Industry Outlook Maintains Optimism by AVIXA
Getting a glimpse into the future of the Pro AV industry? It's partly sunny...with a chance of tariffs.
Read up on AVIXA's 2025 predictions for the Pro AV industry here.
AVIXA dropped some knowledge at their annual Market Insights Lunch, giving us a sneak peek into what's shaping up for the Pro AV industry in 2025. The event, "The State of the Pro AV Industry: Convergence Realized!", was hosted by Sean Wargo, AVIXA's VP of market insight, and Mike Sullivan-Trainor, senior industry analyst.
The 90-minute extravaganza covered a range of macroeconomic trends that are cooking up some changes in the Pro AV biz. Highlights included key insights from AVIXA's Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA) report. The report provides data to help us figure out where the industry is headed over the next five years.
Here's the skinny: AVIXA's forecast shows a smaller growth rate compared to previous years, mainly due to economic uncertainty, high interest rates, geopolitics, and a not-so-great economic performance. "Tariffs are a factor, there's no doubt," Wargo remarked.
Despite the slowdown, the outlook for 2030 remains brighter, with a Pro AV market expected to crack the $400 billion mark and grow annually at approximately 3.9%. Emerging markets, like the Middle East and Africa, and Asia-Pacific, will fire up industry growth, while mature markets like North America and Europe will trail behind.
Security and surveillance are predicted to enjoy the highest growth rate, while live events will keep making a comeback. Wear-and-tear tech, like AV-over-IP, AI, extended reality, and cloud/software migration, will become woven more tightly into the industry's fabric.
The driving force behind the outlook? Experiences are taking the wheel. Wargo reckons plans to upgrade AV production rooms for broadcast high on the list of changes in corporate, retail, and venue market segments.
The labor market in the Pro AV industry continues to be tight, a condition that's been going strong since 2022. Staffing and skilled labor remain top concerns, followed by product equipment costs and the broader economic environment.
Even as headwinds like tariffs and labor costs push against the industry, Sullivan-Trainor said Pro AV remains optimistic about the future. Over 80% of channel partners expect growth every year, with 2025 being no exception. There may be economic challenges, but as they say, the show must go on!
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- The 2025 forecast for the Pro AV industry shows a growth rate that is lower than previous years, with factors like economic uncertainty, high interest rates, geopolitics, and tariffs playing a significant role.
- In the Pro AV industry, emerging markets such as the Middle East and Africa, and Asia-Pacific, are expected to fuel industry growth, while mature markets like North America and Europe will see slower growth.
- Technological advancements, such as AV-over-IP, AI, extended reality, and cloud/software migration, will increasingly become integrated into the Pro AV industry, shaping its future landscape.
