“Imagine if a digital signage CMS could update content automatically based on real-time occupancy data. Or if a room booking system could reassign teams based on device health. Where AI agents can diagnose and even fix AV issues before anyone has to open a ticket.

“These aren't distant ideas. The technologies are already being built by companies like Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and OpenAI. The only thing standing in the way is fragmentation – the lack of open connections between systems.”

Those words were written by Omar Brookstein, CEO of AI cloud platform company Xyte, to describe the rationale behind OpenAV.Cloud. At its core, it’s a collaborative, open-source framework designed to create a unified, scalable, and interoperable platform for AV systems – one that sits securely in the cloud and is accessible to manufacturers, integrators, and end-users alike.

So what will OpenAV.Cloud achieve?

OpenAV.Cloud sets out to define a common platform on which AV devices, applications, and services can communicate and collaborate seamlessly, regardless of the manufacturer. By leveraging open APIs, universal data formats, and robust security models, the initiative aims to make AV infrastructure more flexible, scalable, and futureproof, supporting everything from remote device management and monitoring, to real-time content delivery and intelligent automation.

OpenAV.Cloud promises to unlock unprecedented levels of interoperability, something the AV industry has struggled with for decades. Integrators and end-users often endure frustration from having to work with a patchwork of incompatible devices and control protocols. With OpenAV.Cloud, the vision is for an ecosystem where devices interconnect as easily as plugging in a USB drive – a true ‘plug-and-play’ future.

Proponents of the initiative say that, additionally, it opens the door to rapid innovation. By standardising the building blocks of AV systems and making them accessible to developers globally, OpenAV.Cloud lowers the barrier to entry for new ideas. This could usher in a wave of creative applications, from AI-powered room automation to real-time analytics and beyond.

Additionally, by moving AV services to the cloud, organisations gain the benefits of remote management, scalability, and integration with other enterprise IT systems. This is particularly relevant in a world that increasingly demands hybrid and remote solutions.

Where are we now?

Whether it's for corporate boardrooms, educational environments, hospitality, or large-scale entertainment venues, OpenAV.Cloud seeks to make AV systems smarter, more responsive, and easier to manage.

While OpenAV.Cloud is more than just a concept – early pilot projects and proof-of-concept demonstrations have shown its promise – widespread deployment in live, mission-critical AV projects is still in its early stages. While some pilot installations are underway and select components may already be informing current projects, true mainstream adoption is anticipated to occur over the coming years as the initiative matures and more vendors embrace the standard.

The systems integration industry is founded on the desire to deliver great experiences through connecting different solutions – with the result that collaboration across the industry is widespread, and is evident each year at ISE. In an industry that understands the value of collaboration, OpenAV.Cloud could well be an idea whose time has come. Its journey is just beginning, but its impact may well be as transformative as its most enthusiastic backers believe. As a representative of contributing partner Bluesound Professional put it, the initiative is “the most exciting and transformational thing to come to our industry for a long time.”

Stay informed!