What Really Goes Into Designing a Commercial AV System?
A 101 Guide for Corporate Stakeholders
When organizations invest in AV technology, it’s about more than the gear itself. It’s about enabling smarter communication, more efficient collaboration, and a better experience company-wide.
If you’re leading IT, overseeing operations, or responsible for a team’s success, then you know AV systems now touch every corner of the business. That’s why the AV system design and engineering process plays such a critical role in long-term success.
At M3 Technology Group, we specialize in commercial AV design for healthcare, higher education, and other enterprise organizations. We work with corporate stakeholders every day to align AV infrastructure with business goals, support users intuitively, and help them scale systems to meet their ever-evolving needs.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the design process really works—and what every stakeholder should expect from a strategic AV partner like M3 Technology Group.
MORE ON AV: How M3 Vision Streamlines Managing Enterprise AV Technology
Step 1: Strategic Discovery – Aligning AV With Organizational Goals
Before any products or drawings come into play, we ask a simple question: What does your organization need to achieve?
The discovery phase is about aligning AV design with your broader priorities—whether that’s enabling hybrid meetings across global offices, equipping your executive team with high-performance conferencing tools, or standardizing spaces to reduce support tickets. We engage directly with stakeholders across departments to understand user needs, pain points, and future plans.
This isn’t a plug-and-play process. It takes time and energy in these initial planning stages so we can tailor technology experiences based on how your teams work, what your technology roadmap looks like, and what ROI you expect.
Step 2: Collaboration – Bridging IT, Facilities, and Business Units
Today’s AV lives on the network, is managed by IT, is impacted by physical space, and is used by people across all departments.
That’s why collaboration is central to the design process. We interface with your IT leaders to ensure infrastructure compatibility, cybersecurity, and centralized management. We work with facilities to plan for power, cooling, mounting, and cabling logistics. And we include feedback from key end-user groups to keep interfaces intuitive and training requirements minimal.
Our job is to build consensus, connect the dots, and design systems that satisfy technical and experiential expectations.
Step 3: Design and Engineering – From Big Picture to Technical Blueprint
Once stakeholder goals are clear, we begin detailed system design. Our engineering team produces:
- System architecture diagrams that define hardware components and signal flow
- Control schematics for how users interact with AV through scheduling panels, control touchscreens, or automation systems
- Hardware recommendations aligned with budget, performance, and support expectations
- Standardization plans for replicable room types across your organization
We also plan for the future by designing systems that can evolve with software updates, additional endpoints, or new workflow requirements down the line.
Step 4: Documentation, Approval & Rollout Planning
Design is only as good as its execution. That’s why we create full documentation packages, including line drawings, network maps, and deployment phases for multi-room or multi-site projects. We work closely with stakeholders to refine the plan, establish rollout timelines, and coordinate implementation in line with other organizational priorities.
Whether we’re working in tandem with construction timelines or integrating into an active workplace, we bring predictability and flexibility to the process.
Step 5: Commissioning, Onboarding, and Support
Once systems are installed, we handle commissioning, configuration, and onboarding. But the support doesn’t stop at handoff.
M3 Vision, our managed service platform, provides remote monitoring, proactive alerts, routine system checks, and ongoing support designed to keep systems reliable and reduce downtime for your teams.
We don’t believe in one-and-done projects. Our goal is to be your AV partner long after the last cable is connected.
Ready to Reimagine Your AV Strategy?
Smart AV design doesn’t just support today’s workflows—it lays the foundation for agility, security, and connection across your enterprise. If you’re planning your next upgrade or expansion, we’re here to help guide the process.
Connect with our team today to start the conversation.
