Best Practices for Return-to-Office AV Upgrades in 2025
Modern conference room with large screens displaying world maps.

Back-to-Office AV Upgrades in 2025

How to Future-Proof Your Meeting Rooms for Hybrid Communication?

How to Future-Proof Your Meeting Rooms for Hybrid Communication
As organizations continue solidifying their return-to-office strategies in 2025, one thing has become clear: the hybrid workplace is here to stay. Employees expect the flexibility of remote work with the engagement of in-person collaboration. For IT leaders and C-level decision-makers, this presents a critical question:

Are your meeting rooms equipped to support seamless, inclusive hybrid communication?
From sound quality to meeting equity, outdated AV setups just don’t cut it anymore. If you’re planning office upgrades this year, now’s the time to prioritize modern, scalable AV solutions that empower collaboration—no matter where your teams are.

The Hybrid Challenge: Where Legacy AV Falls Short

The Hybrid Challenge: Where Legacy AV Falls Short
Even the most well-intentioned return-to-office plans can unravel when hybrid meetings fail to deliver a smooth experience. Common issues include:
  • Audio dead zones or mic dropouts in larger rooms
  • Poor camera framing that excludes in-room participants
  • Remote attendees feeling like second-class participants
  • Inconsistent user experience across spaces and locations
  • Limited scalability for IT teams managing dozens (or hundreds) of rooms
In 2025, your AV systems must do more than just work—they need to be intelligent, remotely manageable, and designed for equity between in-person and remote users.

 

A video conference with participants on screens and people at a table.

Best Practices: Upgrading Your AV Infrastructure for 2025

Best Practices: Upgrading Your AV Infrastructure for 2025

Here’s how to approach AV upgrades strategically, based on room size and hybrid communication priorities:

✅ Small Rooms & Huddle Spaces

Goal: Enable quick, high-quality video collaboration in small footprints with minimal setup.
Recommended Products:
  • Nureva HDL200 Audio Conferencing Soundbar
    A flexible audio system designed for small rooms up to 18 x 18 feet, featuring 4,096 virtual microphones for true full-room coverage and a built-in LCD for call status and time display.

✅ Medium Conference Rooms

Goal: Deliver reliable hybrid meetings with clear audio, camera coverage, and system automation.
Recommended Products:

✅ Large Boardrooms & Executive Spaces

Goal: Deliver polished AV performance and full control across high-stakes meetings and events.
Recommended Products:
 
Group meeting with participants displayed on multiple screens.

2025 Trends to Consider

2025 Trends to Consider

When planning your upgrades, keep these critical AV/IT trends in mind:
  • Meeting Equity: Ensure all participants have equal audio and video presence, regardless of location.
  • Remote System Management: Utilize platforms like Q-SYS Reflect and Crestron XiO Cloud for centralized monitoring and support.
  • Scalable Infrastructure: Implement AV-over-IP solutions for flexible and future-proof deployments.
  • AI-Enhanced Conferencing: Leverage intelligent systems with features like voice tracking and auto-framing to enhance user experience.

Maximizing ROI with the Right AV Gear 2025

 

Maximizing ROI with the Right AV Gear

To get the most value from your AV investment in 2025, focus on solutions that deliver scalability, seamless integration, and tangible benefits for today’s hybrid workflows. Smart AV gear not only improves collaboration—it reduces IT headaches and operational costs over time.
By selecting trusted, enterprise-grade products like:
  • Shure MXA920 Ceiling Array Microphone
    – Offers next-gen Steerable Coverage™ technology for precise, unobtrusive audio capture in large rooms.
  • Huddly S1 Smart Camera
    – AI-powered camera with real-time framing and analytics, ideal for hybrid teams and dynamic spaces.
  • Crestron Flex UC Solutions
    – Unified communication systems designed for Microsoft Teams and Zoom Rooms, integrating audio, video, and control in one platform.
—you’re not just enhancing the in-room experience; you’re future-proofing your meeting spaces with technology that adapts as your workplace evolves.

Pro Tip for IT Managers: Collaborate early with your AV integrator to ensure seamless compatibility with your existing tech stack. Schedule routine end-user training sessions to increase confidence, reduce support tickets, and improve overall adoption.

A video conference with participants on a large screen and people at a table.

AV Guy's Final Thoughts

Ready to Build Smarter Meeting Spaces?

Why Work With Creation Networks?

At Creation Networks, we partner with IT and facilities leaders to design, install, and support AV ecosystems that align with enterprise goals. From scalable solutions to centralized control and post-deployment support, we’re your go-to partner for smarter hybrid collaboration.

 

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