Yesterday’s AV strategy was about keeping up. Today, it’s about staying ahead.
Higher ed IT leaders are facing a new opportunity: simplify support, scale smarter, and make every room ready for whatever and whoever walks in.
Faculty want technology that just works. Students want to connect on their terms. And IT teams want fewer tickets, fewer headaches, and better long-term value from every install.
Here is what that looks like in 2025 and how AV integrators can deliver.
The Non-Negotiables for IT Leaders
Classroom delays are frustrating and frankly disruptive.
When instructors spend the first ten minutes troubleshooting, confidence within the classroom drops and the potential for collaborative learning diminishes. Faculty should be able to walk into any room and teach without needing to flag down IT.
That is why institutions are moving toward AV systems that eliminate friction, reduce complexity, and make it easier to deliver consistent instruction in any space.
Hybrid Models Demand Flexible AV
IT leaders are expected to future-proof the classroom without overhauling infrastructure or exploding budgets.
Smart solutions adapt to changing demands. And that starts with the right technology in the right room.
What Tech Leaders Are Prioritizing in 2025
1. Frictionless BYOD, App-Free Simplicity
Instructors and students expect to share content from whatever device they bring (i.e., macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, ChromeOS). AV needs to meet them where they are—no logins, no adapters, no delays.
Solutions that support native, app-free screen sharing help faculty move freely, teach confidently, and reclaim lost classroom minutes.
2. Platform-Agnostic Environments That Stay Future-Ready
Higher ed runs on mixed ecosystems. Standardizing on a single conferencing platform or OS is not just risky, it is unrealistic.
That is why CIOs are looking for solutions that work across all major platforms, integrate into existing systems, and leave room to scale. Platform-agnostic tools = agility, resilience, and fewer support calls.
3. Centralized Management That Eases the IT Load
Walking room to room for updates is no longer efficient.
Leaders are turning to tools that allow them to:
- Push configurations and updates from a single dashboard
- Monitor usage and device health at scale
- Fix issues remotely, before faculty even notice
With ScreenBeam’s Administrative Tools Bundle, that visibility goes even further.
- Message Manager lets staff send classroom announcements instantly.
- Alert+ integrates with third-party systems like Raptor EMS for real-time emergency alerts.
- Signage+ turns existing displays into wayfinding and campus comms hubs.
It is not simply about IT efficiency: it’s about prioritizing smarter communication, safer campuses, and better ROI on technology you already own.
Matching The Right Tools to The Right Rooms
Not every classroom needs a full tech overhaul. But every space needs to work.
- Campus-wide device management:
ScreenBeam’s Central Management System (CMS) allows IT to configure, monitor, and update receivers remotely—scaling efficiently across hundreds of rooms. - Study rooms, huddle spaces, and retrofits:
ScreenBeam FLEX delivers seamless content sharing at a lower cost—perfect for value-conscious installs. - Administrative & communication needs:
ScreenBeam Administrative Tools Bundle centralizes messaging, alerts, and signage into one intuitive platform.
ScreenBeam is not just a screen-sharing tool. It is a platform for smarter, safer, and more scalable instruction.
By empowering IT leaders to reduce friction, adapt to any platform, and gain centralized control,
From Solution to Strategy
Today’s tech leaders are mindfully investing in peace of mind, prioritizing flexibility and a future-proof plan. The integrators who meet those needs? They become long-term partners, not just vendors.
Ready to reduce support calls and scale smarter across your campus? Explore how ScreenBeam empowers higher ed tech leaders to lead with less friction and more impact.