Six Trends Set to Transform AV in 2025
The AV industry is constantly shifting. As communication technologies become so deeply ingrained into our everyday lives, both at home and in the office, the nature of AV is continuously evolving to meet modern needs.
Hybrid working, sustainability demands and data-driven operations are all shaping how organisations operate. AV is integral to ensuring that businesses adapt to these trends. The stakes are high: failing to adapt can lead to reduced competitiveness, employee disengagement and missed opportunities.
With these changing trends in mind, I wanted to share my own top predictions for the industry in the year ahead:
Monitoring technology on the rise
Last year, organisations struggled to understand how to use their office spaces in the new remote working world. For some, the lack of direction led to reduced productivity and efficiency. Others resorted to office mandates, risking employee wellbeing and talent retention. One solution has emerged to address these issues — smart building technology.
Whether it’s sensors that send signals to automatically adjust temperature or air quality, applications that guide employees through their workday, or internal intranets that are tailored to the needs of each person’s role, smart building technology personalises the employee experience. By making the office a more attractive space for people, businesses will experience higher levels of engagement, productivity and collaboration.
XR and AI will enhance collaboration
Collaboration will remain a top priority in 2025, with extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) driving progress. XR will be used to create immersive in-house environments for brainstorming, presentations and training. Externally, we’ll see it being used for 3D virtual meetings or site tours. Meanwhile, AI, the defining technology of 2024, will continue to automate mundane tasks, freeing teams to focus on strategic initiatives.
IoT and data will change decision-making
None of the technologies we’ve discussed so far can function without data. In 2025, learning how to manage and use this information in a meaningful way will be crucial. As Internet of Things (IoT) technologies grow in popularity, we should expect to see more IoT sensors integrated into AV systems. These sensors will offer insights into optimal office layouts, energy usage and resource allocation. This data can also feed into AI models, enabling smarter decision-making and operational efficiencies.
The pace of innovation will quicken
While all of these new technologies will present opportunities, they will also pose a significant challenge when it comes to managing the growing pace of innovation.
Advancements in AV technology in the past few years alone have far outpaced previous decades of innovation — and it won’t slow down in 2025. Companies that fail to adapt quickly risk reduced competitiveness and lost revenue.
To handle this accelerated change, companies should start small by implementing outcome-focused pilots with clear, measurable deliverables. For instance, piloting a smart office solution in a single department can provide valuable insights and a road map for scaling the initiative.
More training to address skills gaps
Addressing the pace of innovation also means tackling the ongoing skills shortage. The demand for skilled professionals in creative programming, XR design and AI integration to name just a few, far exceeds the supply. Upskilling or reskilling existing employees is a great way to ensure that businesses have the talent needed in this new technology landscape, as is collaborating with universities and vocational schools for early recruitment.
Organisations can also explore hosting internships or co-developing industry-specific curricula to ensure they’re cultivating the skills needed for this evolving technological landscape.
Go green or go bust
Finally, increased pressure from the government and customer demand for greener practices will continue to make sustainability a major focus in the year ahead. Organisations will focus on developing strategies for reducing their carbon footprints in 2025 that can provide tangible, measurable ESG metrics as the industry evolves.
Smart office technology is a great way to improve sustainability by automatically adjusting lights or temperature based on occupancy to conserve energy. Beyond this, businesses should evaluate the energy efficiency of their entire AV ecosystem and adopt renewable energy solutions wherever possible.
Looking ahead
With all that said, success in 2025 will be defined by an organisation’s ability to adapt. But having the flexibility to embrace opportunity and navigate difficult challenges is contingent on having the right foundations in place.
Organisations need to invest in solutions that alight with their current goals but also ensure that they are ready for whatever the future throws at them. With so much innovation around the corner, 2025 is a pivotal year — businesses need to position themselves for success, or risk falling behind.
