After lockdown and the progressive reopening, we are now experiencing new restrictions imposed by the second wave of the pandemic. What effect will this have on the AV market? What will happen to the signs of recovery recorded in the summer? The latest AVIXA survey tries to provide some answers.
Confirming its proximity to companies and global professionals in the AV world, AVIXA has continued to monitor the impact of the health emergency on the market in recent months. After the hard months of the lockdown and the progressive reopening, the need to virtualise events, smart working and teleconferences had posed new professional challenges to the sector. And there were signs of improvement. Indeed, according to the forecasts of the association, 2021 was to be the year of real recovery.
But optimism soon encountered the difficulties of companies, now more cautious in investments, and the spectre of a second wave of restrictions, which have now become a reality in many countries. In much of Western Europe, including Italy, the resurgence of the virus has led to new closures of commercial activities, with a consequent drop in consumption.
The data of the survey speaks for itself: in September, 32.4% of those interviewed reported a resumption of projects, a substantial increase compared to 8.8% at the beginning of July. However, expectations of a full recovery have worsened. In July, 37% thought they would have to wait until the second half of 2021 to bring sales back to the level of 2019. Now the percentage has risen to 44%. In addition, the AV employment index had slightly increased in September, indicating good business confidence. But factors such as economic difficulties and the new wave of the pandemic make it impossible to meet certain forecasts: it is likely that the unemployment rate in the AV world will start to rise again before the end of the year.
In short, the current situation tells us that it is still uphill from here, and the expected recovery of 2021 won’t be so easy. But AVIXA urges us to be optimistic and to ‘hold on’, because the will to share events and live experiences is still very strong. InfoComm Beijing demonstrated this, attracting more than 30,000 participants, about 75% of the turnout in 2019.
It’s not over yet, but it will end as soon as it can!
