The Role of OEM in the AV Industry: Shaping Innovation, Quality, and Market Competition

 

As technology reshapes the AV industry, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are emerging as critical partners for businesses seeking tailored solutions. Whether it’s bespoke LED displays or high-end audio systems, OEM in the AV industry is redefining how companies innovate, differentiate, and meet market demands. This raises a crucial question for professionals navigating this space—how do OEM partnerships shape innovation, quality, and market competition?

What’s driving the demand for OEM partnerships in AV, and what challenges come with it?

Welcome to Pro AV Today. In the latest episode, host Ben Thomas sits down with George Pappas, the CEO of i5LED, to explore the expanding role of OEM in the AV industry. The discussion sheds light on the multifaceted relationships between OEMs and manufacturers, offering insights into why companies opt for OEM solutions over in-house production, how the partnerships are structured, and what future trends might shape this dynamic.

Key Discussion Points:

  • Understanding OEM’s Value: Why AV businesses leverage OEM partnerships to customize products, meet high-quality standards, and achieve scalability.
  • Challenges in OEM Operations: Navigating compliance, tariffs, and manufacturing logistics, and how i5LED addresses these issues.
  • Future Trends: The potential rise of onshoring manufacturing and how it could redefine OEM practices in the U.S. market.

George Pappas is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with extensive expertise in LED technology and manufacturing. Currently the CEO of i5LED, he has over two decades of leadership experience, including roles as President and CEO of MotherLoad Enterprises and SafeStation. With a strong track record in operations, manufacturing, and product innovation, Pappas has been instrumental in driving advancements in AV and LED solutions.

Article written by MarketScale.

Recent Episodes

Demand for AV integration services is becoming more complex and widespread, making it increasingly difficult for integrators to scale operations without sacrificing profitability. According to AVIXA’s 2024 Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis, the Pro AV market is projected to reach $422 billion by 2029, intensifying the need for flexible, scalable support. Amid these pressures, service…

The Pro AV industry continues to intersect with sectors like healthcare, retail, and corporate environments, making access to hands-on product demos and direct vendor conversations more important than ever. Technologies are evolving rapidly, and end users are demanding increasingly complex solutions. According to AVIXA, the global Pro AV market is projected to reach $402…

As energy systems become more decentralized, the complexity of managing trusted devices and other components connected to the grid continues to grow. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Roadmap (January 2025), utilities across the country are experiencing increased interconnection requests for distributed energy resources (DERs), such as solar, battery storage,…