THE L A S T WORD What are the biggest trends in the audiovisual (AV) industry in 2022? The return to in-person activity is fuelling recovery across many of the sectors of professional AV industry that were hard hit by the pandemic, particularly live events and fixed performance/ entertainment. This, combined with investments in technology to support hybrid activity, is expected to propel the industry to new record revenues in 2022. The threat of recession and supply chain constraints remain headwinds to watch, but demand currently remains high as evidenced by records set by Audiovisual & Integrated Experience Association’s (AVIXA) own AV sales index and quarterly demand studies. How has the move to remote and hybrid working changed the types of AV experiences people expect? The pandemic has raised the bar on our expectations and needs for high quality, reliable ways to connect and collaborate with our peers, customers and audiences. In-person experiences are returning, but remote and hybrid experiences remain highly important to support flexibility. Technology must continue to adapt and improve, both in its underlying capabilities and the way it is integrated into our spaces and processes. Content must also be optimised for sharing across multiple distribution channels, whether live or remote. This fuels more opportunities for professional AV providers of all kinds. What key technologies should organisations invest in to improve AV experiences? At a top level, research from AVIXA shows businesses are investing in technology to produce and stream content as a way of engaging audiences and customers. Cloud-based storage and distribution systems are a big part of those investments and include, but are not limited to, platforms like Microsoft Teams. Cloud also helps support growth in managed services offerings to help businesses ensure uptime and upgrade paths for deployed technologies. Augmented and virtual reality holds promise as the concept and practical applications of the metaverse emerge as real options for providers and their customers. However, the focus remains on how these technologies can augment, rather than replace, in-person engagement. How will the AV industry evolve over the next 12 months? The threat of recession means the sector must remain nimble to stay ahead of revenue and growth opportunities. Its role in helping to facilitate and support change remains a strength and may highlight a continued shift towards more of a consultative role for the provider community as clients adapt to changing landscapes. Supply chain evolution is also expected as the world tries to address weaknesses that were exposed during the pandemic. Regardless, AVIXA expects strong industry growth, which will likely exceed GDP. Capitalising on new opportunities The audiovisual market is rapidly evolving as organisations look for technologies to empower them to easily collaborate with colleagues while working remotely. Audiovisual & Integrated Experience Association CEO Dave Labuskes shares his insights BY R E B E CCA G I B SON 180 “ In-person experiences are returning, but remote and hybrid experiences remain highly important”
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