Have you been living with or working with a Crestron control system that no longer meets all of your needs? Maybe it was a system that you had designed many years ago, or perhaps it was a system that was designed by someone else that you inherited when you moved into your current home or building. If you’re tired of “making do” with a system that doesn’t operate the way you want it to, or doesn’t provide you with a great user experience, it might be time for a system design review.
The best person to provide you with a comprehensive evaluation of your Crestron system is a Crestron consultant, rather than a Crestron dealer. A consultant is more likely to provide you with honest input about your current system because they don’t have an incentive to sell you a bunch of new hardware, like a dealer does. The best place to find a Crestron consultant is at an experienced Crestron programming company that is familiar with older Crestron hardware.
For a fee, a Crestron consultant can come to your home or place of business and do a thorough system review. They will establish a baseline test of your system to determine whether or not all of the equipment is functioning properly. They will also do an evaluation of the source code for your Crestron system. These steps will help them determine what needs attention, and will identify areas for Crestron system design improvement. During their onsite visit, the consultant will also discuss with you what you don’t like about your current set-up and what type of new functionality you desire.
It is sometimes the case that the existing Crestron equipment can continue to be utilized, as long as it is still fully functional, of course. But there are other cases when the equipment needs to be replaced or upgraded to get the functionality you need. For example, if you want to add devices to a system that can’t handle any more, you will need to upgrade to equipment that can support a higher device count.
Sometimes, the changes that need to be made can be accomplished by something as simple as redesigning the user interface. A user interface design that is intuitive for one person can be confusing for someone else. Reworking the UI design can often make a huge difference when it comes to the user experience.
A good Crestron programming expert will be able to tell you, after a thorough evaluation, what is needed to get your system to the place you want it to be. They will lay out what new equipment is needed (if any), estimate how many hours of programming will be required, and discuss how the new system will be tested and commissioned.
It is often wise to get more than one opinion, since different consultants will have different ideas on how to get them most out of your existing system. From there, you can make a decision about which direction to take based on your needs and your budget.
