The AV Industry's Cloud Transformation: Key Insights from Xyte’s 2025 AV Cloud Data Report

The audiovisual (AV) industry is gradually embracing cloud technologies, marking the early stages of a transformative shift for the sector. As AV solutions become increasingly interconnected and reliant on cloud-based tools, stakeholders are beginning to realize the potential of remote monitoring, software-driven upgrades, and cloud management. 

Xyte’s inaugural AV Cloud Data Report: State of the Industry 2025 provides a snapshot of cloud adoption trends within the AV industry, offering insights from anonymized data collected through Xyte’s Device Cloud and from the AV Cloud Summit held in November 2024. The report highlights the current state of cloud adoption, emerging opportunities, and key barriers to further implementation.

Cloud Adoption: A Work in Progress

The AV Cloud Summit, which attracted nearly 330 participants from across the AV value chain, underscored the growing interest in cloud solutions but also revealed that adoption is still in its infancy. A key takeaway from the summit was that almost half of the organizations represented at the event have yet to adopt a cloud strategy. 

This hesitancy towards cloud adoption is driven by several factors, with the most common barriers being a lack of "buy-in" from key stakeholders and the challenges related to integrating cloud solutions with existing systems. These integration challenges are particularly pronounced in AV environments where devices and systems from multiple manufacturers must work together seamlessly.

Despite these obstacles, the summit highlighted a strong desire for change. In fact, 92% of attendees supported a call for a unified, interoperable cloud platform that could streamline AV remote monitoring and management. A unified platform would enable manufacturers, integrators, and end-users to collaborate effectively across multi-brand AV environments, driving adoption, scalability, and cost efficiency.

Trends and Opportunities in Cloud Adoption

Sustainability Takes Center Stage

Sustainability emerged as a top trend at the AV Cloud Summit, with 55.8% of participants identifying it as a key focus area. The cloud’s ability to support sustainability is rooted in its capacity to reduce hardware waste. By enabling software-driven upgrades and adding new features remotely, the cloud minimizes the need for hardware replacements, thereby extending the lifespan of AV devices. This shift toward sustainability can lead to significant environmental benefits, while also offering cost savings for AV organizations and end-users alike.

New Revenue Opportunities for Manufacturers and Integrators

For AV manufacturers, the cloud provides an avenue for recurring revenue streams. By offering software licenses, feature upgrades, and aftermarket services, manufacturers can generate ongoing revenue from customers. For integrators, the cloud creates opportunities to provide additional value through remote monitoring, proactive updates, and service contracts. This model not only increases customer satisfaction but also deepens client relationships over time.

From the end-user perspective, the cloud delivers substantial cost savings. By reducing the need for on-site visits, minimizing hardware replacements, and improving operational efficiency, cloud technology offers a more affordable and streamlined way to manage AV systems. These benefits are driving further interest in cloud-based AV solutions.

The Need for Unified Platforms

Most contemporary AV installations are complex, integrated systems involving equipment and devices from multiple manufacturers. With this level of complexity, it’s no surprise that end-users are increasingly seeking a unified cloud platform to manage their systems.Within 90 days, for example, more than 35% of active Xyte Connect+ accounts connected devices from multiple manufacturers, a number that is expected to grow significantly in the coming quarters.

The Role of Premium Security Features in Cloud Adoption

One way AV manufacturers and integrators are increasing cloud adoption among end-users is by offering premium security features. For example, Xyte’s data revealed a high correlation between the use of secure tunneling and increased cloud platform usage. Secure tunneling is an encrypted connection between remote workstations and on-premise interfaces that supports safe and secure access to cloud systems. By ensuring that sensitive data is protected during remote access, secure tunneling is fostering greater trust in cloud-based AV solutions, particularly among organizations that require high levels of data security.

The Road Ahead: Cloud Adoption in AV

Cloud adoption in the AV industry is growing rapidly, driven by trends like remote monitoring, sustainability, multi-brand management, and secure tunneling. As cloud technology continues to mature, AV stakeholders will increasingly benefit from solutions like AV-as-a-Service, which promise to reduce complexity, enhance efficiency, and create new business opportunities. These advancements are set to redefine how AV systems are deployed, managed, and serviced, creating a more scalable and cost-effective environment for all players in the AV value chain.

Manufacturers, integrators, and end-users who embrace these cloud innovations will be well-positioned to capitalize on the evolving landscape. With cloud technology continuing to drive the future of AV, the industry is poised for a wave of transformation in the years to come.

For a deeper dive into these trends and the current state of cloud adoption in the AV industry, download Xyte’s full AV Cloud Data Report: State of the Industry 2025 to unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation.

‍