Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

With ISE 2022 now open for business, industry movers and shakers share their excitement

Installation talks to an excited group of industry movers and shakers about ISE 2022 and their hopes for the long awaited return – now a reality! – of what has become an AV institution...

So, it’s finally here. ISE 2022 is open for business, at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía following its February postponement.

Over 800 exhibitors are gracing five “state-of-the-art” halls. This is, of course, substantially less than the 1,300 or so that filled the RAI to bursting at the final Amsterdam event, but given ongoing travel restrictions across the globe, particularly in China, the confirmed booths are a triumph for the team at Integrated Systems Events.

With the industry excited for next week’s show, we spoke to some serious movers and shakers about ISE’s return, including what they’re looking forward to in particular, their thoughts on ISE as an AV institution, Covid concerns, and other shows they are have factored in to their schedules in 2022.

Are you attending ISE 2022 and in what capacity?

Alexandra Parlour [AP], European marketing manager, Sony Professional Displays and Solutions (pictured left)
“Yes we are really excited to be attending ISE and showcasing our latest AV products and solutions from the past two years, especially looking forward to the new venue. We will be in Hall 3, booth 3E400 and visitors will be able to meet the Sony team and see our extensive portfolio alongside some new and exciting additions.


Inge Govaerts [IG], director, corporate communications & events at Barco “Yes, as a founding member of ISE, Barco will be present at the event with all our business units – including Meeting experience, large video wall experience and Immersive experience. We will be showcasing our ClickShare solutions, control room solutions, weConnect for hybrid learning, our complete portfolio of projectors, and image processing gear for immersive experiences. Barco is also set to debut a range of innovative solutions that will give visitors a taste of the future of tech. Visitors will be able to find us at Booth 3D400, where Barco will display its dynamic and experiential 304m2 exhibit.”

Juan José Vila [JJV], COO & CMO of Equipson “Yes we are going as an exhibitor.”

Rob Muddiman [RM], EMEA sales director, ZeeVee “We are excited to have the chance to exhibit once again to the European market, which is crucial to our success.”

Vangelis Mihalopoulos [VM], CEO, Yodeck (pictured left) “I’m super happy and excited to announce that Yodeck will be exhibiting at the ISE conference in Barcelona, and we can’t wait to see everyone in person. As the first event after COVID, Yodeck’s executive team will be at our stand, so all the attendees will have the chance to meet us face-to-face.”

Sof Socratous [SS], vice president Northern Europe at Poly “At Poly, we always look forward to attending ISE and this year is no different. We’ll be exhibiting at booth 2G600, where we will be showcasing our premium, pro-grade headsets and audio and video conferencing solutions, including a range of new products that will be exclusively revealed at the event.”

Ian Barnard [IB], senior vice president marketing and product management at Sharp NEC Display Solutions Europe “We certainly are! With just a few small adjustments, our presence at ISE2022 will be in much the same capacity as previously. Our stand will be slightly smaller since we have removed the lounge area in our efforts to reduce any safety risks, and it will be attended by our management team and customer-facing staff.”

Scott George [SG], group operations manager, Autograph Sound “We will be attending ISE to keep in touch with manufacturers and explore new relationships that might help us develop our current lines of business. ISE is useful for discovering tech solutions that might not be presently be on our radar.”

Francisco Simón [FS], sales and marketing director, LDA Audio “I’m attending ISE 2022 as LDA Audio Tech marketing and sales director.”

Dan Rose [DR], product manager, video projectors, Epson Europe B.V. “Yes. Epson is excited to be bringing another exciting experience with its stand to ISE and will be bringing its latest and greatest from our high brightness projection, business and education projection, and Moverio smart glasses range.”

Rob Adams [RA], director of sales, TSL Products (pictured left) “Absolutely yes! Several members of the TSL team will be at our booth #5K410 exhibiting our range of solutions to delight new prospects. Others of us will use the show to network and have meetings with existing and new technology partners and channel partners”.

Stefan Eriksson [SE], CMO at collaboration endpoint specialist Konftel “Konftel will showcase our latest product developments at ISE – including recently certified Zoom devices and a new conference phone ceiling mount kit.”

Raymond Budd [RB], senior sales manager, Calibre UK “As senior sales manager of the Calibre brand, I’ll be attending ISE 2022 for the whole show to support the Optoma Group who are exhibiting on stand 3D600.”

Jessica Lange [JL], marketing director at Guntermann & Drunck GmbH “As pioneers of the KVM industry, we are excited to be able to participate in ISE 2022 again. Not only will we exhibit a broad product portfolio, but also welcome visitors with a large team of KVM experts. At booth 5N500, we look forward to showcasing G&D’s KVM products in live applications and presenting smart solutions for control room installations.”


Are you concerned about Covid?

IG (pictured left) “This is certainly something that’s constantly on our minds and we want our colleagues, customers, and fellow exhibitors to be and feel safe and sound. As we learn to live safely with Covid, I trust that we will all play our part to help reduce the risk of catching and passing it on to others. While we will be continuing to monitor the Covid-19 situation very closely, we believe that ISE 2022 presents a valuable opportunity, and we look forward to connecting with customers, prospects and peers.”

JJV “No, I think we have already passed the worst part of the pandemic and now with a high percentage of people vaccinated the risks are minimal so having  good measures like masks and distancing there is no concern for me.”

RM “Naturally, it is on our minds. However, with the reports that the severity of the symptoms are decreasing, and our view that the appropriate precautions are in place, we feel the risk is manageable.”

VM “Travelling and in-person meetings have proven to be quite a challenge during the pandemic era. I’m sure that all the state-mandated COVID guidelines will be followed in order to facilitate a successful and safe conference.”

IB “We all must remain vigilant in protecting ourselves and others and we have followed all the Covid safety updates. We feel it is safe to travel to Barcelona and are confident that it is the right time to be face to face once again.”

SG “Covid is a concern. All staff attending will be triple vaccinated but there is still a potential for disruption and not being able to return due to isolation requirements.”

FS (pictured left) “Although there is still uncertainty and we have some way in this “new normal”, in 2022 LDA has made a strong bet on attending international trade shows, since they are our best chance to meet our clients face to face. This is key for our business model, always being near the customers no matter where they are, and fortunately, now we can keep it the same way thanks to all progress in the fight against Covid.”

DR  “Our priority will be the safety and welfare of our staff but we have every confidence that the organisers of ISE are putting effective provisions in place in order to keep everyone in attendance safe.”

RA “TSL has observed regulations around helping to contain and manage the pandemic for the well-being of our staff, suppliers, business partners and customers. We are delighted to see all restrictions have now been lifted by the Spanish authorities but will of course continue to use courtesy and common sense toward others throughout the duration of the expo.”

SE “Covid definitely hasn’t gone away but hopefully the worst is behind us now. We are looking forward to meeting up again with lots of new and familiar faces.”

RB “There an awareness and responsibility to society to ensure that we are all as safe as we can be. However being from the UK where restrictions have all ended I now have far less of a concern than before.”

JL “We believe that the security measures for the event are planned and implemented with utmost care. All exhibitors and visitors will be expected to show either their vaccination status, proof of recovery, or proof of testing. Wearing masks indoors as well as outdoors will also be mandatory. We therefore have full confidence in the concept and support the measures. Keeping a distance of 1.5 m whenever possible is also recommended and an aspect we also want to pay close attention to at our stand. We hope that these precautions will make everyone will feel safe.”

 

What are you most looking forward to?

AP “Whilst during the past two years we’ve been keeping in close contact with our customers to fulfil their ever changing requirements in Covid times, it’ll be really nice to see many of them in person and to showcase our latest and greatest products and solutions, in all one place. Much of our portfolio hasn’t been shown on the big stage since their launch so we’re very excited.”

IGPersonally, I am most looking forward to meeting our customers in real life again! It’s been over two years since I’ve had a chance to catch up with them, hear about all the exciting projects they’ve been working on and understand how we can tailor the most fitting solution to help. This is also a great opportunity for us to unveil what the team at Barco has been working on over the past 18 months at our booth. There will be opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in the future of hybrid meetings at our very own ClickShare Tower. Of course, I am also very much looking forward to seeing some of my colleagues again, after not being able to travel for the past couple of years.”

JJV “We’re looking forward to seeing and meeting people again, talk with them, making up for lost time and seeing their reaction to our new products.”

RM (pictured left) “We are most looking forward to getting back to the face to face meetings of course! The importance of social interaction to the wellbeing and advancement of the pro AV industry cannot be understated. In addition, it is great fun to mingle with our peers.”

VM “Like most of us, I miss meeting and interacting with new people. I really look forward to reconnecting in person, discussing AV news and trends, and exchanging opinions with leading organisations in the industry.”

SS “Attending ISE events over the years provides us with the opportunity of connecting with the AV community, and we’re really looking forward to doing this in-person this year. We’re keen to continue expanding our network, meet with customers and partners and ISE is a great platform for showcasing our technology and getting in front of key people in the industry.”

IB“We are really looking forward to engaging with our valued partners and customers as well as meeting new ones. It’s an exciting time for us, ISE 2022 is our opportunity to demonstrate two forces combined, as two brands under one company umbrella. Visitors will see first-hand what our combined strengths will offer them through an enhanced product line-up and an extended range of professional services. 

“Our brands are uniting our extensive industry expertise and market recognition to take a leading position in the overall visual display solutions industry. Sharp’s innovative business products include professional and commercial displays, as well as the development of advanced technologies in interactive and 8K. NEC’s R&D brings the broad range of high-quality visual technology and digital signage solutions for a wide variety of industries which are recognised by customers worldwide. It is this synergy and the potential it generates, which is expressed by our theme this year – Beyond Expectation. “

SG “Nothing substitutes for meeting face to face and we are looking forward to spending some time with clients and colleagues exploring opportunities.”

FS “Seeing old friends, feeling the warmth of a big exhibition, sharing moments with our team during the show… Attending ISE is a great experience from beginning to end, you are in an international environment but at the same time, you feel at home. Even more this year, because we’ll be in Spain!”

DR “More than anything we are excited to finally have the opportunity to meet up face-to-face once again with all our many wonderful customers, partners, industry colleagues and friends in Barcelona.

 “2022 has already been an exciting year for Epson following the launch of our new range of ultra-lightweight 20,000 lumens 3LCD projectors, the PU2200U series, back in February. ISE is the perfect opportunity to further showcase this industry leading technology to the world and our customers, many of whom were key influences in the development of this new range.”

RA “We look forward to the chance to show-off our AV control systems and intelligent power offerings via face-to-face meetings with new prospects from a huge range of markets highly relevant to our solutions.”

SE “For us ISE presents a compelling opportunity to showcase our expanding product range and engage face-to-face with the AV community.”

RB “Meeting my overseas friends, colleagues and the general sense of life returning to normal.”

DE_JOBAPP_50x70

JL (pictured left) “One thing we’ve been missing the most in the last years was the personal contact to our customers. A trade show is the perfect place to meet new and old partners and customers to discuss ideas face-to-face. We really appreciate this opportunity.

“Since we mainly operate in the field of control rooms, our focus is not only on transferring AV signals (e.g. at a specific workstation, on a large-screen projection or in specific operating areas). Operators also need to be able to control their systems as intuitively as possible and without any latency. This is the only way to achieve good hand-eye coordination and a great user experience. AT ISE, visitors will be able to operate and test our systems and applications to get a better impression of their performance.”


Will you be attending any of the conference programmes, and if so what?

JJV “As an exhibitor I am primarily focused on the activity on our booth but I will be participating in a couple of conferences in the AV Experience Zone.”

RM “We are always interested in the show’s roster of programmes. Early indicators show that we will be very busy at the booth and we will need to see if we get the opportunity to break away to participate.”

SS “We will be attending the Smart Workplace Summit and Digital Learning Summit. We’re looking forward to contributing to the debate around trends currently affecting the AV industry, and how we can collaborate to address these challenges.”

FS “I’m still arranging my schedule for these days, but I hope to attend any conference about smart buildings or control rooms.”

RA “If we have time, yes, but we hope the show and our booth will be busy with attendees)!”

JL “We eagerly look forward to not only exhibiting our equipment at our booth, but also to sponsoring and participating in the Control Rooms Summit. As part of the program, we will be sharing some of our insights from the field of infrastructural technology for control rooms, and we’re equally excited about attending other presentations and talking to other control room specialists.”

 

What significance would you say that the show’s return has to the AV industry?

AP “The past two years have been turbulent, and ISE has been very much missed amongst the industry. Its return signifies a return in confidence and growth in the AV market.

IG “This is a major milestone for the AV industry. With the change of venue, it feels like a new chapter for the sector, especially after such turbulent 18 months. Not only is this one of the industry’s biggest shows, where manufacturers will reveal and demonstrate their latest technology, it is also one of the opportunities to connect and learn all about the latest technologies.”

JJV (pictured left) “Shows are still a very important for our industry. At ISE you have the opportunity to meet with all the AV community and experience things that you cannot when meeting online. It saves so much travel time not having to visit the headquarters of your customers and of course you can see in one place the evolution in product trends and new products launched at the show.”

RM “The show’s return is hugely significant. As a vendor, we will again be able to showcase our SDVoE and AVoIP signal distribution solutions to a wide audience of existing and potential new customers. For end users, consultants and integrators, it provides the best opportunity to see the latest technologies and industry players under one roof.”

VM “We are excited to participate in the first full-scale edition of ISE at the Fira Barcelona. I expect to see exhibitors up their game this year. The show itself is unique – a hub of inspiration and expertise. It’s an important meeting point for building key relationships with partners and customers looking to learn more about the amazing potential of digital signage (and our product).”

SS “As the biggest UC and AV event, Poly has always had a presence at ISE. After being unable to meet in person, we’re excited for the return of ISE 2022 in Barcelona and looking forward to meeting with customers, business partners, as well as make new connections in the AV industry.”

IB “The AV industry is, in many ways, powered by relationships. It feels more like a community and the lack of face-to-face connections has impacted everyone, not necessarily commercially, but on a personal front. ISE will help to forge new relationships and reconnect old ones – this is so valuable in our industry.”

SG “The opportunity to meet face to face is essential. We are an industry built on relationships and although communication technology has improved and we are doing more online, the ability to meet and have casual conversations is incredibly valuable.”

FS“ISE’s return to the AV industry calendar is like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, at last. It will be a turning point for our industry, and I’m sure it will be both a professional meeting and a celebration.”

DR “It’s a chance for the AV industry to show the wider world that live events are back. Whilst the pandemic put a firm halt on the live events sector across many markets, the AV industry has used this time to develop new and innovative products in anticipation of its return. ISE 2022 officially marks the return of live AV events post pandemic, and can act as a springboard for a new era of trailblazing live experiences.”

RA “Customers are increasingly attuned to value and reliability when it comes to solutions that enable remote workflows. They seek solutions that are agile and adaptable to be self- and re-configurable, as well as solutions that are quick to deploy with ‘everything in the box.’ Such solutions that are physical but also can be virtualised or at least web-enabled are in demand, in addition to solutions that can deliver more productivity for the same number of operational staff. We are seeing an increasing pressure from skills shortage and workforce availability, so doing the same with less staff or more with the same staffing is currently a big theme, as is green/environmentally friendly solutions that help manage power consumption. If any of these things resonate with you, then please drop by to see us!”

SE (pictured left) “I think the return of ISE is a welcome boost to the whole industry. It’s a sign that things are slowly getting back to normal and we can all look towards the future with renewed confidence and ambition.”

RB “The return of ISE is a hugely significant moment for the industry. Some might say that ISE 2020 was the start of the pandemic and ISE 2022 is the end, I really hope this is correct. That we finally get across to this fantastic new venue in Barcelona is also great news.”

JL “By merging ISE with the IOT Solutions World Congress (IOTSWC), the show’s return has a particularly large significance. By holding two major events at the same time at the same place, more synergies can be formed between technologies and companies from different industries. This kind of exchange not only offers new opportunities for collaboration, but also new inspirations and input for the AV industry. We are sure that ISE 2022 will be offering very special moments for the pro AV and IoT world.”

Other than ISE, what other events have you attended in 2022, and what others are coming up for you? How do you measure ISE in comparison?

AP “We have attended and plan to attend many regional events with our partners to engage with our customers more locally throughout the year. ISE is the main trade show and our biggest platform for sharing our portfolio and offering.

IG “In addition to ISE, we will also be attending InfoComm that’s due to take place in Las Vegas on 4th to 10th June. Aside from that, we’ve got other tradeshows on our list which are dedicated to control rooms, workplace solutions and healthcare. We are really excited to be meeting our customers and prospects once again.”

JJV “Prolight and Sound is one that I [attended] in April, and after ISE I will be at Infocomm. I have no plans to go to other shows at this time.”

RM “ZeeVee has attended several local events run by our partners, including Pro-Light and Sound, so far this year. We will also be participating in InfoComm in the US and the Hamburg Open in June. Each of these events are important to our business, but cannot match the sheer scale of ISE in terms of the number of European decision-makers we are able to reach.”

VM “I haven’t attended any other events this year. Yodeck is solely focused on making an impact at ISE.”

SS “So far in 2022, we’ve attended Enterprise Connect, BETT, and several other events as the industry begins to open post-pandemic. ISE is always an event we look forward to!”

IB (pictured left) “Other than supporting regional events, ISE is the first big show that we have attended since the Covid pandemic. ISE is incredibly important to us since it draws visitors from across the EMEA region and has consistently delivered a high quality of attendance. In April, we announced that our entire line-up of both Sharp and NEC branded products and services are now available in one place. The slightly delayed ISE 2022, therefore, offers us the perfect platform at which to present two forces combined.”

SG “Prolight+Sound , PLASA –  ISE is by far the largest and most complete show for the AV installation sector and as we are starting to increase our offer as an Integrator offers the best value under a single roof.”

FS “In January we were at Intersec Dubai, where we met again with our Middle East clients as well as made new business contacts. We have a strong presence in the area as a recognized PA/VA manufacturer. After that, we were at SICUR Madrid, the leading international security and fire exhibition in Southern Europe. It was another great chance to get back in touch with our nearest clients.

“We also attended Sicurezza Milan, Securexpo East Africa, Proteger Lisboa… and have plans to attend other similar events in different countries of our sales network during 2022.”

DR “Following the postponement of ISE earlier in the year we decided to hit the road and showcase our new PU2200U on a road trip at several regional events across Europe throughout February and March. In a way ISE is the headline date of that European tour.

 “We also showcased the range to our key customers behind closed doors ahead of the launch. Many of our customers have been with us a while now and have been key influences on our new product development, so they were excited to see their suggestions come to fruition; particularly as opportunities across visitor attractions and live events become more fluid with easing lockdown restrictions.”

RA “We’ve started to conduct more in-person customer visits. We will have exhibited at NAB in Las Vegas and are booked to exhibit and/or attend MPTS in London, CABSAT in Dubai, Hamburg OPEN in Germany, and Broadcast Asia in Singapore. We plan to exhibit at IBC 22 in Amsterdam, SET 2022 in Brazil as well as the SVG Summit and NAB NY both (in New York). So, we have a very busy and committed calendar of re-engagement. 

“ISE addresses a slightly different and more varied audience to the traditional broadcast media trade-show circuit. We anticipate meeting more clients whose core business is not broadcast but who are increasingly engaging in the use and management of AV and video rich content as a key part of promoting their core business activity. TSL already sells into verticals including corporate (eg; investment banking), defense, new media (eg; e-sports), sports (eg; venues, teams and events), government (eg: Parliaments, Senates), House of Worship, Data Centres, and other live event venues (eg; Arenas, Opera houses, theatres, conferences/conference centres).”

SE “Konftel is an enthusiastic supporter of industry events. So far this year we’ve attended several shows such as Enterprise Connect in the US and many more will follow around the world. ISE is a very important show for us both from its target audience and the fact it brings so many powerful industry names together. Our strong investment in the show both from a financial and resource perspective (with staff travelling from across Europe and beyond) reflects its high importance to us.”

RB (pictured left) “Calibre has a number of global events in the pipeline for 2023, however for the EMEA region ISE has always been the most important show for us. It is always well attended by enthusiastic and knowledgeable visitors.”


Anything else you’d like to say about ISE in general and the 2022 event?

AP “We’re really looking forward to welcoming you to our booth and can’t wait to see many old and new faces during the show”

IG “The team at Barco is really excited to be at ISE and we look forward to connecting again with the wider AV industry as well as our customers. I think it’s safe to say that everybody across the industry is really looking forward to this event – to be able to get together, discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the industry and learning more.”

JJV “The fact that the show is in May will make a much more pleasant stay in a city like Barcelona where the weather can be more enjoyable and the days will be longer than they were in Amsterdam in February. So now when the show finishes you still have 2 hours of daylight and good weather to enjoy with customers or workmates and have an after work drink on a sunny evening!”

RM “There is normally more time between ISE and InfoComm, which occurs in June, which disrupts our planning to a certain degree. However, moving ISE to later in the year was the right call under the circumstances and puts us back on track for getting things back to normal.”

DR (pictured left) “Epson extends a very warm welcome to all attending ISE and we look forward to seeing you soon!”

RA “We are very thrilled to be back at ISE and excited to be in Barcelona!”

SE “We are very much looking forward to ISE as it provides a high profile platform for Konftel to demonstrate our market-leading pedigree to a key target audience.”

RB “We would really just like to offer good wishes to everyone from the Calibre team. We are so looking forward to networking with industry professionals, and introducing our latest All-in-One LED product line and solution for hybrid workspaces.

JL “This year, we will also be attending other trade shows such as the NAB Show, CABSAT, InfoComm, and IBC. When taking a look at our full trade show calendar, we are excited to once again be able to personally meet our customers from different markets and regions.”

For our full preview of ISE 2022, featured in our latest edition and online, click here