Collab AV at ISE 2026: A Milestone Year for AV, Collaboration and Workplace Innovation

This year’s Integrated Systems Europe (ISE 2026) in Barcelona was one of the most energising editions we’ve experienced — both for the size of the show and the pace of innovation across collaboration technology, unified communications and enterprise AV infrastructure. With over 1,700 exhibitors and 101,000 m² of tech on show, ISE continues to set the stage for the trends defining the future of hybrid workspaces, intelligent meeting experiences, AV over IP, and AI‑augmented collaboration.

From next‑generation video bars to powerful audio systems and unified management platforms, manufacturers of all sizes brought new tools that promise to reshape how organisations design, deploy and manage collaborative spaces. Here’s our take on the standout technology and messaging from key partners we visited on the show floor.

Logitech — Usability, Flexibility and Connected Classrooms

For us, Logitech’s presence at ISE 2026 reinforced why they have been a cornerstone of hybrid meeting room deployments globally.

• Connected Classroom: Returning to ISE with a much expanded “Connected Classroom” concept, Logitech showcased how AV tech can transform education and learning spaces through AI, VR/AR integration and collaborative tools that go beyond basic video conferencing.

• Flexible Workspace Solutions: Messaging from Logitech was clear — work happens anywhere now, and collaboration hardware should adapt just as intuitively. The focus was on modular solutions that can scale from huddle rooms to large spaces, and deliver seamless flexibility for remote and hybrid work models.

Across their stand, it was clear that Logitech isn’t just refining hardware — they’re investing in ecosystem‑level usability and education‑centric workflows that help organisations unlock the full value of hybrid environments.

Yealink — One‑Stop AI‑Driven Collaboration Suite

Yealink’s showcase at ISE emphasised ‘simplicity with intelligence’.

• All‑in‑one Experience: Yealink highlighted its end‑to‑end collaboration suite — from the latest 4th‑gen MVC Kits and Meeting Boards to versatile Meeting Bars and teams phones — all integrated into a “one‑stop” user journey for Microsoft Teams, Zoom and BYOD scenarios.

• AI‑Powered Audio & Video: A clear theme throughout the Yealink stand was AI‑assisted features such as advanced noise suppression, full‑duplex audio and intelligent camera framing. These built‑in elements are designed to deliver meeting equity — ensuring remote participants are seen and heard with parity.

Yealink’s approach resonated with our team and partners, looking for straightforward, scalable hardware platforms that don’t require complex software stacks to manage.

Crestron — Intelligent Control and Automation at Scale

At ISE, Crestron’s messaging focused heavily on AI‑powered automation, unified control and simplified room orchestration:

• Control Without Complexity: Presentations and signage throughout the Crestron stand emphasised environments where users can “command a room without lifting a finger,” demonstrating AI‑driven room automation for audio, video, lighting and environmental control.

• Unified Experience: The emphasis was on platforms that can bridge AV‑over‑IP, native conferencing and enterprise control structures — highlighting how unified systems can reduce friction for IT teams and end users alike.

Crestron continues to position itself as a central nervous system for modern workplaces — especially for organisations looking to scale automation without bespoke programming.

Q‑Sys — Full Stack AV with RoomSuite and Remote Insight

Q‑Sys (as always!) delivered one of the most memorable live demos at ISE 2026, showcasing how a full‑stack AV platform can really simplify deployment:

• RoomSuite Modular System: One of the biggest talking points during the show was the RoomSuite modular system, unveiled as a new way to standardise deployment of collaboration systems — making configuration faster and more intuitive.

• Live Demos with VisionSuite: The Q‑Sys stand also featured live showcases of the VisionSuite camera portfolio and newly certified components for UC platforms, emphasising how real‑time data intelligence can drive customised experiences across rooms.

• Q‑Sys Reflect: Expanded remote monitoring and management capabilities were demonstrated, showing how organisations can maintain reliability and deployment health at scale — a key message for integrators and enterprise IT alike.

Our conversations with the Q‑Sys team reinforced how automation, analytics and modular design are converging into a holistic platform approach for AV.

Shure — AI‑Empowered Audio and Collaboration Insights

Audio was a big theme at ISE, and Shure doubled down on AI‑driven voice clarity and intelligent systems:

• Comprehensive Audio Portfolio: Shure’s presence spanned innovations like IntelliMix™ Foundation, reimagined Microflex Wireless systems and an expanded loudspeaker range that integrates snugly with conferencing ecosystems.

• Cloud Management: Their team highlighted ShureCloud, aimed at giving AV professionals remote management, monitoring and analytics over enterprise audio systems — a solid move toward simplified lifecycle management.

• Innovation Lab Engagements: Sessions at the Shure Innovation Lab underscored how AI isn’t just a feature — it’s becoming foundational to solving real deployment challenges such as noise suppression, speaker focus and dynamic audio adaptation.

Shure’s story at ISE was about meeting equity, productivity gains and future‑proofing audio infrastructures for workspaces of every size.

Biamp — DSP Automation Meets Scalable Conferencing

At the Biamp stand, the emphasis was firmly on simplifying audio excellence through automation:

• Auto‑Tuned DSP: One of the headline topics was Biamp’s “auto‑tuned DSP” feature for Teams Rooms and larger spaces — enabling automatic room audio optimisation with a single button, dramatically lowering commissioning effort.

• Parity in Hybrid Spaces: Biamp’s portfolio continues to integrate precision capture and loudspeaker tech (e.g. Parlé and Desono) that scale from medium to large rooms while keeping remote and in‑room participants engaged equally.

For integrators, Biamp’s narrative centred on reducing onsite tuning time without sacrificing acoustic performance.

MAXHUB — Broadening Collaboration Hardware and Strategic Initiatives

MAXHUB made a strong statement at ISE 2026 with several new product introductions and strategic programmes:

• XBar Series Videobars: At the show opener, MAXHUB unveiled the XBar Series, an all‑in‑one collaboration videobar with multiple cameras and Windows‑based compute built in — designed to serve a wide range of room sizes.

• Pivot+ Management Platform: Shown alongside hardware, Pivot+ — a cloud‑centric device management tool — signals how centralised control, alerts and AI insights can streamline enterprise device fleets.

• Co‑Create 100 Initiative: Notably, MAXHUB announced a global programme in partnership with Microsoft to equip 100 organisations with Teams Rooms, highlighting a commitment to real‑world deployment and case studies.

MAXHUB’s story was one of hardware‑software convergence and strategic collaboration that expands adoption beyond traditional meeting spaces.

Sound Control Technologies — Practical Connectivity Innovation

Sound Control Technologies (SCT) brought another layer to the collaboration conversation by focusing on connectivity that simplifies installs:

• USB‑C and BYOM Solutions: SCT showcased products like the RTK‑AM1 power/HDMI/Ethernet/USB table extension dock, which enables cleaner, more predictable BYOM setups without complex programming — a real boon for integrators and end users alike.

• Clean Integration: Across their stand we saw how solving simple connectivity challenges can turn a good collaboration space into a great one with fewer cables, more intuitive endpoints and smarter power/data distribution.

People First — The Heart of Our Industry

While the technology on display at ISE 2026 was extraordinary, what reminded us most strongly why this industry is so special was the people.

Spending time with our partners, discussing plans, sharing thoughts and ambitions for the year ahead, and simply getting to know each other on a more personal level was incredibly rewarding. The conversations, laughter and collaboration off the stand floor are just as important as the technology itself — they are what truly drive innovation, trust and long-term success in our industry.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us in Barcelona this year. Your openness, enthusiasm, and insight into the direction of your technologies and strategies made ISE 2026 a richer and more inspiring experience for the Collab AV team.

We look forward to building on these conversations and strengthening our partnerships throughout 2026 and beyond.

Looking Ahead — Integration, Intelligence and Impact

ISE 2026 showed us three big takeaways that will shape how we design collaboration ecosystems throughout 2026 and beyond:

1. AI is no longer optional — it’s foundational. From audio clarity and camera framing to management analytics, AI is evolving from buzzword to baseline expectation.

2. Cloud‑centric management matters. As device fleets grow, remote monitoring, predictive alerts and lifecycle tools are becoming business imperatives rather than nice‑to‑haves.

3. AV and IT continue converging. Unified management platforms, AV‑over‑IP adoption and security considerations are bringing these disciplines closer than ever — for the benefit of scalability and reliability.

For Collab AV, ISE 2026 wasn’t just a showcase of exciting technology — it was a reminder that collaboration solutions are built by people, for people. We’re already incorporating key learnings into how we advise our partners and customers, and we can’t wait to bring these innovations — and the spirit of collaboration we experienced in Barcelona — to life in the projects we deliver this year.