Silicon Valley is synonymous with tech start-ups. Many of the technology brands we use on a daily basis were either founded in San Jose, San Francisco and the surrounding valley, or have moved their headquarters there over the past decade.
As a result, talent has flocked to the area and investors have pumped endless amounts of cash into Silicon Valley. It became a haven for tech start-ups. This, however, is changing.
With rising property prices, an increased cost of living and long commute times becoming a reality for workers in Silicon Valley, tech firms have been moving away from Silicon Valley and coming north of the border - to Canada.
Areas such as Kelowna in British Columbia or Ottawa in Ontario are becoming hugely attractive for high-tech start-ups. In fact, the Canadian government’s support of new tech companies has attracted big names to Toronto and the surrounding areas, such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft.
The challenge of being a start-up
While tech start-ups have high valuations and significantly more capital to spend than the average small to medium-sized enterprise (SME), increased competition in the industry means small companies are still battling the odds when it comes to success.
As of December 2017, according to the government of Canada website, the Canadian economy was made up of 1.18 million employer businesses. Of these, 1.15 million (97.9 percent) were small businesses, 21,926 (1.9 percent) were medium-sized businesses and 2,939 (0.2 percent) were large businesses.
The most telling statistic, however, is that between 2010 and 2015, the average number of SMEs created annually was 95,000 - but the average number of businesses that disappeared annually was 85,000.
According to Industry Canada, about 85 percent of small businesses that enter the marketplace survive one full year, 70 percent survive for two years and 51 percent survive for five years.
How tech start-ups can leverage audio visual solutions to ensure they are competitive
The competitive nature of small business means start-ups must be innovative in the technologies they use, to improve their processes and ensure they stay competitive with others in the industry.
For tech start-ups, who generally have more capital to spend than other small businesses, this means investing in the right tools that will empower your employees to deliver results. This is where audio visual (AV) and collaboration solutions come in.
By integrating AV technology into your tech start-up, you’ll be able to improve your internal processes by encouraging collaboration and improving communication across your entire organization.
Here are three powerful audio visual technologies that will enhance your tech start-up business.
1 - Video collaboration for remote workers
Whether your tech start-up makes the most of the contingent workforce (which now makes up around 30 percent of the entire Canadian workforce), or you simply offer your permanent employees the benefit of being able to work remotely, your tech start-up needs a collaboration software that ensures all your workers stay in touch.
Working from home brings risks. Without the appropriate technology, it’s likely your workers will not communicate or collaborate with each other. This leaves them working towards different goals.
By installing a world-class AV video collaboration solution, however, you’ll ensure your workers stay connected with each other - no matter where they are. The result? All your workers will be working towards one common goal, the growth of your business.
2 - Improve your meeting spaces
Your meeting rooms and boardrooms are the hub of your business. It’s where you make serious decisions, where you ensure all your workers are on the same page and where you make plans for future growth.
By creating a collaborative environment with innovative AV technology, you’ll empower your workers to share ideas and collaborate. This, in turn, will stimulate innovation and improve the way employees work together.
Your meeting rooms can be perfectly set up for this with the integration of a few audio visual tools, such as:
- Remote screen sharing
- Skype for Business
- Cloud-based video collaboration
- Integrated calendar meetings
- And much more
3 - Digital signage and video walls
The success of tech start-ups is often based on their branding. Competitors will enter your space, so it’s important that your audience instantly recognizes your brand as the leader in your particular market.
Implementing digital signage around your office that showcases your product will reinforce the importance of your brand to employees, but it will also be a fantastic way to improve brand recognition for clients and investors that visit your site.
Not only that, but it’s also a fantastic way to improve brand recognition among consumers, photos of your branded office can be put on your website and social media platforms for increased engagement.
Are you looking for more information about how Genesis Integration’s innovative AV solutions can help drive your tech start-up forward? Contact us today. We would be happy to answer your questions.
