The 3 key trends in the fast-evolving video wall market

Due to the worldwide digital transformation, the amount of data and content being produced and used grows exponentially. This growth drives the need for large-scale visualization. While in the early years, large indoor video walls were mainly used in control rooms to monitor and manage critical infrastructures and security operations, the technology advancements and cost evolutions have expanded the usage into a wider range of applications. Nowadays video walls are deployed to control, present, collaborate, inform and impress, in a multitude of applications such as control rooms, enterprise lobbies, meeting rooms, experience centers, television studios, retail and public venues.

1. Focus on total visualization solutions

Conversations with customers have changed in recent years. In the past, discussions focused on technical specifications, like resolution and brightness levels. This focus has shifted towards dialogues about business objectives and which solutions can help to achieve them. With several visualization technologies (LCD, LED, projection) being available, the outcome conversation allows to better pinpoint the exact requirements, to recommend and select the solution best serving the customer needs. The full solution discussions also involve for example the right controllers, connectivity, installation and maintenance plans and accompanying service contracts. On top of the viewing experience meeting the expectations, predictable and worry-free installation, operation and servicing are the key ingredients to secure the targeted return on investment.

2. Multi-functional, Multi-purpose

While in the past video wall applications were very specific and content shown was quite static, today video walls are multi-functional and multi-purpose with dynamic content. Visualization in lobbies for instance, is used for branding, welcoming visitors, sharing company information and informing employees. Critical operation centers now have situation-dependent missions and require a large variety of content sources. The emergence of AV-over-IP is also driving versatile video walls, enabling any source to be activated at any time and in any place. Easy, fast and even automated perspective layout and versatile far/close-by viewing capabilities are becoming instrumental.

3. High-volume LCD and High-growth LED

Advancements in technology and continuous proliferation of manufacturers is supporting and driving the increasing indoor large visualization demand. Depending on the respective technology – being (front and rear) projection, LCD and LED video walls – the focus for further evolutions can be different. Single unit front projection technology concentrates on the resolution race standardizing on 4K, increased color performance, laser illumination evolutions, installation flexibility and strict controlled TCO. Rear projection video walls are the choice for reliable, long-term serviceable and upgradeable solutions almost exclusively in the control room market. The technology is mature, showing incremental evolutions supporting the above values.

More than 65% of the indoor video wall deployments today use LCD technology, which is the affordable solution deployed in high volumes and in as good as all applications. Ongoing LCD investments further optimize the viewing experience by reducing the seam impact and improve wall uniformity (while limiting the impact on cost) and further ease deployment, installation and maintenance.

The highest growth for video walls exists for LED technology being the only solution for a truly seamless video wall, with significant technology investments ongoing to further lower the cost, improve installation complexity/robustness, step-up long term serviceability and further optimize image quality. Looking forward mainly LED and LCD will be driving the increased adoption of indoor video walls.