Key Takeaways
- Kramer acquires ZeeVee to strengthen its position in AVoIP and IT/AV convergence.
- The acquisition expands Kramer’s AVoIP portfolio and accelerates growth and innovation in the field.
- ZeeVee brings expertise in 10Gbps technology and medical-grade products, complementing Kramer’s existing solutions.
- The merger combines ZeeVee’s on-premises AVoIP management with Kramer’s cloud-based offerings for enhanced management and control solutions.
Topic Summary
Click to view the topic summary.
Kramer, a prominent audio-visual solutions provider, has acquired ZeeVee Inc., a pioneer in AVoIP technology. This strategic acquisition aims to strengthen Kramer’s position in the AVoIP market and accelerate innovation in AV/IT convergence. ZeeVee, a founding member of the SDVoE Alliance, brings advanced technologies and expertise that will expand Kramer’s product portfolio and market reach.
The merger combines ZeeVee’s on-premises AVoIP management solution with Kramer’s cloud-based offerings, creating a robust ecosystem for management and control solutions. ZeeVee’s medical-grade and certified product line will complement Kramer’s existing solutions in various domains. The acquisition is expected to drive growth synergies and enable Kramer to offer a more comprehensive range of solutions to its customers.
Gilad Yron, CEO of Kramer, emphasized that the acquisition reinforces their commitment to leading the AVoIP market and aligns with their strategic vision. Bob Michaels, CEO of ZeeVee, expressed excitement about joining forces with Kramer, stating that their combined expertise will accelerate the adoption of AVoIP technologies and deliver unmatched value to customers and partners worldwide.
Kramer, headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, is known for creating engaging, inclusive, and connected audio-visual experiences. The company focuses on developing intuitive and seamless technology that bridges gaps and fosters human connection in increasingly hybrid environments. Kramer’s solutions range from AVSM to advanced cloud-based communication, collaboration, and control systems.
ZeeVee, based in greater Boston with offices in Germany and Singapore, is a leading provider of AV signal distribution technology. The company has made significant contributions to the pro AV and IT industries with its encoders, decoders, and software. ZeeVee serves various sectors, including enterprise, academic, government, healthcare, casino, museum, hospitality, and retail customers.
Background Information: Click Here to View
Our Thoughts and Commentary
Kramer is a fascinating company. For years, Kramer played the role of the AV value player, offering good products at good prices. Also, Kramer had a dizzyingly large product portfolio. Whatever you needed, Kramer had a SKU for it. In many ways, Kramer was a Swiss army knife for AV integrators.
In terms of product quality and reliability, for many years, I considered Kramer’s products to be above no-name brands, but below industry heavyweights like Crestron and Extron.
But in the last few years, Kramer has stepped up its game. For example, Kramer:
- Completed a brand refresh, including an updated logo, color scheme, and company value proposition
- Appointed some new distributors, including Extertis Pro AV in Germany and AVA Distribution in Australia
- Entered into partnerships with industry heavyweights like Yealink, Samsung, Jabra, Sennheiser, Ricoh, Logitech, and others
- Appointed a new Presidents for for the Americas, EMEA, and APAC
- Joined the Global Presence Alliance
And, as always, Kramer launched a pile of new products, including a line of AV over IP encoders and decoders.
Kramer has also made a few small but notable acquisitions. In February 2022, Kramer purchased UC Workspace, the company behind the well-known QuickLaunch app launcher software. And in June 2024, Kramer acquired Ashton Bentley, a UK-based company offering out-of-the-box meeting room systems.
However, this recent acquisition of ZeeVee has the potential to bring Kramer into AV deals it only dreamed about in the past.
ZeeVee is a small company with less than 50 employees and an annual revenue of $10 – $15M per year. But ZeeVee brings strong AV over IP products and a solid reputation to the table. For its part, Kramer brings its global footprint and distribution network.
Kramer is working hard to strengthen its market position and reputation, and this pickup of ZeeVee is another feather in its cap. Whether the addition of ZeeVee lets Kramer compete head-to-head with industry leaders remains to be seen. But if nothing else, life is certainly interesting in Tel Aviv.