Latin America. Since the beginning of the pandemic, audiovisual technology has played a vital and evolving role in helping schools continue their educational work. For manufacturers, distributors and integrators of the audiovisual industry, the education market has represented an enormous challenge, has been an example of adaptation and is the source of many business opportunities in the short and long term.
Due to its importance, AVIXA (the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association) has decided to dedicate to this topic the entire conference program of its next AVIXA Congress (27-30 April), in which the panorama of the educational market will be explored and discussed, as well as some of the outstanding trends shown below.
With data from the most recent Market Opportunity Analysis Report (MOAR), the AVIXA Market Intelligence team has identified some of the main trends that have been presented during the last months and that will mark the course of the educational market for manufacturers, distributors and integrators of the audiovisual industry.
Where will the investment go?
Starting in the second quarter of 2021, educational institutions globally indicate that they will allocate most of their investments in the audio equipment segment (microphones, speakers, conference systems, software), followed by AV control equipment. Most schools and universities also plan to invest in video projectors, video screens and monitors, content capture and production systems, as well as infrastructure for installation and assembly (brackets, plates, poles).
In terms of audiovisual solutions, educational institutions are expected to report considerable increases in their investments in solutions for conferencing and collaboration. Although this trend seems obvious, the real surprise is that investment in such solutions will be higher than forecast in learning management systems or LMS. On the other hand, an increase in investment in content and media distribution solutions is also anticipated, which is a clear sign of the long-term vision for remote and hybrid education systems.
What are the perceived benefits of AV technology?
In their role as end users, educational institutions point out that the greatest benefit they have found in the use of audiovisual technology during the pandemic is the possibility of achieving greater satisfaction of their customers, understood as students and teachers. But the benefits are also found within institutions, with greater efficiency in operations and an increase in employee satisfaction.
Which region invests the most in the education sector?
The American continent is the region in which more economic resources are invested in technology and AV services for the education sector. While in the APAC region is where the largest expenditure on VA is currently made in general terms.
The future of the educational model
Finally, the main trend is the definition of the future of education after the necessary irruption of distance learning that was experienced during the past year, and that is still experienced in many countries.
According to the information gathered in the MOAR report, the face-to-face education model does not run a great risk of being replaced by a remote education model, however, the question that remains open is how to integrate and take advantage of remote solutions for education. Partially remote classes to help college students who also work? A distance option that ensures that students at basic levels will not miss classes when they cannot attend school because they are mildly ill? Classrooms with greater audiovisual resources to increase experiential learning options? The answer will come in a few years from the communication and joint planning made by educational institutions and their suppliers of equipment and technological solutions.
The data related to these trends and much other market information will be presented during the next AVIXA Congress at the conference "Panorama of the education market", by Peter Hansen, Economic Analyst of the AVIXA Market Intelligence team. The conference will be held, remotely, next Friday, April 30 at the following times: 09:50 Colombia-Mexico, 10:50 Chile, 11:50 Argentina-Brazil and 16:50 Spain.
The AVIXA Congress is an online event (April 27 to 30) aimed at the community of Ibero-American professionals, which will offer more than 35 lectures given, in Spanish and Portuguese, by experts in audiovisual technology and educational innovation. The interested public can get their free registration at this link congreso.avixa.org
