#InfoComm22 Insights | Small World AV

#InfoComm22 Insights

The one we have been waiting on for a long time.  Three years since the #AVTweeps gathered in what seemed like full force.  There might not have been a ton of groundbreaking tech on the floor, but it was good to see the people at those booths and to be able to talk to them about the advances they are making and the future of their products.  It was amazing to gather together and learn about how they have survived the last couple of years.  I will try to dive into some themes that emerged this year at the show to help summarize just a bit of what went on.  It was a week that did wonders for my mental health to know that others you have reached out to and grown to know are alive and non-virtual and doing great work.  

Supply Chain

Booths were alive and well this year but were the products there being sold and shipped?  Some of them were and some of them were not.  There was still a chance to learn about the offerings and to hear more about when certain pieces might ship.  Manufacturers are having to make tough choices to figure out where to invest and how they can get customers what they need.  This has also given companies that have product shipping a chance to create a name for themselves.  We are not out of this predicament yet so when it is all said and done business might be a bit different and customers are starting to have to be creative when planning how they will outfit a room.  Relationships and options are key when the brand you always rely on is not available when you need it.

AVoIP

Video over the network remains one of the biggest industry markets.  Different ways of doing this and how each encoder and decoder work abound.  Some are shipping and some are not.  What I am looking forward to is when these pieces can be something behind the scenes that just work instead of needing a particular model to allow your system to work.  To have these components built-in to a display or projector like HDBaseT is now would also simplify things.  A unit that is flexible and reliable will win out.  A large majority of rooms are moving to this model as things evolve so doing AVoIP is not seen merely as cutting edge, but the standard is emerging.  This allows us to learn about IT and add that to our resumes.  We should not shy away because we don’t know the answers, but instead, we should invest in the resources that a place AVIXA provides to get up to speed with what is needed to outfit a room with AVoIP.  

AV Software

Software products continue to be on the rise as well.  A lot of times a hardware base might rely on the software to do the heavy lifting.  This is very exciting to me since I think with the right planning in mind your product can grow and evolve to meet the needs of the market.  This will allow the tech to adapt and find ways of improving or adding functions that were not possible at first.  The companies that leverage this the best will allow the lifespan of the piece in question to be relevant for longer.  Having ways for others to add input to what is in play can help as well.  Then the community can improve the lineup at the same time.  Software is also shipping which this year is crucial!  Your microphone, camera, or control system is only as good as the software behind it.

In closing, InfoComm 22 was a blast.  The ProAV world is alive and well.  People are still the best part of our industry, though.   Products come and go, but the community around you is what helps when you have questions or don’t know where to turn.  Good advice is there for the taking so it has been a joy to meet a lot of peeps in person and to gather with other schools via HETMA.  Growing these networks will make the next tradeshow even more impactful for you.  The countdown for Orlando has already started!