If you work in AV or smart building tech, you've probably noticed a shift - devices that used to just do what they were built to do are now spitting out data. Tons of data. But what do we do with it all? That’s exactly what Xyte’s recent Analytics 101 webinar tackled. Hosted by Jonathan Bhonker, Product Manager at Xyte, and David Danto of TalkingPointz, the session explored how lessons from the SaaS world - where analytics drives everything from product design to customer retention - can and should be applied to AV systems.
In this blog, we’ll recap some of the key ideas they shared: how analytics works in software, why it’s becoming essential in AV, and what manufacturers, integrators, and in-house tech teams can actually do with the insights already at their fingertips.
What Is Analytics – And How SaaS Gets It Right
At its core, analytics is about turning raw data into decisions. SaaS companies have mastered this: they track how users interact with their products, spot friction points, and continuously optimize features based on real usage patterns. Why? Because in a subscription world, every click counts - customer retention depends on it.
As Jonathan Bhonker put it, “SaaS companies live and die by metrics... It’s no longer about just creating revenue but also making sure that customers don’t churn.”
That means measuring everything from feature adoption to how often users return and predicting who’s likely to churn. It’s not just about dashboards - it’s about connecting product usage data to business outcomes like customer lifetime value and growth potential.
The good news? AV companies now have access to the same types of data. And that opens the door to a smarter, more responsive way of working.
Why This Matters Now for AV
AV systems used to be black boxes - once installed, they were mostly invisible unless something broke. But that’s changing fast. Today’s AV and building management systems (BMS) generate streams of data that can be captured, analyzed, and acted on in real time. Sensors, cameras, and even displays are now part of an intelligent ecosystem.
“We’re getting to the point where silos are breaking down and we’re adding AI into the mix,” said David Danto. “Room systems can now act as sensors… even when they’re not on a call.”
That shift-from passive hardware to active, data-rich systems is what makes analytics so urgent right now. Smarter sensors and cloud-native platforms mean that AV teams no longer have to guess what’s working. They can see it. And they can use data not just to fix problems, but to plan, predict, and improve.
Applying Analytics Across the AV Ecosystem
Analytics can drive real value across the AV supply chain. Here’s how different players can use it:
- Manufacturers: Build Smarter Products
By analyzing how hardware is actually used in the field - like whether anyone really needs four HDMI ports - manufacturers can streamline designs, identify friction points, and reduce time to feedback. “You put out a piece of hardware… but that feedback is definitely not as immediate and not as real time as it is in software,” Jonathan Bhonker explained - which is exactly where analytics changes the game.
- Integrators / Dealers / MSPs: Prove Value with Data
Hard data on incident response times, recurring issues, and device health lets service providers move from ad hoc updates to predictive maintenance and proactive fixes.
- IT / AV / UC Teams: Operate Proactively
With real-time telemetry, teams can automate alerts, fix problems before users are impacted (like switching inputs or pushing firmware), and prioritize issues based on usage context.
Use Cases in Action
Real-world analytics isn’t just about pretty dashboards - it’s about solving problems before they become headaches. Bhonker and Danto discussed several real world use cases, including:
- Rightsizing Meeting Spaces
By comparing room capacity with actual occupancy, teams can identify underused spaces and reallocate or redesign them. As David Danto put it, “How many times has this room that holds 14 people had meetings with three people in it?”
- Operational Efficiency & Cost Savings
Don’t light or cool an empty room. Systems can now trigger HVAC and lighting based on real occupancy data, not just calendar bookings - reducing energy waste and lowering costs.
- Proactive Maintenance
Monitoring uptime, CPU, temperature, and error logs lets teams spot issues before they escalate. Firmware updates can be pushed remotely to extend device lifecycles and reduce downtime.
Getting Started: Tools, Data, and Making It Work Without a Full Team
You don’t need a massive analytics team to get started - but you do need the right tools. Today’s AV environments are rich with data sources: occupancy sensors, cameras, environmental monitors, and detailed device logs. The challenge is bringing all of that data together. That’s where platforms like Xyte come in - helping unify and monitor AV systems at scale while integrating with ticketing, messaging, and asset management tools.
Still, making sense of the data involves more than just collecting it. “Without the data and the analytics coming back on this, we would be lost,” said David Danto, speaking to the new challenges of hybrid work and dynamic office environments. He also suggested that if you don’t have a full in-house BI team, you can start small. A consultant or even a data-savvy IT lead can work with stakeholders to identify the right questions - and begin pulling useful insights.
Conclusion: The Bigger Shift in AV
What came through clearly in the webinar wasn’t just that analytics is possible in AV - it’s that it’s inevitable. The presenters weren’t pitching a future dream; they were describing a present reality. AV systems are now part of a broader data ecosystem, and the expectations are changing fast. Integrators are being asked to prove value, IT teams are expected to prevent downtime before it happens, and manufacturers need usage feedback in months - not years.
David Danto captured it well: “We’re never going back to a 100% return-to-office world. The hybrid model is going to be around for a very long time.” That means AV has to be smarter, faster, and more connected than ever. The SaaS industry showed what’s possible with the right metrics and mindset. Now it’s AV’s turn - not just to catch up, but to lead in environments where people, spaces, and systems must work together in real time.
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