“Return to office” debates continue. But it’s clear that in-office days drive faster decisions and better collaboration. Equip rooms to support meeting equity, reduce repetition, and clarify outcomes.
The immediate need for effective collaboration is visible in all markets. “US enterprises, especially in tech hubs, are leading in meeting room upgrades, from new displays to growing adoption of premium Microsoft Teams subscription tiers. What sets them apart is a focus on interoperable AV ecosystems built around trusted platforms that start on time and keep people engaged,” said Dean Tsai, General Manager of the Pro AV Solutions Business Unit at ViewSonic. The results are sharper meetings, fewer repeat sessions, and stronger outcomes.
While large enterprises lead this trend, the need is equally urgent for SMBs (small and medium-sized businesses), where budgets and IT resources are often constrained. Every meeting becomes a configuration exercise when BYOD devices conflict, discussions become fragmented, and audio and video remain unstable. All exacerbated by a closed, siloed AV ecosystem that creates integration gaps and raises adoption barriers even further.
Buyers want solutions that are easy to use, simple to manage, and resilient to change. They expect intuitive workflows that allow users to operate meeting room devices without extensive training, while IT needs simplified management through standard protocols such as RS-232 and LAN to streamline integration across AV systems and products. At the same time, devices must support multiple platforms to ensure seamless connectivity in mixed environments. Above all, buyers want future-proof systems with the agility to adapt to rapid technological change, giving them budget confidence by avoiding frequent equipment replacement.
As meeting spaces become more complex, AV providers shift from shipping devices to orchestrating open, future-ready ecosystems. “New technologies will always boom. However, the most essential challenge for us as solution providers is not merely shipping and adopting the latest gadgets, but how we design and build a stable, open, and future-proof ecosystem that allows our clients to seamlessly integrate future innovations without compromising current investments. That is the true measure of long-term value,” Tsai added.
In practice, this starts with an ecosystem mindset. Create one-stop, integrated solutions where display, compute, control, and management tools work in harmony rather than as disparate silos. Hardware represents a significant investment, so it needs to be modular and allow computing standards such as OPS or the evolving SDM architecture to be upgraded or replaced over time without tearing everything apart. Additionally, complementary software such as native or easily accessible collaboration platforms and wireless casting tools should fit naturally into the user journey, rather than disrupting it.
Ecosystem design thrives on a balance of compatibility and flexibility. Solutions should meet prevailing technical standards in areas such as AVoIP, control systems, and networking to ensure compatibility and expandability while environments evolve. As Tsai shared, “No single brand can realistically cover every aspect of a complex room from control systems, audiovisual systems, and video conferencing platforms to AV infrastructure.” Therefore, streamlined meeting rooms rely on ecosystem-wide partnerships to deliver integrated yet flexible experiences.
ViewSonic’s goal within this landscape is clear: build the broadest possible flexibility for customers to connect with future applications and partners, protecting today’s investments while supporting tomorrow’s innovation.
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