If you’ve been in the AV or low-voltage world for any amount of time, you’ve probably thought about going direct with a manufacturer. And honestly? For some brands, it makes total sense. But for a lot of contractors and integrators — especially those working across multiple project types — going direct for every brand creates more headaches than it solves.
Here’s why so many integrators in the Southeast and beyond keep coming back to distribution instead.
One PO. One Source. One Relationship.
Think about a typical commercial project. You might need ceiling speakers, a DSP, wireless mics, projection screens, and a few lighting fixtures. That’s potentially five different manufacturers, five different accounts, five different minimum orders, and five different shipping timelines to manage.
With a distributor like BAI, you submit one PO and we handle the rest. Your gear ships to your office or jobsite from one source. That’s hours back in your week on every single project.
You Don’t Always Qualify — And That’s Okay
Manufacturer direct accounts often require opening orders, annual purchase commitments, and sometimes exclusivity in your market. If you’re a smaller operation or branching into a new product category, hitting those numbers isn’t always realistic.
Distribution lets you access top-tier brands — Shure, AtlasIED, JBL, Electro-Voice, Chauvet, Draper, Digital Projection, and hundreds more — without the commitment pressure. You buy what you need, when you need it.
Backorders Happen. We Help.
Even if you ARE dealer direct with a brand, manufacturers run out of stock. It happens to everyone. Having a distributor relationship means you have a backup source when your manufacturer is on backorder and your project deadline isn’t moving.
We stock inventory and have access to a wide network — so when your primary source dries up, BAI is often the call that saves the job.
We Know the Southeast Market
Whether you’re working a house of worship in Georgia, a hotel renovation in Tennessee, a corporate office in Texas, or a school in Florida — we get it. BAI has been serving AV integrators, electrical contractors, and low-voltage installers across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, and beyond for over 40 years. We understand the project types, the timelines, and the pressure you’re under to deliver.
Your Factory Warranty Stays Intact
Every purchase through BAI is through authorized channels. That means full factory warranties on everything you buy. No gray market, no risk.
Ready to Add BAI to Your Sourcing Network?
If you’re a licensed contractor, AV integrator, low-voltage installer, or reseller in Florida, the Southeast, or anywhere in the US, we’d love to have you as a dealer. Getting set up is simple — just fill out our dealer application and our team will be in touch quickly.
