For CIOs, the challenge in 2026 is clear: align technology investments with measurable business value, employee experience, robust security and operational agility.
To make this happen, IT must reshape strategy operational priorities to address hybrid work maturity and AI as an indispensable tool in the workplace, not just a tactical implementation. With hybrid work cemented as the norm in many companies, and AI use cases dialing in to deliver business-critical, proprietary capabilities, IT managers must dynamically appropriate focus and funding to not only enable these facets – but also build in cost-efficiency and long-term resilience. This is also driving a pendulum swing of sustainability as a strategic priority from a cost-basis perspective.
Meeting rooms are critical IT endpoints
Modern meeting rooms operate as data-enabled systems. Modular, intelligent conferencing solutions allow CIOs to track granular metrics, like room utilization rates, equipment uptime, connection quality, and ROI. This visibility transforms how IT teams approach workplace technology – moving from reactive troubleshooting to proactive optimization.
Beyond the metrics, meeting spaces have evolved from passive collaboration zones into measurable, maintainable IT assets. Within a hybrid work model, these rooms are where culture and team building happen – and failing to equip spaces with the right technology or incorporate AI capabilities at the edge to deliver value at speed is no longer optional.
AV and IT convergence accelerates this transformation, with AV-over-IP adoption gaining momentum and enabling centralized management of audio-visual devices over corporate networks using the same centralized tools and protocols they apply to other endpoints. For IT leaders, this consolidation reduces complexity and enables the scalable deployment that hybrid work demands.
Security is also front and center. Growing concerns over data privacy and compliance drive investment into zero-trust networks, encryption, and biometric logins to outpace cyber threats that increasingly exploit basic cyber hygiene shortcomings. Viollis Group International recently warned of rising security threats tied to AI features in mainstream video conferencing platforms, underscoring the urgency for robust safeguards.
In 2026, forward-thinking organizations should prioritize deployment of modular wireless conferencing solutions that integrate seamlessly with IT infrastructure, offer secure connectivity, centralize management, and uplevel flexibility to evolve with changing requirements. Treating meeting rooms as true IT endpoints gives technology leaders visibility and control while reducing operational complexity.
AI moves from hype to necessity
The era of buying solutions simply because they feature AI is over, as Chief AI Officers pop up across enterprises and the midmarket alike to declaratively leverage value from investments. CIOs now demand proof of ROI in tandem with the improved collaboration to faster decision-making outcomes they enable.
Major technology providers like Microsoft and Google are working to prove the value of their AI-powered solutions. The answer increasingly lies in employee feedback and adoption metrics, which serve as early indicators of whether outputs are actually driving the desired outcomes.
IT will play an upsized role in personalizing meeting environments, enabling self-healing hardware that reduces their own burden, and surfacing actionable insights as the interpreters of new human-centered metrics. Gauging how often employees initiate AI features and the sentiment around new tools is precursory to reporting beyond raw usage statistics and connecting investments to measurable time savings, increases in output, and demonstrable cross-functional business impact.
Meeting room technologies with AI at the edge will be a critical next wave in addressing ongoing issues in a culture stitched together by hybrid meetings. Automatic camera framing keeps speakers centered, while intelligent audio calibration that eliminates echo and background noise and real-time transcription and translation makes meetings more inclusive. These solutions enhance the meeting experience at both the room and individual level – creating environments that feel more natural and inclusive for participants, rather than adding complexity.
The bottom line is CIOs must prioritize AI solutions that solve real problems, avoiding “AI-washing” and focusing on tangible value. Demand proof, measure adoption, and let employee feedback guide your investments.
Also Read: CIO Influence Interview with Carl Froggett, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Deep Instinct
Sustainability returns as a strategic priority
Business leaders’ demands for cost efficiency, risk mitigation and long-term resilience are reinventing how sustainability shows up practically in the workplace beyond conceptual best practice. Foresighted organizations view it not just as an obligation, but as an innovation opportunity to create workspaces that are both environmentally responsible and operationally resilient.
AI is simplifying the detailed tracking and measurement of Scope 3 emissions (the indirect emissions from the entire value chain), including purchased goods and services. AI-powered analytics make it feasible to track device lifecycles, calculate the carbon footprint of technology deployments and identify optimization opportunities without fully re-architecting IT processes. These are just two applications of how data transforms sustainability from a compliance checkbox into a strategic advantage.
While regional approaches vary, EU organizations often emphasize regulatory compliance and circular economy principles and US companies tend to focus on cost savings and extended device lifecycles. However, stricter ESG reporting requirements, renewable energy commitments, and circular economy principles are universally shaping IT operations towards meeting their most-strenuous regulatory needs to ultimately reduce complexity.
For meeting room technology, sustainability means choosing modular solutions with built-in longevity and lifecycle services that can adapt to evolving standards, reduce electronic waste and extend hardware life. Features like secure-by-design architecture, energy-efficient operation, and upgradable components allow CIOs to maximize device value while meeting ESG goals. Getting more utility from devices over longer lifecycles isn’t just environmentally sound, but also delivers on a financially-prudent clear value proposition.
Actionable takeaways for CIOs
- Invest in modular, AI-ready meeting systems that integrate with IT infrastructure and can evolve with changing requirements.
- Demand measurable ROI and employee-level adoption metrics – focus on outcomes, not just features or output statistics.
- Use sustainability data to drive long-term decisions and optimize lifecycles.
- Prioritize security from the design phase – zero-trust architecture and end-to-end encryption must be foundational, not afterthoughts.
In 2026, IT leaders who embrace these priorities aren’t just managing technology – they’re shaping the future of their organization’s culture, driving operational efficiency, and securing the future of work.
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