Xerox Corporation announced an expansion into the audio-visual market with the launch of Xerox Audio Visual Solutions. Previously known as Southern Business Communications, a subsidiary of Global Imaging Systems, Inc., the AV provider became part of Xerox when the company acquired Global Imaging Systems in 2007.
- Southern Business Communications now becomes Xerox Audio Visual Solutions, continuing to offer design, installation, integration, maintenance and training on a variety of AV products to the education, commercial, military and government markets in the U.S.
- "For more than a half-century, Xerox has been in the business of making it easier to share information in schools, in offices and in organizations of any size -- on paper, on the laptop and online," said Christa Carone, vice president of marketing for Xerox. "Adding the Xerox brand to an already successful company in the AV marketplace adds even more relevance to our role in helping to manage and share documents and communications in any form."
- Xerox Audio Visual Solutions has integrated thousands of classrooms with AV products. The company is currently handling the integration of more than 5,000 classrooms in Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia's largest school system, with ceiling-mounted projection systems, sound reinforcement technology, and wall-mounted system controls. Within the education market, Xerox Audio Visual Solutions is the largest North American dealer of products from SMART Technologies , including SMART Board interactive white boards.
- "From the classroom to the board room, we have grown to a leading provider of the most advanced and innovative AV solutions," said Dan Boylan, president, Xerox Audio Visual Solutions. "By leveraging the value of the Xerox brand and its close association with simplifying how work gets done, we will find new ways to integrate our combined technology with the needs of our customers."
- According to Frank Cannata, president at Marketing Research Consultants, by adopting the Xerox brand, Southern Business Communications not only receives a jump start in terms of recognition as it expands into new markets, but the ability to link its AV offerings with Xerox printing and document management services. "In our view, the promotion of a company starts with the brand," said Cannata. "By taking the Xerox name, Southern Business Communications will more easily be able to grow its geographic footprint and gain access in markets where it doesn't have presence."
- Xerox Audio Visual Solutions will continue to operate independently as a Global Imaging Systems company with its own U.S. marketing strategies and sales initiatives.
