A lot of interconnected factors play a part. The restaurant needs to be in a good location to generate traffic. The marketing needs to be sound. And the atmosphere needs to be memorable, something that will get guests talking and coming back for more.

And when it comes to establishing atmosphere, pro AV equipment is one of the most important things — and also one of the most overlooked. Often, restaurant owners don't understand why they should be investing in the right AV equipment, and they don't do enough research to figure out which system is right for them.

The fact is, all AV systems are not created equal.

Restaurants often stick with traditional AV equipment because they think it's more convenient. But many traditional AV can be difficult to learn, more difficult to update, or simply outdated and inconvenient. This leads to restaurant owners not using the equipment to its fullest potential, or even giving up altogether.

This is why more and more businesses are turning to AV over IP instead of traditional equipment.

CTO of RGB Communications David Webster isn't surprised by this. “It is inevitable that the current generation of smartphone users will come to expect a level of video connectivity that is wireless (already some devices don't have video output ports),” he says. AV over IP is a modern technology, and it works using the internet, which is a technology most people already know how to use.

AV over IP can take your restaurant's AV — and your customer experiences — to the next level. And it can do so in a way that is seamless and intuitive to your employees.

 

Ingram Micro Advisor also notes that AV can be used to display video and image in real time. This can be very useful during special events like concerts and on game nights. On ordinary days, it could be used for something as simple as entertainment while people wait to be seated.

Exactly what you'll be using your AV equipment for will probably depend on what sort of restaurant you are. If you're a large Irish pub, you might use AV over IP for advertising drinks specials or for conducting pub quizzes. If you're in a big destination restaurant, however, you might use the technology for wayfinding or communicating with diners who are waiting to be seated.

But no matter how large or small your restaurant is, you're going to want to get a professional system. As Harman's Emilian Wojtowycz says: “As someone who has been in the audio business for over 20 years, I have seen numerous restaurants launch with a consumer rated sound system only to discover, before the first year passes, that they need to upgrade. Purchasing a professional system from the start can save money and effort and ensure a more pleasant listening experience for employees and customers alike.”

This mindset also applies to video equipment. A little bit of research can save you a lot of headache in the future.

AV over IP hits all of these marks.

“AV over IP solutions make it possible to distribute low latency, full HD, quality video content eliminating the technical and financial challenges of distance, image quality, scalability, flexibility and cost often associated with conventional matrix switcher workflows,” the Alpha Video team notes.

Further, Michael BraithWaite at ClearOne demonstrates how easy AV over IP is to install and adapt to your needs.

AV professionals have been moving toward AV over IP for a number of reasons. For one thing, the technology is state-of-the-art without being intimidating to clients. For another, it's easier to understand than most legacy equipment.

Maybe this is why so many businesses are turning toward AV over IP, as well. “As networks have become more affordable, there's been a dramatic shift to streaming video over IP networks,” says Tom Nyhus, VP of engineering emerging technologies at IVCi. “We see it everywhere now: in enterprises, as well as in healthcare and education.”

The Lightware team in Budapest notes that the main benefits of AV over IP include distribution, image resolution, low bandwidth with high quality, reduced cost, scalability, and cost effectiveness.

David Carroll, a business owner with more than 40 years in the AV industry, praises AV over IP because it “opens new business models such as consumption based payment for services where we need capital investment today, such as recording, playout, transcoding, mixing and routing, etc.”

He's not the only one who praises this technology. “As more traditional AV applications become IP connected, so too do traditional AV products,” says Rainer Stiehl, European vice president of marketing at Extron Electronics.

“Many customers are interested in leveraging their data network as the transport infrastructure for AV in addition to their business-class data like email, file transfer, and voice over IP. There are some unique capabilities and potential benefits when streaming video and audio information over the network, such as scalability, reach and flexibility.”

Alford Media in North Texas perhaps puts it most succinctly. “Straightforward, versatile and secure transmission of AV signals is an advantage worth pursuing.”