For our next Xchange Community Spotlight, we're featuring @Eduardo Andres Travi, a Video Solutions Specialist for LATAM, who is based in Argentina.

Eduardo’s journey into AV technology began at 14, sparked by a comic magazine that included instructions for building electronic devices. These publications were the Argentine equivalent of Popular Mechanics for kids, combining comic book stories with hobbyist workshop manuals. From there, he started to build audio devices like amplifiers and wireless microphones in his spare time.

During his twenties, he enriched his audio pursuits by adding image to the mix, delving into analog photography and creating custom “special effects.” He also had the opportunity to work at an FM radio station once a week, learning the basics of audio processing. Over time, his hobby began to turn into a full-fledged career.

“I finally had the chance to turn my hobby into my profession when I was hired by Proyecciones Digitales, a great ProAV Integrator in Argentina when I was 29, where 85% of my specialization became video-based technologies,” he said.

In his current role, Eduardo works as a Video Solutions Specialist for Footprint Global. His day-to-day activities mainly include solutions presentations, technical proposal reviewing, building marketing strategies for represented brands, and training integrators and distributors.

He believes that the creativity exhibited in the Argentinian AV industry is unparalleled.

“Argentina has highly talented AV professionals, making the industry very mature and top-level. Despite our historically difficult importation rules, which are becoming more flexible, integrators have shown significant creativity in developing effective business models that have garnered international attention. There is also a large rental market with strong, classic players who have continuously evolved, pushing the market forward,” he said.

His approach to work has been shaped by key moments of insight and continuous refinement.

A pivotal moment in his career occurred at his previous job Proyecciones Digitales when his boss, @Rolando Molina, offered valuable advice. After two end-customers expressed dissatisfaction—one needing continued training for a digital signage solution and another unhappy with a five-page guide for an automated meeting room—Eduardo recounted their complaints to Rolando.

His boss responded, “If they need to read more than a page to be able to use the technology we provided to help them work better, then the problem is on our side.”

This statement prompted Eduardo to rethink his approach, shifting his focus to the customer and end-user experience, including their workflows and pain points. He considers this customer-centric approach the key to success for any AV project.

Throughout his career, Eduardo has observed many emerging trends. Recently, he's noticed discussions about AVoIP (Audio Video over IP) convergence. However, in his opinion, significant work remains before a true convergence of AVoIP and IT infrastructure can occur.

“I'm reading a lot about AVoIP convergence, and for me, it is like déjà vu from the very beginning of the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) era, where the IT department was reluctant to route phone call traffic and signaling through their infrastructure,” he said.

He thinks AVoIP requires more time to mature before being integrated into a company's enterprise data infrastructure. To give an example, he noted that one single SDVoE port may need the same bandwidth that will be enough for 10 to 15 desktop users working with several UCC tools.

As a Xchange advocate, he often writes articles in Spanish and English on topics such as inclusion, AVoIP, and more. You can discover all of his articles on his Xchange profile. He finds Xchange to be a great platform for learning and sharing experiences.

“The spaces AVIXA enables with Xchange are excellent for discussion and knowledge exchange, forming the foundation for a living and growing community of collective knowledge,” he said.

Thanks @Eduardo Andres Travi! To stay updated on members of our growing community, make sure to follow the Xchange Community Spotlight page.