What is Sony’s Collaborative Alliances Program?

Jay: Sony Professional ’s Collaborative Alliances program is a Global initiative designed to expand Sony’s range of compatible 3rd party software and hardware solutions. As hardware specification often is the final consideration in meeting a given project’s core objectives, this initiative provides a resource for Sony’s End-Customer and Reseller communities to understand supported technologies which can interoperate with Sony Professional Products. By aligning with other industry leaders and innovators, we’re developing inclusive offerings that bring even more power, interactivity, and flexibility to Sony’s portfolio of AV products – without the additional headache of finding, comparing, and pricing compatible offerings to meet a church’s specific needs. This also means customers won’t have to work with multiple different vendors to get the holistic solutions they need.

Can you explain how this program can benefit houses of worship?

Jay: Houses of Worship, like many environments in need of Pro AV solutions, continue to grow in technical sophistication. HOW campuses are faced with the same challenges as corporate and higher education campuses: growing core constituencies skewing to younger, more technologically savvy demographics and addressing increasing trends toward hybrid engagement models further accelerated by the pandemic. As HOW stakeholders seek to address these new challenges working with consultants to scope new technology investments, Sony sees a need to help make specification easier by providing transparency for the range of solutions our products integrate with. By aligning with many of the companies and solutions already prevalent in the faith space, we’re streamlining the decision-making process, and initiating one trusted point of contact. We’re also potentially simplifying installation and lowering operating costs.

What do you see as the biggest areas of opportunity for the faith market?

Jay: The ability to meet worshipers when, where, and how they prefer to be engaged – across a range of technologies to drive consistent experience irrespective of where and how the engagement is facilitated. Digital Signage and IPTV solutions are great at this, with several of the platforms we support today designed for delivering communications to & from mobile engagement platforms via smartphones or allowing content to be delivered on-demand through a range of mediums including Smartphones, Desktop computers and Smart TV’s. Bringing all that content, branding and consistency of communication back to the physical HOW space helps reinforce experience and familiarity with how to find and consume information. Integrations from moderated Social Media feeds and automated content services can help reduce content management labor while ensuring the content remains fresh, relevant, and engaging. There are numerous industry stats that prove content which potentially features audience members, their friends and family realizes far more frequency in viewership and stronger message retention. Some Digital Signage platforms have integrated Wayfinding and navigational tools that support navigating HOW campuses more effectively from check-in kiosks in combination with their phones, which can be very helpful for visitors or prospective members. There are also Emergency Messaging Services integrations to help communicate situations like severe weather events or Active Shooters and associated safety measures. These can be triggered at a push of a button or automatically depending on the use-case, serving to provide a more informed and ultimately safer environment for everyone on the campus. In addition, IMAG technologies like Sony’s Crystal LED direct view display can enhance Member engagement by creating an unforgettable backdrop for sermons or live music.

How many Pro AV companies are currently part of this program?  How many products?

Jay: Our growing mix of Collaborative Alliance Partner solutions addresses needs for Video Collaboration Solutions, Unified Communications Platforms, Digital Signage Platforms, IPTV Solutions, AV Control Systems, Device Management Platforms, Kiosk Enclosures and Touch Interactive Solutions. We currently have 16 partners featured with more being added every week on our site, pro.sony/alliances. As we build out our program, we invite you to reach out and let us know what solutions you’re currently, exploring, using, or offering to see if there’s an opportunity for alignment.

What areas of future growth do you see?

Jay: As the COVID numbers continue to grow and variant mutations proliferate, Remote and Hybrid Engagement will continue to be an important component for determining how best to attract and retain members and students for HOW campuses. Providing and flexible path to engagement with consistency across device types will be key to ensuring fellowship remains high regardless of how parishioners and faith leaders choose to engage. As a result, growth in adoption of flexible, multi-purpose platforms will continue to be a trend. Streaming and consumer TV’s have become an integral for families attending services from their homes, but worship services are only part of attraction for belonging to a faith community. The key is to understand how fellowship can be facilitated in this new hybrid and remote engagement landscape, while not creating separation of experience across congregations. Digital Tools integrated with Sony Home and Pro AV products can help to serve this purpose in combination with our growing range of 3rd party solutions and local Systems Integration partners.