Walk the InfoComm show floor and you’ll see no shortage of impressive displays. Brighter LEDs, larger video walls, and increasingly sophisticated content platforms continue to push the industry forward. But after three days of customer conversations, educational sessions, and meetings with AV leaders, one broader takeaway stood out: organizations are thinking beyond the screen itself.

Enterprise customers increasingly want a partner who can manage the entire lifecycle of their digital signage deployments, from installation and software updates to remote monitoring, preventative maintenance, and fast break/fix support. At the same time, conversations throughout the show reinforced that reliability, operational execution, and practical applications of AI are becoming just as important as the technology itself.

Here are three takeaways that stood out at InfoComm 2026.

1. Managed services are becoming the expectation

Enterprise customers increasingly want a partner who can manage the entire lifecycle of their digital signage deployments, from installation and software updates to remote monitoring, preventative maintenance, and rapid break/fix support. In many cases, the conversation is shifting from capital projects to long-term managed service relationships.

The market reflects this shift. According to Mordor Intelligence, the digital signage services market is expected to reach $5.45 billion in 2026, with maintenance and support accounting for more than 44% of services revenue. Managed and cloud network services are also projected to outpace the overall market’s growth, underscoring the increasing demand for ongoing operational support rather than one-time deployments.

For AV integrators, managed service providers, and digital signage companies, this creates a meaningful opportunity. Recurring service contracts can provide more predictable revenue while strengthening long-term customer relationships. They also raise the bar for execution.

2. Reliability and service execution are becoming the competitive advantage

At InfoComm, we noticed that few conversations centered on finding the lowest labor rate. Instead, discussions focused on technician competency, geographic coverage, response times, and how providers ensure consistent service quality across national deployments.

As organizations adopt managed service models, success isn’t measured only by whether an installation finishes on schedule. It’s measured months later by whether displays remain online, issues are resolved quickly, and service-level commitments are consistently met. In other words, the installation is becoming the beginning of the customer relationship, not the end.

That emphasis on reliability extended beyond our booth conversations. Across educational sessions, speakers repeatedly returned to foundational capabilities such as device management, network stability, system uptime, cybersecurity, and consistent support.

For organizations like retailers, restaurants, airports, and corporate offices, AV systems are increasingly becoming business-critical infrastructure. If a screen, meeting room, or network-connected endpoint goes down, the impact can extend beyond the device itself to customer experience, employee productivity, and business operations.

Hardware continues to improve, and software platforms continue to evolve, but as those technologies mature, the differentiator increasingly becomes the service wrapped around them. The field service organizations that can proactively monitor deployments, respond quickly when issues arise, and consistently support customers across multiple markets are creating value that extends well beyond the display itself.

3. AI’s near-term value may be operational, not theatrical

AI was one of the most talked-about topics at InfoComm, but the industry is still working through how it will deliver the most practical value.

Some of the most visible use cases centered on content creation, intelligent commercial building experiences, audience measurement, and displays or sensors that adapt based on viewer presence. But many of the most immediate applications discussed were happening behind the scenes.

Organizations are exploring how AI can accelerate software development, automate network reporting, identify system vulnerabilities, streamline workflows, generate meeting notes and action items, and make it easier to manage large technology environments.

That distinction matters. While generative AI experiences may attract attention, the near-term opportunity may be using AI to reduce operational friction and improve reliability at scale.

The conversations at InfoComm also made clear that AI cannot compensate for weak infrastructure. Dynamic content and advanced analytics only create value when the underlying devices, networks, and support systems are working as intended. For AV and field service leaders, the question is becoming less about whether to use AI and more about where it can create measurable value without compromising reliability, security, or customer privacy.

What this means for the AV and field service industries

While these themes create new opportunities for AV integrators, MSPs, and digital signage providers, they also raise the bar for execution. Delivering consistent service at scale requires dependable field coverage, access to qualified technicians, and the ability to respond quickly across diverse locations. As expectations rise, how organizations build and manage their field workforce will become an increasingly important competitive differentiator.

Whether organizations rely on dedicated labor partners, flexible workforce models, or a combination of both, success will increasingly depend on having the right technicians available at the right place and time to meet customer expectations.

Ready to strengthen your AV field service strategy?

Whether you’re expanding managed services, supporting nationwide AV deployments, or looking to improve field coverage, having the right workforce strategy can make all the difference. Talk to our team to explore the right solution for your business.