Modern AV projects rarely rely on a single brand or product line. Whether you are designing for a corporate boardroom, higher education campus, or a live event venue, you are likely integrating hardware and software from multiple manufacturers. This multi-vendor complexity requires a design and documentation platform that can manage hundreds of components, track compatibility, and streamline communication between vendors, clients, and installation teams.

While D-Tools has served many in the AV community for years, today’s AV professionals need more flexibility, real-time collaboration, and automation—especially when dealing with multi-vendor projects. Fortunately, there are newer, more agile D-Tools alternatives for AV integrators that can simplify your workflow and improve project outcomes.

At the top of the list is XTEN-AV, an intelligent, cloud-based AV design and documentation platform built to handle the fast-moving demands of multi-vendor system integration. In this blog, we explore XTEN-AV and other tools that go beyond D-Tools to help AV teams efficiently manage multi-brand projects with greater accuracy and speed.

1. XTEN-AV – Built for Complex, Multi-Vendor AV Design

XTEN-AV is purpose-built for AV integrators who need to manage large-scale, multi-manufacturer projects. It offers powerful features designed to reduce manual work and increase accuracy when juggling multiple vendors, components, and system types.

Why XTEN-AV is better for multi-vendor AV:

• Manufacturer library integration: XTEN-AV includes real-time product data from hundreds of AV brands, allowing users to drag and drop verified equipment into their designs.

• Smart product suggestions: The AI engine recommends compatible components based on your system layout, reducing errors and mismatched equipment.

• X-DRAW and X-Doc: Automatically generate schematics, BOMs, and cable schedules using products from different vendors, all formatted consistently.

• Cloud collaboration: Share project files with vendors, clients, and installers to verify compatibility and avoid conflicts early.

When it comes to D-Tools alternatives for AV integrators, XTEN-AV stands out for its flexibility, real-time updates, and automation—all of which are critical when managing multiple product lines in one design.

2. Jetbuilt – Clean Proposals and Vendor Coordination

Jetbuilt is known for fast and clean proposal generation. For AV projects involving multiple brands, Jetbuilt’s clear layout and product catalog system help sales teams and engineers quote diverse setups with confidence.

Benefits for multi-vendor projects:

• Easy import and management of vendor-specific pricing

• Custom product entries for rare or specialized items

• Proposals that clearly identify equipment from different brands

• Integration with CRM and accounting software for vendor communication

Although Jetbuilt lacks detailed schematic capabilities, it is an excellent complement to a design tool like XTEN-AV, especially for sales teams who need to quote multi-brand projects quickly.

3. System Surveyor – Visual Mapping of Multi-Brand Systems

System Surveyor excels at visual planning and site surveys. It allows you to map out AV systems using icons and tags, making it ideal for high-level documentation of multi-vendor designs.

Multi-vendor advantages:

• Assign equipment types to specific rooms or zones

• Tag different manufacturers for planning and tracking

• Attach technical specs and vendor details to each component

• Share with vendors and clients for approval and input

System Surveyor makes the early stages of a multi-vendor project easier by giving stakeholders a clear picture of the planned system before detailed design begins.

4. Stardraw Design 7 – Precision Drawings With Vendor Flexibility

Stardraw is a long-standing AV documentation tool known for its detailed, CAD-like capabilities. For integrators working on complex rack systems or signal flows using equipment from many manufacturers, Stardraw offers technical precision.

What makes it useful for multi-vendor projects:

• Custom symbol libraries for different manufacturers

• Clean rack elevation and schematic drawings

• Exportable documentation for vendor verification

• Works offline for secure environments

While it lacks the cloud-based collaboration of XTEN-AV, Stardraw remains a reliable solution for AV engineers who need to ensure accuracy with custom or mixed-brand systems.

5. Visio With AV Templates – Flexible Diagrams for Multi-Vendor Layouts

Microsoft Visio remains popular in some AV environments due to its general-purpose flexibility. By using AV-specific symbol libraries, Visio can be used to represent multi-vendor systems visually and with custom notes.

Why it works for multi-vendor use cases:

• Drag-and-drop diagramming of various hardware components

• Ability to label manufacturers, SKUs, and specs

• Integration with Office 365 for team collaboration

• Export to PDF or image formats for vendor sharing

Visio is best for simple to moderately complex systems where visual communication is needed, and it can act as a bridge between design, sales, and vendor review.

Why Multi-Vendor Management Needs Better Tools

Multi-vendor AV integration introduces a host of challenges:

• Compatibility issues between brands

• Increased documentation requirements

• Frequent spec updates from multiple manufacturers

• Confusing communication between project stakeholders

Legacy tools often fall short in handling these layers of complexity. That is why many professionals are turning to modern D-Tools alternatives for AV integrators that are more flexible, more connected, and better equipped to support multi-brand projects from design to install.

XTEN-AV Solves the Multi-Vendor Challenge

Let’s recap how XTEN-AV simplifies multi-vendor AV system integration:

• Centralized product database with real-time manufacturer updates

• Smart design validation to catch compatibility issues early

• Automated documentation that organizes equipment by vendor

• Team collaboration tools to align designers, vendors, and installers

• Project versioning to track revisions as product selections change

Whether you are designing for a 10-room campus or a multi-zone event space, XTEN-AV gives you the agility to manage multiple brands while staying organized, efficient, and professional.

Conclusion

Managing AV projects with equipment from multiple vendors requires a platform that can adapt to complexity, maintain accuracy, and enable clear communication across teams. Traditional tools like D-Tools may not offer the speed, intelligence, or cloud capabilities needed for today’s multi-brand AV environments.

XTEN-AV rises above as one of the top D-Tools alternatives for AV integrators, offering an all-in-one solution for multi-vendor AV system design, documentation, and handoff. By combining real-time manufacturer data, AI-powered design tools, and cloud collaboration, XTEN-AV helps integrators deliver smarter, faster, and more reliable AV systems—regardless of how many brands are involved.

If you are ready to streamline your multi-vendor workflow and take on more complex AV projects with confidence, it is time to upgrade your toolkit. Start with XTEN-AV and experience how modern AV design software should work.

Read more: https://indibloghub.com/post/the-rising-stars-in-av-integration-software