As communication, collaboration, and user experience technologies evolve at an incredible pace, the AV market is undergoing a phenomenal transformation.
Not only are audio and visual devices offering higher levels of clarity and content quality, but they’re also growing more intelligent, efficient, and practical. In a world where companies rely on exceptional audio and high-quality video to keep people engaged, aligned, and connected, AV leaders are under significant pressure to innovate.
Fortunately, we’re already beginning to see the new generation of devices and tools emerging in the modern market. According to studies, various macroeconomic factors, market demands, and technology trends are driving the AV industry toward an expected value of $230 billion in 2023. Here are just some of the trends business leaders will need to consider when building their technology stack in the years to come.
The Shift from Hardware to Software Codecs
The rising adoption of cloud technologies and overwhelming demand for hybrid and remote work has altered how companies invest in AV solutions. Today’s flexible teams embrace platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Cisco Webex as their core “collaboration hub.”
As a result, brands are beginning to transition from hardware codec-based video and audio conferencing tools to software-focused solutions. Leaders in the AV space are creating software-agnostic solutions which allow users the flexibility to use various devices in a range of meeting rooms and collaborative settings. At the same time, some organizations are beginning to strengthen their portfolios with offerings specifically designed for certain software landscapes.
Zoom-certified and Teams-certified devices are accelerating the popularity of certified hardware ecosystems in business landscapes. With software-focused conferencing systems, brands can easily take advantage of new capabilities like AI-driven noise reduction without hardware updates.
Extended Reality and the Metaverse
The changing workplace and technology landscape is also heavily influenced by the rise of concepts like the “metaverse.” Considered by some to be the future of work, the metaverse is a collection of digital communities capable of aligning individuals in a distributed environment with solutions like AI and Extended Reality.
Gartner predicts that by 2027, around 40% of companies will be using a combination of Augmented Reality, Digital Twins, and the metaverse for various use cases. AV creators need to think carefully about how they can leverage the metaverse through powerful new displays for connecting hybrid teams or the creation of wearable headsets and XR devices.
Throughout 2023 and beyond, we’re likely to see more AV innovators getting involved with the digital landscape, extended reality, and metaverse creation. This technology could pave the way for a new generation of collaboration, capable of connecting people more effectively.
Touchless Devices and Gesture Control
The pandemic has prompted a new desire for automated and touchless AV technologies in the last couple of years. Not only do tools like gesture and voice control make video systems and audio technologies more accessible, but they can also reduce the number of shared surfaces in an office.
Cameras and audio systems with sensors and AI technology built-in can allow users to set up and launch meetings and webinars without touching a single button. Some devices also allow users to connect to hardware and adjust settings using personal laptops or smartphones.
Touchless devices can allow users to automate much of the meeting process, too, allowing for quicker and more convenient interactions. For instance, as soon as a camera recognizes a person’s specific features, it can load the preferred settings of that user, suggest launching pre-scheduled meetings, and hand control various audio or visual devices to an admin or team leader.
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence
AI and machine learning components are quickly becoming commonplace in many AV solutions. Using biometric recognition and natural language processing, these tools can help automatically set up meetings according to each user’s needs. They can also assist with recording and transcribing meeting conversations in various languages.
AI solutions in the AV industry are also becoming more valuable at a time when companies are working hard to bring hybrid and remote staff together with people in the office. The right tools can make it easier to get rid of external distractions by blocking out noise. They can also adjust the positioning of various cameras and streams to allow for more face-to-face interaction.
“The goal for manufacturers and service providers in the collaboration space is to remove all friction from the user experience. An accountant should enter meetings with only the need for his or her accounting expertise, not expertise in operating AV or Collaboration. AI and ML (machine learning) make this possible,” said David Danto, Director of UC Strategy at Poly-HP and Director of Emerging Technology for The IMCCA. “The systems and platforms are now smart enough to make perfect shots, include only the desired audio, and automate many other meeting functions that used to require user intervention.”
In some enhanced meeting rooms and office environments, AI solutions can also help business leaders to keep track of relevant metrics and information about the meeting room. For instance, a solution can detect the temperature of an office or how many people are present in a specific space at any time.
Remote Control and IoT
The Internet of Things is also growing in value alongside artificial intelligence in the age of remote and hybrid work. Now that more employees are working in distributed locations, companies need an effective way to monitor and control AV devices wherever they are. Internet-based IoT connections and the cloud allow brands to maintain their resources across a vast landscape.
AV solutions enriched with remote management software and IoT devices can allow business leaders better visibility into their meeting tools and how they’re used globally. The same solutions also make it possible to keep track of potential issues and patch software from a distance without having to send technicians to individual staff homes.
Using the right solutions, companies can gain real-time insights into any potential issues video systems and walls might be experiencing, so they can troubleshoot and resolve the problems from a distance.
Environmentally Friendly and Secure Devices
As concerns about the planet continue to mount, many AV leaders are investing in ways to make their technology more socially and environmentally sustainable. Countless vendors have begun implementing new solutions to help customers upgrade and update their devices without leaving electronic equipment rotting in landfills.
This focus on better eco-friendly solutions also comes with an increased focus on concepts like privacy, compliance, and security. Companies in the AV industry know they need to appeal to their customers with solutions that are safe not just for the environment but also for individual companies, customers, and businesses overall.
Going forward, we will likely see more business leaders creating AV solutions with embedded solutions for eco-friendly lifecycle management and secure controls.
Stay in the Know
Learn more about evolving AV trends and industry solutions and connect with industry peers at UCX USA, September 13-14, 2023 in Austin, Texas. UCX USA, is a Connections-First unified communications and collaboration event, with a focus on peer-to-peer networking, inspiring thought leadership and best-in-class matchmaking for IT, AV and CCX leaders, directors and managers in Cloud & Networks, Collaboration, Security, Customer Contact & Experience, Video & AV, and Artificial Intelligence. Sign up to learn more by Dec. 31, 2022 and save 15% on Registration!
