Commercial Integrator May 2023 - 10

INTEGRATOR INSIGHTS
Unparalleled Partnerships:
Lessons from Formula 1 Racing
At the core of successful partnerships, whether in AV technology or in F1 racing,
we find some common philosophical commitments. By Kristie Kidder
WHEN IT COMES to AV technology, successful
systems integration requires strong
partnerships between various stakeholders,
including integrators, manufacturers,
industry partners and even competitors.
With the kickoff of the Formula 1 (F1)
season and the popularity of " Drive to
Survive, " one can't help but to see the
parallels between F1 racing and building/
maintaining unparalleled partnerships in
the AV industry.
The AV industry is constantly evolving.
To succeed within it, integrators must build
and maintain strong partnerships. Those
partnerships come in several permutations
- for example, integrators and manufacturing
partners, integrators and industry
partners (e.g., commercial real estate and
land developers), and even integrators and
competitors.
In the world of racing, partnerships
between teams and various stakeholders
are equally critical. Teams must work with
suppliers (e.g., engine manufacturers and
tire suppliers) to build their cars. They must
also work with industry partners (e.g., race
organizers) to ensure the smooth running
of each event. Additionally, teams might
work with competitors to share information
and improve their own performance.
The Core of Successful Partnerships
At the core of successful partnerships
- whether in AV technology or in F1
racing - lie effective communication, a
commitment to continuous improvement,
complementary capabilities and trust. Let's
consider each one in turn.
Communication: Effective and recurring
communication is essential to building and
maintaining successful partnerships. In the
AV industry, this could mean sharing information
about a project's status, challenges
and potential solutions. For example, when
commercial real estate and land developers
share that contracts are no longer
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Commercial Integrator MAY 2023
Just as F1 racing participants do, AV industry members rely on effective communication,
commitment to continuous improvement, complementary capabilities
and trust as means of building and maintaining successful partnerships.
closing or canceled, that is critical information
for the integrator. That information
allows integrators to adjust their forecasts
and adapt to changing market conditions.
Likewise, a failure to communicate
supply-chain deliveries can turn the tide for
both the integrator and the supplier. There
is a domino effect when a supplier doesn't
provide transparent communication.
In F1 racing, communication is equally
critical. Effective communication between
the drivers, engineers and pit crews
ensures everyone is working toward a
common outcome. Teams, regardless of
the industry they work within, must communicate
with stakeholders to ensure that
necessary support is provided on time.
Commitment to Continuous
Improvement: A commitment to continuous
improvement is crucial to achieving
unparalleled partnerships - particularly
where technology is rapidly advancing.
This common commitment is often the tie
that binds partners in industries. To enhance
their performance, partners should
continually evaluate and improve every
aspect of their partnership. Being committed
to continuous improvement reflects a
willingness to quickly adapt to changes in
the industry, as well as to meet evolving
customer expectations. For example,
at one time, the concept of integration
was a novelty; now, however, all-in-one
systems are becoming common.
A commitment to ongoing improvement
and a willingness to work with
partners changed the face of AV. Today,
improvements in Wi-Fi, LEDs, OLEDs,
cloud-based technology, AI and internal
processes impact integrators. Sharing
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Commercial Integrator May 2023

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