No More Walls: AV’s Open API Revolution

The AV industry may be racing toward the cloud, but along the way it’s running into roadblocks. When every manufacturer, software vendor, and service provider builds its own walled garden – it’s nearly impossible for systems to talk to each other. Integrators and end users are left juggling only multiple platforms and frustrated, not to mention overspending unnecessarily.

Open APIs tear down these walls, enabling seamless links between platforms. Instead of forcing customers into a proprietary ecosystem, open APIs give them freedom - freedom to choose the best tools, freedom to innovate, and freedom from the headaches of fragmented systems.

In this blog, we’ll dive into why open APIs are a must-have, how they will shape the future of AV Cloud, its adoption, and its reach, and how the next iteration of standard, open APIs will even further simplify integration while improving workplace technology for all. 

First: The Need for Openness in Cloud

Cloud-based remote monitoring and management (RMM), as well as other cloud-based applications, offers a world of benefits to AV stakeholders and customers alike. Yet the lack of standardization and a simple manner of integration are holding everyone back. Each vendor system, at best, has minimal integrations, greatly impacting the deployment complexity (not to mention the associated costs) and impeding adoption.

Having an open API approach simplifies all this. It enables different platforms from various vendors to work together and create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. What has become the common approach in IT and software (specifically cloud software) has yet to become the golden standard in our industry. For example, with SaaS, it takes a matter of seconds to integrate Slack with Zoom, Salesforce, and a host of other cloud services, but good luck trying to integrate your vendor’s cloud with a room scheduling platform.

This shift to open and simple APIs can benefit the entire AV industry. We have an obligation to prioritize our customers, allowing them to choose an integrated solution that best suits their needs. The industry must move toward open APIs to realize the full potential of the cloud. 

Next: Simplify Open Standard APIs 

Open APIs are great, but having different APIs for each platform complicates things. Sometimes it’s inevitable: an RMM cloud platform will have different functionality than a scheduling platform and, therefore, different APIs, but in many cases, this can be simplified.

If you’ve been in the AV industry long enough, you’ll remember the days when display and projector manufacturers needed to be “Crestron Fusion Connected”, “Extron GVE Connected”, “AMX RMS Connected”, and on and on and on…

This created a great hurdle both for the vendors themselves, as they were required to support multiple platforms, but it also placed a burden on the applications (Fusion, GVA, RMS, etc.), which needed to maintain and support a constantly growing number of 3rd party devices. This created a complex matrix in which each vendor and device needed to connect to every platform (sometimes more than one from the same vendor). This kind of matrix is simply unscaleable. 

Open standard APIs are a game-changer. They allow all platforms and devices to communicate through a shared framework, reducing friction across the entire ecosystem. Instead of forcing companies to reinvent the wheel with every integration, a universal API simplifies everything—one connection opens access to countless solutions. 

Coming Soon: A Gateway to all AV Devices 

As I mentioned previously, open standard APIs are the game changer. They allow all platforms and devices to communicate through a shared framework. This reduces friction across the entire ecosystem. Instead of forcing companies to reinvent the wheel with every integration, a universal API simplifies everything - one connection opens access to countless solutions. 

Xyte’s Universal Device APIs is a new project our engineering team is developing. As part of our vision to promote open standards in the industry and make collaboration more straightforward, this set of APIs will allow any vendor or 3rd party platform to integrate with any Xyte-connected devices through a single connection. Such devices can be natively connected to Xyte – as hundreds of device models from industry leaders like Planar, Legrand AV, Bose, Symetrix, and others already are – but also via any Xyte connector, such as Zoom and MS Teams Rooms, Biamp, Crestron, QSC devices and more. In short, device manufacturers do not need to develop a separate platform; instead they can drastically simplify their development by using a single connection that points to all devices. This ensures that any device manufacturer leveraging the Xyte platform will make their devices accessible to any other 3rd party application with zero development or effort.  

Endless Opportunities and Possibilities

Just imagine the endless opportunities: every room booking application will be able to get real-time data on the health status of the devices in those rooms and re-direct participants to a different space if devices are offline; every digital signage platform could change its content based on occupancy coming from various sensors, and more. In addition to multi-vendor integrations in conference rooms – today a must-have – a universal device API could facilitate real-time video and audio adjustments based on user interaction or voice commands. 

A universal device API can also facilitate: 

1. Centralized, cloud-based control systems:
   Integrating with powerful SaaS tools such as Make.com, IFTTT and others will enable customers to manage custom logic flows natively in the cloud and change or update them on the go.
   
   
2. Cloud-based AV monitoring and analytics:
   A universal device API can send real-time data from AV devices like projectors and digital signage to BI and analytics platforms. This enables administrators to track performance, receive alerts on device issues, and remotely troubleshoot, reducing downtime.
   
   
3. Interactive digital signage networks:
   A universal device API can connect and synchronize digital signage across multiple locations, enabling easy content updates from a central system. It also integrates interactive features, such as touchscreens and sensors, to enhance the customer experience.

Initial Reactions From the Field

In a recent customer webinar, literally 100% of our customers surveyed said they would either be interested now or in the future in an open standard API. Clearly, our customers (alongside the vast majority of AV system integrators, consultants and users) recognize that the adoption of open standard APIs will enable:

• Wider market reach - Manufacturers can connect with more platforms and expand their customer base. Integrating with multiple third-party applications broadens device accessibility. This allows them to reach a wider range of users and unlock new opportunities for growth.
  
  
• Reduced integration costs - Open APIs eliminate the need for custom solutions for each new device or platform, simplifying integrations and making them more cost-effective. This reduces overhead and speeds up time-to-market for AV projects.
  
  
• Improved flexibility - End users can choose the best solutions for their needs without worrying about compatibility or vendor lock-in. Open standard APIs allow users to seamlessly combine best-of-breed products from different manufacturers and tailor systems to their unique requirements.
  
  
• More innovation - Without integration issues holding them back, companies can focus on improving products and enhancing user experiences. With fewer compatibility concerns, they can invest more in developing solutions that better meet customer needs.
  
  
• Simplified maintenance - With open APIs, updates can be applied uniformly across platforms, devices and systems. This makes maintenance easier for integrators, reduces the risk of poor connections, and ensures a more reliable and efficient system in the long run. 
  
  
• Future-proofing - Open APIs provide long-term adaptability as new technologies emerge. As the AV industry evolves, open APIs enable quick integration of new devices, software, or platforms. This means businesses can stay competitive and relevant without having to constantly overhaul their existing systems.  

The Bottom Line

Open standard APIs are essential to transforming the AV industry, and Xyte is leading the way, developing a set of universal device APIs that simplify integration. By providing a seamless connection across platforms, Xyte enables manufacturers, integrators, and third-party applications to work together without the usual headaches of complex, custom integrations. This not only streamlines operations but also gives users the flexibility to choose the best solutions for their needs. Xyte’s platform supports a wide range of devices and applications, creating an ecosystem where innovation thrives.

The shift to open APIs doesn’t just reduce costs and accelerate deployments - it future-proofs the AV industry. Openness empowers all AV stakeholders – manufacturers, integrators, and end users - to drive progress. As the AV landscape continues to evolve, embracing open standard APIs is key to staying competitive and meeting customer expectations. With Xyte at the forefront, the AV sector is poised for a more connected, efficient, and innovative future, setting the foundation for better industry-wide collaboration and communication.

‍