Each year AVIXA fields a survey in January to capture channel outlook for the coming year. The results help inform our industry forecasts (IOTA) and provide content to post in articles such as this one. This year's result shows several points of encouraging news for the pro AV marketplace, some of which may come as a surprise. First and foremost, virtually none of the integrator and distributor respondents forecasted declines in revenue, with more than half predicted increases of 6% or more. Nearly a quarter (24%) expected growth to exceed 10%. This aligns well with prior year forecasts showing around 7% growth for pro AV in 2024.

Perhaps more of a surprise is the outlook for margins. Over the past several years, integrators had reported challenges with margins due largely to rising staffing costs and supply chain issues. This had steadily improved in our monthly index surveys (Pro-AV Index) and now shows as a growth outlook for 2024. More than two-in-five (43%) expect margins to increase by 10%. Another 40% expect them to rise between 10 and 30%. While the sample sizes were somewhat small, the results portend a great year for the channel. Here's hoping this is a widely felt phenomenon! Stay tuned here as we share results through the year or subscribe to the 2024 IOTA for a deep dive into our revenue forecasts.