Your ability to ahead of the curve by anticipating customer needs and solving business challenges is what keeps you relevant.
But remaining out in front is getting harder. You’re an integrator. You’re not in the business of enabling AI or ensuring strong cybersecurity posture … or are you? Increasingly, it doesn’t matter what you put on your line card. What your customers expect you to be is what counts.
More and more, end-users are looking to integrators to offer what they can’t easily design, implement, and manage on their own: a single partner that can make disparate systems, platforms, and locations work together reliably, securely, and in ways that support business outcomes.
These expectations reflect opportunity, but they also introduce risk and the need to carefully navigation change.
Turning New Expectations into Opportunity
Through these shifting expectations and demand, we stand ready to address the most pressing issues you face. Our resources, events, consultations, and strategic planning services help integrators confidently evolve into partners that can connect, secure, and manage complex systems without losing sight of profitability and risk.
NSCA’s 2026 priorities, outlined below, focus on helping you pursue opportunity cautiously, strategically, and profitably.
Helping You Improve Leadership Skills
Many integrators are entering 2026 with strong backlogs, which makes financial discipline critical. Strong leadership is essential if you want to seize the opportunities this market presents.
But how can you budget for what you can’t anticipate? How do you manage continual training demands while maintaining productivity? How do you preserve culture, accountability, and pride when expectations around work have changed so dramatically?
Our leadership-focused sessions at the Business & Leadership Conference (BLC) and continued programming throughout 2026 are aimed at helping you make clearer financial decisions.
NSCA also supports financial leaders through skills training, webinars, the data and insights in our Financial Analysis of the Industry report, and the Compensation & Benefits Report (set to be updated in 2026). In addition, we work closely with RISE Performance Group to teach proven Scaling Up principles that keep you focused on the right metrics and priorities.
Providing Industry-Specific AI Guidance
We’re here to help you understand how AI affects your business, your people, and the systems you deliver to customers.
AI is already changing how integrators design systems, manage projects, develop proposals, support customers, and run day-to-day operations. Our members are using AI to:
- Reduce design time
- Improve job costing
- Automate administrative work
- Enhance sales enablement
- Identify new service and monitoring opportunities
As issues around data security, confidentiality, intellectual property, legal exposure, and workforce impact evolve quickly, responsible adoption matters. We’re here to help you stay informed, ask the right questions, and move forward intentionally.
In 2026, NSCA will continue to focus AI conversations on how to use the technology safely and effectively. Through AI-focused BLC sessions, webinars, blogs committee work, and resources like the AI Policy Handbook, NSCA will provide guidance that is practical, industry-specific, and grounded in real member experiences.
Developing Next-Gen Leadership and Improving Talent Pipelines
Integrators recognize the ongoing need for new talent (technical and back office) and the need to continue developing future company leaders.
NSCA remains focused on helping members identify and develop emerging leaders within their organizations. Initiatives such as the Excellence in Business Operations (XBO) Experience event and Next-Generation Academy content help companies recognize employees’ leadership potential earlier so they can create clearer growth pathways.
At the same time, NSCA is expanding its focus on talent pipelines. In 2026, we’ll introduce a Workforce Development Playbook packed with practical, industry-specific tools to help you attract and develop talent. It will include guidance on:
- Building school partnerships
- Engaging educators
- Promoting career awareness
- Strengthening onboarding and early-career development
Improving Visibility and Access to Member Resources
NSCA invests heavily in resources to help you operate more effectively and profitably.
Our members have access to more than 650 templates and tools through our Essentials Library, as well as vetted partners they can connect with through our Member Advisory Council and Business Accelerators programs. We also maintain a deep library of research, articles, advocacy resources, and economic updates.
In 2026, we’re focusing on better organizing, presenting, and accessing these resources so you can quickly find the tools and insights you need (and discover tools you didn’t even know you had access to!).
Providing Guidance on Regulations and Compliance
Proposed laws and regulations may limit your ability to operate profitably, including legislation related to prevailing wage expansion and restrictions on limited-power installations like Power over Ethernet.
NSCA actively monitors legislative activity and works with the Connected Technologies Industry Consortium to advocate on behalf of the industry. We also track developments related to cybersecurity, school safety (through PASS K-12), sustainability, and licensing.
We encourage you to use our legislative portal and resources, such as the Guide to State Licensing, to stay informed about new requirements and proposed changes.
A Note of Thanks
The pace of change facing integrators is relentless. Beyond technology, you must navigate margin pressure, compliance challenges, consolidation, and economic uncertainty.
We thank the members who rely on NSCA for resources, insight, and advocacy to confront these headwinds with confidence and clarity. We’re proud to serve as your business resource, your industry voice, and your trusted advisor.
None of this work happens without you. We look forward to supporting your continued success in 2026 and beyond.
