In our series of #CEDIAShares blogs, we’re talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they’re looking to see at CEDIA Expo 2021.
Q&A with Mitch Klein, executive director, Z-Wave Alliance.
Why CEDIA?
The Z-Wave Alliance and our members look to CEDIA Expo to connect with the residential professional install community — it’s an important venue to learn about new trends and products, and educate on the benefits of Z-Wave. At CEDIA, Z-Wave Alliance members have the opportunity to connect with dealers and integrators that have direct contact with the consumers that our member companies are working to influence each day. Through our connection with CEDIA installers, we are able to gain an understanding of what the industry is doing right, what it’s doing wrong, and how we can cater to the ever-changing needs of today’s consumers both now and in the future as the industry continues to evolve.
We also offer a membership level targeted specifically for installers, so it’s a great opportunity to connect one-on-one and educate on the benefits of joining the Alliance.
What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?
We’re looking forward to supporting our members in sharing new product options and technology updates for Z-Wave, and how trends such as AI, voice control, and the growth of the security are currently impacting the market. One trend we continue to see grow year-on-year is the popularity of smart home technology outside of the single-family home, in MDU and hospitality spaces. Several of our members are creating Z-Wave-based solutions and contributing to installs in these settings, and with the introduction of new technical capabilities, like Z-Wave Long Range, we hope to see that market continue to grow.
What will you focus on at the show?
As the Z-Wave Alliance celebrates 20 years of Z-Wave at CEDIA Expo, we’re proud to share that our product ecosystem continues to grow — we now have over 3500 certified secure interoperable devices on the market, offering the pro-install community and their customers a wider breadth of choice. Attendees can stop by the Z-Wave Pavilion to learn about the latest Z-Wave-integrated applications and emerging smart home and IoT products from members Alarm.com, Jasco, Masonite, Qolsys, Yale, Zooz, and more.
As the smart home continues to flourish, the Z-Wave Alliance is happy to see growing conversations around interoperability and the future of IoT. We’ll tackle that topic in a CEDIA education session, on August 31, from 3:00-4:30 PM ET, in a session titled “Platform Playground: Shaping the Future of the Smart Home & Where Protocols Face Opportunities and Challenges.” I’ll be joined with several leading manufacturers from other standards organizations, such as Zigbee and Matter, to have a never-before-held discussion on the state of interoperability in the smart home. We’ll discuss how the smart home will evolve with legacy protocols and ecosystems supporting new initiatives, as well as the differences between each platform, news and trends, and opportunities and challenges within the smart home, and offer perspective and insight into ongoing and future industry collaborations.
To learn more, check out Z-Wave Alliance in Booth #3346 at CEDIA Expo 2021 and visit https://z-wavealliance.org/.
