Editor’s Note: This article featuring Crestron’s Brad Hintze and his 2025 reflections is part of a Commercial Integrator series that will run throughout the month of December. In this series, we’ll highlight 2025 reflections from some of the industry’s most notable luminaries.
As the pro AV industry reflects on the year 2025, it’s clear that this has been a period of both growth and transformation. To gain deeper insights into the trends, challenges and opportunities that have shaped the industry, Commercial Integrator turned to Brad Hintze, EVP, global marketing at Crestron.
Brad Hintze 2025 Reflections
In a look back at 2025, Hintze describes a year of “sustainable growth” for the pro AV industry, where initial market uncertainty gave way to steady progress. He notes that the industry’s resilience has cemented its role as essential infrastructure, now as fundamental to modern workplaces as electrical systems or Wi-Fi.
Key developments highlighted include the explosive adoption of AI tools, from meeting summaries to intelligent video, which have significantly enhanced system capabilities. Furthermore, Hintze observes that “hybrid permanence” has become the standard, driving customer investment toward high-impact spaces and larger rooms, mirroring the huddle room boom of previous years.
Commercial Integrator: What kind of year has 2025 been for the pro AV industry?
Brad Hintze: I think we’ve all had the experience of holding our breath at the top of the rollercoaster — and then realizing the ride wasn’t as dramatic as we’d expected. Yes, there was market uncertainty (and I won’t dwell on the “T” word at all), but I think the industry saw the kind of growth that appears to be sustainable.
CI: What has been the most surprising development in the pro AV industry this year?
Hintze: I don’t know if it’s so much surprising as it is “inevitable” (although that take may be colored by hindsight: The industry’s resilience). Pro AV is now so integral to the modern workplace’s function that it has become as important as any other fundamental infrastructure, such as Wi-Fi, plumbing and electrical systems. Although this has been developing for some time, I think 2025 may have been the year that cemented pro AV as an absolute must-have in nearly every vertical.
CI: What has been the most important change we’ve seen this year in pro AV?
Hintze: Widespread adoption and implementation of attendant AI tools — from meeting summaries to intelligent video applications, the depth and breadth of quality AI solutions have absolutely exploded.
Additionally, the state of “hybrid permanence” has lived up to its name. It really is the norm for many, many workers around the world. 2025 helped cement that state. What’s really notable is that customers are prioritizing high-impact spaces and larger rooms — it’s the same kind of growth we saw with huddle rooms a few years back.
Stay tuned with Commercial Integrator as we gather year-end insights and reflections from the brightest minds in the industry. If you’d like to be featured, contact our editorial team (Alyssa Borelli, Amala Reddie and Dan Ferrisi, [email protected])
