Stuart Pringle is co-founder (along with Stephen Kellaway, CEO) and director of Omega Digital Technologies (Pty) Ltd, a Johannesburg based company that specialises in visual communications solutions and AV integration. Stuart has been a long-time player in the AV industry here in South Africa so it was no wonder that Greg Bester tracked him down to learn a bit more about him and what he does. Here’s what he had to say.
Tell me a little about how you got into the audio visual industry.
In 1999 I was employed by Future Media (one of the leading AV integrators at the time) as an IT administrator. Being technically inclined, I attended internal training sessions that the AV field engineers went through. In a short space of time, the control system programming bug bit me and I started to assist Future Media in their core business of AV integration. I managed to make an impression there and moved through the ranks to become a senior member of the technical team.
Once AV is in your blood, there is no getting out of it!
After you and co-founder Stephen Kellaway formed Omega Digital what was your goal for the market?
We felt that the AV industry in South Africa lacked the level of professionalism that other ICT industries had. We decided that we would like to raise the bar of solutions and service delivery in the local AV industry, and by doing so establish credibility which would drive success. We were able to form an exceptional team quickly who we believed could deliver on our motto: “Expert advice, exceptional service.’
What correlations do you see between having your B.Tech degree and what you do at Omega? Has it been a crucial stepping stone in dealing with the technical nature of the job?
Not a day goes by when I am not thankful that I have a degree in engineering. Engineering taught me how to think in a logical way and solve problems creatively. The grounding in electrical principles has been a tremendous benefit and the level of mathematics has allowed me to easily overcome some major obstacles encountered in AV design.
What do you feel is the most exciting aspect of the audio visual industry at the moment?
Technology fields are full of excitement on a continuous basis. I am most excited about the development of training courses and material to enable technical staff to be up-skilled. With skilled personal, we have the ability to add true value that our clients are willing to pay for. The most noteworthy for me is that fact that clients who want a professional solution are willing to pay for design and consultancy services – a cost absorbed by AV integrators in the past.
What do you see for the future? Is there anything exciting on the horizon that you’re looking forward to in the next five years?
I feel that the future may see close partnerships between network integrators and telepresence integrators such as ourselves. We can provide the niche skills required to cover the AV and telepresence portions of a network contract held by a network integrator.
Video as a service (VaaS) is also on the cards. We have already built hosted services, ’CloudRooms,’ and have the ability to provide a turnkey service to our clients that incorporates the equipment, network, hosted services and service level agreement, all as a service.
What has been your most rewarding job and why?
For many years I headed up our design team. During this period, it was extremely rewarding to see blank sheets of paper turn into architectural drawings, detailed schematics and 3D renderings that allowed our delivery teams to implement solutions that were world class. Walking onto site and seeing the end project in all its glory has always been a proud moment for me.
What particular invention that is not currently available would make your life easier?
Audio visual installations that require no cabling would make our lives much easier.
What bothers you most about the AV industry?
It is frustrating that the barrier to entry into the general AV industry is low. The industry is tainted by upstarts who have not made significant investment in resources, training and all of the backend requirements. If clients don’t do their homework they may fall into the trap of doing price-based business with AV companies that can afford to give away services and margin, which more substantial companies require to be sustainable. Unfortunately, when these projects go bad, the industry as a whole gets a bad name.
What advice do you have for AV industry aspirants?
Firstly, it’s a tough game if you want to play at the highest level – be prepared to knuckle down.
Secondly, if you are not learning, you’re not growing. With all of the material that is available, spend some of your own time investing in your knowledge and skills – it may seem like a sacrifice in the short term, but will position you for fantastic opportunities in time to come.
Thirdly, make sure the company that you work for is a professional outfit built to last. Companies in this category should be willing to invest in growing your skills and plotting a career path with you. Spending a long period of time at a company like this will give you the knowledge and experience that will differentiate you from others and allow you to prosper.
What takes up your time when you are not working? (hobbies, etc)
I’m a bit of a sports freak. I love playing squash and watching sports, whether on TV or live.
I also spend as much time as possible with my family.
My eldest son has recently started go-karting, so I spend a fair bit of time with him at the race track while he works on his lap times.
