As with everything to do with technology, custom integration is an ever evolving industry. We here at CE Pro see it and hear about it constantly, which is why each year we like to take a look at some of the top home technology trends we happen to notice when we cover stories or talk to other members of the industry. And so, being halfway into the start of the new year, we’re releasing our 2025 trend report for the custom integration and home technology industry.
To keep it simple for 2025, we’re sticking to 5 home technology trends that cover a decent spread of the industry, with this year’s report looking at developments spanning from home energy to security and voice control. Read on to find out more about each individual trend, and stay tuned as we release more in-depth dives into each topic this week.
While consumer preference has been trending towards big-screen TVs for a while, data shows the trend really started to take off following COVID lockdowns. Once considered a sizeable purchase, a 65-inch TV is now seen as yawn-worthy by many clients an integrators, with more routinely opting to purchase 70-, 80-, 90- and even 100-inch screen sizes for projects, and that preference will continue to grow heading into 2025.
Robert Zohn, president and founder of Value Electronics, a N.Y.-based specialty retailer and integration company that is known for its TV Shootout events, told CE Pro, “The increased trend for larger TV screens has also developed because the new TVs have greatly improved upscale processing so the picture quality when rendered on a large screen looks stunning. Even low-resolution cable, OTA [over the air], and all streaming services that are compressed look like beautiful native 4K HDR.”
Voice control remains the most advanced (and most convenient) way of controlling smart home systems that integrators can offer. Instead of scrolling through lists on a computer interface, users can simply speak, and, ideally, the unit will know exactly what the client wants done on which device.
Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.
Past iterations have certainly been on the clunkier side of things, however, the recent investments into AI have caused the technology to really take off. Google, Apple and Amazon have all tossed prior voice assistants to replace them with newer AI, but what sets the CEDIA channel apart from these other companies is the emphasis on user experience vs user data.
One exciting example of how voice assistants are leveraging new generative AI models in the CEDIA channel is through the ability to create custom scenes and automations using simple language.
Many voice assistants offer the ability for users to say things like “Dim the lights slowly at 10 p.m. and lock the doors,” or “Turn on the front door lights when there is motion in the driveway.”
This doesn’t require any programming knowledge or technical know-how — just a voice.
Home batteries have been in the home tech space for a while, however, their association with solar as well as their proposed use cases from manufacturers have always kept them at arm’s length from wider dealer adoption. Back when they were first introduced, the hype energy savings didn’t quite match the price tag.
However, that’s all changed as AI and industrial onshoring have skyrocketed electricity prices and put immense strains on an overtaxed grid. Now, home batteries are being viewed as energy savers AND a better alternative to a diesel-powered back up generator for speed and reliability as integrators have finally cracked the code as to what the full value proposition of a home battery is.
Robert Anderson of Premiere SAV explained it as luxury homeowners wanting to get the most out of what they pay for, and in recent years, that energy, for many throughout the U.S. no longer provides that value proposition. Home batteries, then, will continue to rise as a means of breaking that dependency while adding resiliency to the home grid.
Vendor and distributor supplied design services have continued to grow in popularity as they allow integrators to offload some of the labor of a project, often at little to no cost to the integrator. Integrators have gone so far to say it’s often easier and more logical to rely on supplier relationships as opposed to stretching staff thin with too many tasks.
Suppliers have also made it easier than ever for integrators to tether project designs to these services. Many lighting providers, for example, offer their own design services. Networking companies can provide wireless heat maps. Even audio makers are capable of specifying recommended speaker designs for indoor and outdoor settings.
Nowhere has this been seen more, though, in networking and lighting, with the former becoming a mission-critical technology for integration customers, despite integrators not always having the ability to generate heat maps to ensure full coverage.
Early applications of AI in the home technology integration industry grab headlines when talking about home automation systems and voice control, but ahead of the curve the more practical applications of cutting-edge intelligence are in security systems.
Leveraging computer vision and advanced analytics, surveillance systems are now capable of detecting the presence of humans, packages, vehicles, license plates, faces, and more, adding a new layer of security and personalization for homeowners who want an advanced level of detail from their security systems.
AI-powered surveillance can also integrate with other smart home solutions. For example, MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport), a standard IoT protocol, facilitates seamless communication between Axis IP devices and home automation systems.
Interested in learning more about these topics? Stay tuned as we continue to publish deeper looks into 2025’s home technology trends throughout the week.
The post 2024 Lighting Controls and Fixtures Report appeared first on CEPRO.