The ability for manufacturers to adapt to the evolving custom electronics industry is always top of mind, and fostering innovative solutions remains vital. For control companies that serve the residential and commercial technology markets, such as Minnesota-based RTI, it’s especially important since their solutions anchor the integrated systems.
Toward that end, RTI has been extremely busy over the past year catering to its existing and prospective dealers by updating its system design platform, launching new products and categories, and adding key personnel to strengthen the integrator partner relationship.
“What we’ve done is define who we are and compelling solutions for our key markets,” says CEO Joe Roberts.
“We provide solutions for six market segments, which are office space, hospitality, houses of worship, education, luxury transportation, and of course, residential. We’re not just a residential player. When we started off with remotes, clearly that was all we did. Our company is 32 years old, but this evolution of where our customers have been going has been happening steadily over the last 10 years.”
The company has always exhibited at the major industry conclaves – CEDIA Expo, InfoComm, and Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) – and some residential dealers still don’t know RTI has commercial solutions, while commercial integrators may not be aware of RTI’s residential business, Roberts notes.
Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.
“We have commercial integrators right now that only know us for our commercial solutions, and we have residential dealers that don’t know our breadth of products designed for commercial applications,” he remarks.
“We find there are a lot of integrators that will use one brand for one solution and a different brand for another solution – when you do this you have overhead of multiple categories of products, multiple brand sources that you’re buying, and of course multiple control systems to learn.”
Meanwhile, for RTI dealers the company’s wide market presence helps mitigate the professional training otherwise required to learn the ins and outs of multiple control lines.
Director of Product Management Neal Ellsworth showed off RTI’s latest solutions portfolio at CEDIA Expo 2024. (Courtesy of Arlen Schweiger)
When it comes to integrators learning about and experiencing these solutions at a big tradeshow, the breadth of technologies points the initial booth discussions to how systems are specified. RTI always starts with its powerful Integration Designer tool that has been bolstered with features for the latest edition.
The company not too long ago rolled out Integration Designer 11, which added more auto-programming, built-in driver library, new GUI template, icons and backgrounds, custom sliders, and other integrator-friendly features.
Two of the biggest changes were the driver library, so programmers do not have to leave the page to go find a driver elsewhere, and the Coral GUI template, which offers endless ways to create a compelling and easy-to-use navigation platform.
“A lot of integrators will choose one platform for something small, like a small residential media room, but then they’ll use something different when they’re going to design a large home or office. With Integration Designer, you don’t have to choose – you can tackle simple to intricate with equal ease and accessibility,” Roberts points out.
“You can train one person, and they can go from a single room to unlimited size in any segment. It’s fast and it’s template-based so what that means is you can just get in, get out, get paid, and have it be where it’s just kind of designed for you.”
But he adds that another important element for integrators is that RTI does not lock them into the templates. They can start creating fully customized GUIs that cater to whatever layout and conveniences the homeowners find most beneficial to their daily lifestyle.
In addition to residential, RTI defined five commercial verticals including corporate office spaces as one of its target markets. (Courtesy of RTI)
“If you wanted to, you could have a blank canvas and just start there,” Roberts adds.
“You know, crack your knuckles and go to town or you can use the most current template. With Coral and auto-programming you do not even need to move a single pixel to get a great design installed.”
Another attribute RTI dealers had been requesting, according to Roberts, was for ID 11 to “work with everything.” The company can confidently say they do that by having an open API.
“We have thousands of devices supported right now and we have more added each week,” he says. “These drivers that connect to third-party systems are in our drivers store, and it’s right inside Integration Designer. They’re easy to find and always up to date.”
Count integrator Wendy Vinelli of Atlanta-based GAL Electronics among RTI dealers who have embraced the updated system design platform. Her company performs work in both the residential and commercial sectors, including restaurants, MDU amenities, and conference rooms.
“What I love by far is the ability to customize the interface for every application,” says Vinelli, an RTI dealer for 12 years.
“I can always tell the client, ‘Yes, we can do/control that!’ I feel the need to mention the outstanding technical support team they have in place. Knowledge, respectful and also very friendly.”
In addition to bolstering its residential and commercial integration channel solutions, RTI has also been strengthening its core leadership to help drive more innovation under Roberts and Co-Founder & CTO Kevin Marty. Most notably, RTI brought on longtime Snap One and Core Brands exec Mike Jordan as Chief Product Officer in December 2023. In 2024 the company has introduced a new meetings ecosystem, the Intelligent Surfaces line of touchpanels, remotes and keypads, plus a revamped audio distribution line.
RTI also made several key sales team hires throughout 2024: National Sales Director Eric Randt; Jay Cary as Eastern regional sales manager and Mattie Lillard as inside sales representatives for the East and Central. The company is hiring now for regional and inside sales positions in the west.
Vinelli also offers kudos to the customer service staff for integrators that need assistance, which can be especially appealing to new RTI dealers.
“The support team is going to get you where you need to be when you need either guidance or just an extra set of eyes to see solutions from an alternate point of view,” she shares.
But Vinelli’s overall praise is a testament to Roberts’ vision since joining as CEO nearly five years ago in February 2020.
“Years ago, it was a ‘remote control company.’ Today they are almost a one-stop shop, just add sources, speakers and displays,” she says. “The new audio distribution systems are a giant leap forward in every way, design, control and scalability. MoIP – it is the future now!”
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