Editor’s Note: This article featuring Mike Boettcher and his 2026 predictions is part of Commercial Integrator’s series running throughout the month of January. In this series, we spotlight forward-looking insights from some of the pro AV industry’s most notable luminaries.
As we look ahead to 2026, the pro AV industry stands at the cusp of exciting opportunities and transformative trends. To explore what lies ahead, Commercial Integrator turned to Mike Boettcher, President of Edge, for his expert predictions on the technologies and strategies that will shape the future of pro AV.
Mike Boettcher 2026 Predictions
Commercial Integrator: Without getting into any specific vendor or particular branded solutions, what technology category or solution area do you see as 2026’s ripest, most profitable growth opportunity for pro AV integrators and installers? Explain your reasoning.
Mike Boettcher: We have been looking for that next big thing for quite some time, and though we had some cool new tech advancements recently, there really hasn’t been anything that had made us overly excited. I think we are at a point where data collection and analysis start breaking through into the building management realm. This is taking off in other parts of the world, and with some recent acquisitions in our space, we are on the cusp of a breakout. I am not sure if it lands in 2026, but it is coming soon, to a building near you.
Commercial Integrator: Which emerging AV technologies do you think are overplayed? Which ones do you think will truly transform the practice of integration in the coming years?
Boettcher: It seems that the 16×9 format has fizzled out, but the overall DVLED and MicroLED solutions have been very strong. As the ‘experience economy’ continues to blossom, it creates almost a ven diagram of sorts between digital signage, broadcast and event verticals. I anticipate these markets to stay hot. Which, by the way, is all being made possible by AVoIP advancement. An increase in available bandwidth along with compression advancements have allowed this growth to manifest, and though I don’t think we have a clear-cut ‘leader in the clubhouse’ format yet, maybe that develops in 2026. The one wild card for me is how AI makes its way into the everyday business model of the integrator. We have begun to see some great use cases within our organization, but it will depend on the adoption rate across the board to see whether this falls into the transformation or flop category.
Commercial Integrator: What’s getting better about the pro AV industry these days? What seems to be getting worse?
Boettcher: This may get me in trouble, but I feel like we have grown up quite a bit over the course of the last few years. A real focus on operational efficiency, which will now be supplemented by AI adoption, has made us better businesspeople. And more importantly, we have emerged from the shadows of other disciplines, enabling us to tell our story to our client base much sooner, and with more impact. This has developed from both the manufacturer and integrator sides. As more networked products hit the market, and as we hold those relationships and truly understand the technology, we get to showcase our abilities. The question is, can we hold onto that advantage, and for how long?
Commercial Integrator: What’s liable to catch some pro AV industry integrators and installers off guard in the coming year?
Boettcher: I think that we are going to see more clients asking AV integrators to do more of the low voltage suite of services, which will be a clear advantage to those with broader capabilities, or at the very least, strong relationships in those disciplines. The ability to take on projects in multiple geographies has been a growing need in our space, and we have seen a definitive increase in those requests recently. This will also require companies to rely more on subcontractors in general, and having a solid plan for QC and management of that process will be important.
Commercial Integrator: What’s the single most pressing challenge that professionals in the pro AV industry must tackle right now? And how would you suggest tackling it?
Boettcher: Some have been tackling this issue already, but on the grand scale, we need talent. It is time to embrace the groups that have been working on programs, whether that is an internship, career fair, or technology showcase. There needs to be a concerted effort to educate the masses on how cool this industry is, and how even more amazing it could be with some new young talent injected into the fold. Yes, I am calling us long in the tooth, and I resemble that remark, so don’t get your feathers ruffled.
Commercial Integrator: Finish this sentence: 2026 will be remembered as the year that the pro AV industry…
Boettcher: …finally gets a seat at the adult table!
Stay tuned with Commercial Integrator as we gather year-end insights and 2026 pro AV predictions 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).
