The professional AV industry stands at an inflection point. After decades of hardware-centric, proprietary systems that required specialized expertise to deploy and maintain, we're witnessing a fundamental shift toward cloud-managed, software-defined infrastructure that promises to transform how AV systems are designed, deployed, and operated.
At NETGEAR, our recent decision to join the OpenAV.Cloud initiative reflects our conviction that this transformation is essential for the industry's continued growth and relevance in an increasingly connected world.
[Pro AV Leaders Launch OpenAV Cloud]
The Limitations of Legacy AV Infrastructure
Traditional AV deployments have long been characterized by several persistent challenges. Complex commissioning processes often require specialized technicians and extended on-site installation periods. Proprietary protocols create vendor lock-in scenarios that limit flexibility and increase long-term costs. Managing distributed AV installations across multiple locations requires physical site visits for troubleshooting and updates. Perhaps most critically, these systems operate as isolated islands, making integration with broader IT infrastructure difficult and costly.
These limitations represent fundamental barriers to scalability and operational efficiency that no longer align with how modern organizations manage their technology investments.
Why Cloud Changes Everything
The future of AV cannot be built by any single vendor.
—Richard Jonker
Cloud-managed AV infrastructure addresses these challenges through a fundamental reimagining of how AV systems operate. Rather than static, hardware-defined networks, cloud platforms enable dynamic, software-controlled environments that can adapt to changing requirements in real-time.
The benefits are transformative. Remote management capabilities eliminate the need for on-site visits for routine maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting. Centralized monitoring provides comprehensive visibility across distributed installations, enabling proactive maintenance and reducing downtime. Auto-discovery and intelligent configuration reduce commissioning time from days to hours while minimizing human error. Open APIs and standardized protocols enable seamless integration with existing IT infrastructure and third-party systems.
Perhaps most importantly, cloud platforms shift AV from a capital expenditure model to an operational expense framework, aligning with how organizations increasingly prefer to budget for and consume technology services.
The Business Model Revolution
This technological shift enables a corresponding transformation in business models throughout the AV ecosystem. For integrators, cloud-managed infrastructure opens new revenue streams through subscription-based monitoring, maintenance, and support services. Instead of project-based, one-time revenue, integrators can build recurring relationships with clients through ongoing service contracts and system optimization.
End customers benefit from this shift as well. Organizations can scale their AV deployments gradually, paying for capacity as they need it rather than making large upfront investments. IT departments gain the visibility and control they expect from modern infrastructure, while AV professionals retain the specialized functionality their applications demand.
This alignment of technological capability with preferred business models creates sustainable value for all stakeholders in the AV ecosystem.
NETGEAR's Cloud-First Approach
Our Engage Controller platform exemplifies this cloud-first philosophy. What began as a configuration tool has evolved into a comprehensive AV system management platform that provides auto-discovery, profile-based configuration, topology visualization, and secure remote management capabilities.
When integrated with OpenAV.Cloud's API-driven framework, networks managed by Engage become part of a larger ecosystem where devices and services from hundreds of partner vendors can communicate natively and securely. Our switches, particularly the new M4350 series with SMPTE ST 2110 support and precision timing capabilities, transform from simple network endpoints into intelligent, software-controllable assets within this broader digital AV infrastructure.
[NETGEAR Sets the Standard on Partnerships and Breaks 400]
Industry-wide Collaboration
The future of AV cannot be built by any single vendor. Today's customers demand solutions that "just work" regardless of brand, especially as AV systems become more IP-centric and cloud-integrated. This reality requires unprecedented collaboration across the industry to establish open standards, shared APIs, and interoperable protocols.
Our participation in OpenAV.Cloud represents our commitment to this collaborative approach. By working within this framework, we're helping build an ecosystem where value is measured by how seamlessly products integrate into customers' existing workflows and long-term technology strategies instead of by individual product specifications.
Looking Forward
The transition to cloud-managed AV infrastructure is a reimagining of how the entire industry creates and delivers value. Organizations that embrace this shift will benefit from greater flexibility, reduced operational overhead, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing requirements.
For NETGEAR, joining OpenAV.Cloud is about positioning ourselves and our 450+ partners at the center of the AV industry's most significant transformation in decades. As software-defined systems replace proprietary silos, and as operational flexibility becomes more important than raw specifications, we're committed to building the infrastructure that will power the next generation of professional AV applications.
The future of AV is cloud-managed, software-defined, and built on open standards. That future is arriving faster than many realize, and those who embrace it today will shape how the industry evolves for years to come.
