Brands, a global manufacturer operating in 49 countries. It wanted to modernize its meeting spaces with intuitive, user-friendly technology. By deploying Crestron Flex with Microsoft Teams across multiple locations, it achieved a consistent experience whether employees joined from their laptop at home or from a touch panel in a meeting room.
With XiO Cloud, it’s also able to provide remote support and room readiness without physically being on-site, a crucial capability at this scale.
Technology Is Only One Third of the Equation
Even with the right equipment, deployments can fail if installation and configuration aren’t consistent across the organization’s ecosystem of spaces. That’s where many standardization efforts traditionally falter: when local deviations creep in, a room in Tokyo behaves differently from the one in Toronto.
Crestron’s approach identifies three pillars to standardization: the hardware, how it’s installed, and how it’s programmed. If any one of those is misaligned, the experience unravels. Swapping out a product due to local availability changes the workflow. Let each installer interpret a design differently, and the interface becomes unpredictable.
Joel Mulpeter, Director of Product Marketing at Crestron, puts it simply: “You want someone to be able to fly from London to New York, walk into a meeting room, and immediately know how it works.”
That level of predictability only comes from defining standards not just by device lists, but by workflows and outcomes. Crestron enables this by working closely with integrators and business customers to align hardware, implementation and user experience, no matter how many rooms or regions are in scope.
This attention to detail is what helped Spectrum Brands deliver the same interface across meeting rooms worldwide. It’s not just about the tech in the room but how it’s installed, how it’s programmed, and how it feels to use.
Consistency Reduces Cost and Complexity
When room standards are properly enforced, the payoff is far more than a better meeting experience. It’s a faster rollout, fewer support tickets, and less operational drag on central IT teams. That’s where Crestron’s emphasis on training and enablement becomes absolutely vital.
Partners and integrators are given the tools to be self-sufficient, avoiding costly rework and dependency on vendor-side fixes. But support doesn’t end with the install. Crestron provides 24/7 global coverage for both partners and business users, ensuring that help is always available, regardless of time zone or geography.
“Our support is available to anyone, not just integrators,” said Mulpeter. “If an end user calls, we’ll help them and loop in the integrator as needed. Our goal is always to create a happy Crestron customer.”
For Spectrum Brands, that ability to deliver remote assistance via XiO Cloud has helped reduce the need for on-site visits, making its support operation leaner and more responsive. It also means fewer escalations and less downtime, naturally critical at its scale.
It’s a clear example of how a well-executed standard can save time and cost long after rollout is complete.
Conclusion: Define the Workflow, Not Just the Devices
Many businesses’ AV strategies stumble because they start and end with a product list. But true standardization means defining how rooms fundamentally work, not just what’s in them. That includes installation method, configuration logic, interface design and user training. It’s not about enforcing sameness but ensuring predictability.
As Mulpeter warned, a five-year-old floor and a five-month-old one might look different. But if their workflows align, users won’t notice. That level of consistency isn’t easy, but it is achievable with the right partner.
Work with a partner that understands scale: Crestron brings together global availability, a mature partner ecosystem, and a rigorous approach to standardisation that goes beyond hardware. For IT leaders looking to deploy AV at scale without sacrificing experience or adding operational drag, Crestron is the strategic ally that makes it possible.
Explore how Crestron supports global AV standardisation here.
