Day 2 - The Amazon Effect

I’ve set myself a challenge during this years CEDIA Show in San Diego. I’ve got to get a blog out every day of the show.

The CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association) industry has taken it’s annual EXPO to San Diego this year and has literally taken over the Gaslamp and Convention Centre areas of this coastal gem in California. CEDIA 2017 is a 100% dedicated to Home Technology show running between 5th and 9th of September. Over 500 exhibitors and 150 training courses are available to visitors to the show.

The doors opened to the show floor and visitors to the show poured in to experience the best and latest in home technology. I had barely walked 5 steps through the entrance and was faced by the huge Lutron booth. Highlights from this global lighting and shades specialist were the launch of the RA2 Select controller for larger wireless installations, a new Pico scene controller and a slick looking Lutron app for control of your home including simple access for the homeowner to change their automation and scene preferences.

On the Lutron booth I had the great pleasure of meeting Rob from The Tech Reps and we spoke in length about The One Day Smart Home concept and business model and how Lutron can be a big part of the speedy installation process.

Next up we spent some time with the fabulous guys and girls from Leon Speakers and were wowed by the products they create to conceal your everyday technology.

A major highlight was getting a tour of the Smart Life Roadshow trailer. This Smart Home experience by Intel and Amazon Alexa is a must follow on social media. The lifestyle enhancements they are promoting using home technology is inspiring for the Customised team as we are about to create our own Smart Life facility in Norfolk.

I had the amazing privilege of meeting and chatting with Carley Knobloch on the CEDIA booth and got some quick insights from her about the benefits a smarter home can bring a homeowner and their family. Carley did a fantastic job hosting the CEDIA Awards held during the show. Find Carley on Instagram, @carleyknobloch.

After lunch I attended the Keynote by Amazon Home Services and have to admit that after this captivating presentation ended I was dazed by the announcements. Amazon have handed CEDIA members the mid market home technology opportunity on a plate. They have provided the CEDIA channel with a signposted trail to the mass market. The news of Amazon Home Sevices endorsing and promoting CEDIA certified member businesses will prove to be the catalyst that kicks that exponential curve in a rapid ascent to high volume installation work for CEDIA members.

Amazon Saves CEDIA blog coming very soon!

It was great to see that Amazon place great importance on the need for CEDIA members listed to be CEDIA ESC qualified. Customised have had ESC-T qualified staff since 2011 and had minor marketing perks to having this certification until now. Now we have a waiting game until Home Services launches in the UK. I will be making enquiries into possible launch dates for a UK service.

Last night I had the great pleasure of attending the HomeTech Podcast Happy Hour in the awesome Gaslamp area of the city. It was a lot of fun meeting the hosts of my favourite podcast in person and to meet fellow listeners of the show who I’ve spoken with on social media and forums. This is a major part of the CEDIA experience, meeting with friends, discussing the industry and sharing experiences to benefit each other. A great night thanks to the sponsors iHummingbird.

Looking onwards to Day 3 of the show, more training courses are booked with Sonos, Lutron and CEDIA, meetings are arranged with Honeywell, Ring and Nest and the evening is planned at the Just Add Power party back in the Gaslamp region.

Follow the Customised Story at CEDIA 2017 on Instagram, search for @customised1.