As ISE 2025 comes to a close, one thing is certain… the cloud is becoming the backbone of Pro AV. Walking the show floor, I heard more mentions of cloud-based platforms than ever before. From remote device management to content delivery and AV-over-IP, it’s clear that the industry is embracing cloud technologies at an accelerating pace.

No company has historically leveraged the cloud better than Google, and their outdoor pavilion at ISE served as the perfect backdrop for today’s reflections. If you talk to anyone under 30, they grew up using Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets—cloud-based tools that fundamentally changed how we work. Now, AV manufacturers are finally catching up, introducing cloud-driven solutions that are transforming how we manage, distribute, and interact with technology.

The Industry is Moving to the Cloud—Fast

Companies like Shure (Shure Cloud), Lightware, and Xyte are leading the charge in cloud-based device management, while digital signage has already adopted the cloud for content distribution and remote player management. And let’s not forget NDI, H.264/H.265, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams—all of which have normalized cloud-based video transmission.

What Happens Next?

As more manufacturers shift to selling services instead of just hardware, integrators and end users will need to adapt to cloud-based ecosystems. But with this shift comes a critical challenge—standards. The AV industry isn’t exactly known for quickly adopting open standards. Still, if cloud-based solutions are going to be truly scalable, we need common frameworks for security, interoperability, and management.

Final Thoughts

ISE 2025 proved that the cloud is no longer just a talking point—it’s the future of Pro AV. The question is no longer if the industry will fully embrace cloud-based solutions, but how fast it will happen. The impact is undeniable, and those who get ahead of this shift will be the ones leading the next era of AV.

That’s a wrap on ISE 2025—another incredible show! Congrats to Mike Blackman and the entire ISE team on an amazing event. See you all next year!