Episode Details

Higher Ed AV Podcast
Episode 340

In this special episode, Joe Way is joined by Sahil Dhingra, Cofounder & CEO of XTEN-AV, and Chris Dechter, University of Wyoming and AV SuperFriends, for a practical, higher ed focused walk-through of how teams are using XTEN-AV to design, document, standardize, and scale AV work as more institutions bring design/installation in-house. They break down “where do I even start?” for new users, share real workflows from fast departmental refreshes to integrator handoff packages, and preview what’s coming next for the product.Featured Guests

• Sahil Dhingra: Cofounder & CEO, XTEN-AV
• Chris Dechter: Manager for Instructional Technology, University of Wyoming; Founder/Host, AV SuperFriends

Why this conversation matters (higher ed context)Higher ed teams are increasingly operating like in-house integrators, but many don’t have the same tools or documentation workflows as traditional integrators. This episode focuses on how XTEN-AV can become the “single source of truth” for BOMs, schematics, rack elevations, cable schedules, proposals, and handoff documentation without living in a mess of disconnected spreadsheets and files.Key Highlights

• Joe frames the session as tips, tricks, and power-user workflows—not a sales pitch—plus a reminder that opinions shared are personal/experience-based.
• Sahil explains why higher ed tends to be a strong fit: more aligned workflows, more realistic expectations for subscription software, and strong adoption/retention patterns.
• Chris shares his “power user” reality: hundreds of projects, a massive personal library, and a workflow that covers schematics, rack elevations, lectern layouts, and internal labor tracking—all in one platform.
• A major theme: standardization + rapid duplication (template room types) while still allowing the “departmental one-off” variations that always come back 1–2 years later.
• Real-world documentation strategy: don’t overwhelm clients with a full BOM unless requested; give them a clear scope and a number—keep flexibility for substitutions and supply chain changes.
• Sahil demos the ecosystem: XTEN-AV modules (drawing, docs/proposals, project management) plus the AI layer (XAVIA) and how it can generate a starting design fast. 
• The “time savers” get loud: auto cable schedules, front elevations, submittals/spec-sheet bundles, and export options for downstream workflows.
• ISE teaser: improvements to AI personalization, plus better organization for multi-room/multi-floor projects and “areas” that let multiple rooms live under one umbrella.
• Training question answered: XTEN-AV describes an onboarding approach with dedicated support/CSM access early on (as discussed in the session). 

Practical takeaways (tips & tricks you can steal immediately)

• Start with a project you already know (ideally one you just completed). You’ll learn faster when the room, gear, and constraints are real—not demo-fiction.
• Build standards as templates (room types / kits), then duplicate + tweak for departments. This is where the time savings compound.
• Create and curate your own library: clone from the shared catalog, remove “junk ports,” add placeholders (“existing TV,” “OFE projector”), and keep blocks readable.
• Use “packages/kits” for paired items (encoder/decoder sets, extender pairs) to reduce BOM mistakes.
• Document every request (even the “10% chance” departments). Future-you will thank present-you when they reappear two years later.
• Separate client clarity from engineering detail: clients want outcomes + total cost; engineers want cable IDs, ports, rack units, and layouts.
• Add a contingency buffer to protect estimates against unknowns (Chris uses a larger buffer so the final cost often lands under the estimate).
• When working with integrators: hand them your design intent and documentation so y