Is Your Technology Ready for 2026? What to Include in Your AV and Infrastructure Budget

As we near the end of the year, many businesses are finalizing budgets and making strategic plans for 2026. Technology upgrades are often on that list but knowing what to prioritize can be a challenge. Whether you’re dealing with aging AV equipment, an underperforming network, or outdated access control systems, these infrastructure decisions can have a major impact on daily operations and long-term growth. At i.e.Smart Systems, we help clients take a proactive approach to budgeting by identifying what systems need attention and where smart investments can make the biggest difference.

Where Technology Planning Often Falls Short

One of the most common mistakes we see during budget season is treating AV, structured cabling, and security systems as isolated expenses rather than connected parts of the workplace. This leads to reactive spending, quick fixes, and missed opportunities to build a more efficient, scalable environment. For example, a business might invest in new displays without evaluating the bandwidth or cabling behind them. Or they’ll upgrade video conferencing software without considering microphone and camera quality. Without a unified strategy, these piecemeal upgrades often result in frustration and wasted dollars.

Another challenge is delaying needed updates for too long. Many businesses are still relying on older equipment that no longer supports how their teams work today. Hybrid collaboration has pushed companies to reconsider what their AV systems need to do — and how often they’re falling short. According to Frost & Sullivan, 84% of IT decision-makers planned to increase investment in video conferencing devices to support hybrid and flexible work models in 2023. If your current systems aren’t aligned with these evolving needs, it may be time to prioritize those upgrades in your 2026 budget.

What to Include in Your 2026 Budget Planning

To make smarter infrastructure decisions heading into the new year, we recommend building your budget around three core areas: functionality, scalability, and lifecycle.

Functionality: Start with what’s working and what’s not. Identify where employees experience friction — like unreliable AV in meeting rooms, poor WiFi in key areas, or bottlenecks in room scheduling or access control.
Scalability: Consider future growth. If you plan to expand your space, add employees, or move toward more flexible work models, your AV and cabling systems need to support those changes without starting over.
Lifecycle: Review the age and condition of your technology. If any core systems are more than five to seven years old, they may need replacement or upgrades to remain compatible with newer platforms.

We also recommend including room for system integration and maintenance in your planning. That includes not only new installs, but also firmware updates, user training, and support contracts — all of which protect your investment and reduce downtime.

How i.e.Smart Systems Helps You Plan Ahead

At i.e.Smart Systems, we guide our clients through every phase of AV and infrastructure planning — from evaluating current systems to designing future-ready solutions. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all upgrades. Instead, we take the time to understand your goals, your team, and the way your space operates. Whether you’re focused on improving hybrid collaboration, upgrading your access control system, or modernizing your cabling backbone, we help you plan with confidence.

Our team specializes in creating realistic, actionable budgets that balance immediate needs with long-term strategy. We work closely with both IT and facilities teams to ensure that technology upgrades support real business outcomes and not just new hardware. If you’re looking to make smarter, more strategic decisions heading into 2026, we’re here to help.

i.e.Smart Systems is a Houston, TX based technology integration partner that specializes in design and installation of audio/visual technology and structured cabling. For more than three decades, our team of in-house experts has partnered with business owners, architectural firms, general contractors, construction managers, real estate developers, and designers in the Houston market, to deliver reliable, scalable solutions that align with their unique goals.