If you’ve ever seen “When Harry Met Sally,” you know it’s a great example of a relationship that didn’t work the first time. Or the second. Or even the third. But eventually, after years of near misses, misunderstandings and stubborn resistance, Harry and Sally found themselves perfectly matched.
That’s an apt analogy for what’s happening in the AV and collaboration space and its long-overdue dance with building management systems (BMS).
A Longtime Love-Hate Relationship
For years, building management and AV lived in separate worlds, despite being two crucial components of modern workplaces. Building systems controlled lighting, HVAC and security. AV teams handled room booking, occupancy data, and conferencing technology. These two disciplines never spoke the same language — often quite literally in large-scale construction projects where AV integrators always seemed to be an afterthought in the timeline. (Really, can you even name a large building project where the AV integrator was given all the time it clearly stated it needed to do a good job? I can’t.)
Think about it: AV systems have always known when a room is booked, how many people are expected, what the call duration is expected to be, what lighting conditions are needed, and even whether shades should be adjusted. Meanwhile, building management systems had the power to act on that information — yet the two systems remained disconnected, stuck in their own silos.
Image: Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal at Katz’s Delicatessen in When Harry Met Sally (1989)
The Shift: From Passive to Active Data
That’s changing. The past few years have seen a shift where AV isn’t just about facilitating meetings — it’s about providing real-time environmental insights.
- Cameras as Sensors — Even when not in use for video calls, modern conferencing systems can detect room occupancy and even provide data on temperature, CO2 levels, and air quality.
- Dedicated Room Sensors — Logitech’s just announced Spot device is also a prime example. It’s a simple sensor that sticks to a wall and provides accurate occupancy data across multiple platforms, giving facilities teams a new level of insight.
- Strategic Acquisitions — Acuity Brands’ recent purchase of QSC is another signal of convergence. QSC’s Q-SYS team has been doing innovative work in AV space programming, and Acuity — a powerhouse in lighting and building management — clearly sees the future value of merging AV intelligence with facility-wide automation.
The Future: Cisco Spaces, Microsoft Places and AI-Driven Decisions
While we’re still in the early days of this transformation, the direction is clear. Companies like Cisco and Microsoft are taking the lead with platforms like Cisco Spaces and Microsoft Places, using AI to make real-time decisions based on both scheduled needs and live occupancy and environmental data.
What’s different now? The data has finally become actionable. Instead of just looking at historical insights, organizations can now use AI to optimize workspace conditions in real time — theoretically dynamically adjusting HVAC settings, lighting and room availability.
Like Harry and Sally, They’re Meant to Be
For years, AV and building management teams have been at odds, often clashing over priorities, budgets and timelines. But the reality is, they need each other. The data from AV systems is too valuable for BMS teams to ignore, and vice versa. The integration of these two worlds is no longer a “nice-to-have” — if you’re good at reading the future, it’s inevitable.
Just like Harry and Sally, they’re going to end up together. The only question is how long they’ll fight it before they finally embrace the future.