Industry opinion Smart home opportunities
Electrical contractors are in a prime position to take advantage of the growing opportunities in the smart home market, as CEDIA executive director Wendy Griffi ths explains
C
EDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) is the international trade body for designers, installers and suppliers of smart home systems, covering integrated and centrally
controlled audio and video, TV, home cinema, data networking, communications, lighting, HVAC, security and other electronic technologies. As such, the recent 2021 Vision: The Future of the Electrical Contracting Industry report, put together by the ECA and the NICEIC, gave us plenty of food for thought. Among the key stand-outs were these fi ndings: 94 per cent of electrical contractors surveyed saw ‘intelligent buildings with integrated control systems’ as an opportunity;
92 per cent are looking to obtain new skills for installation and maintenance of new technologies;
12.9 per cent saw an anticipated change to the electrical industry, due to the increase in intelligent building systems, controls and smart technology; and
9.1 per cent saw integrated new technologies as the main opportunity for their business (renewable energy was 19.8 per cent).
Clearly, the smart home market is forecast as a major area of business growth for electrical contractors. The question is how to turn this aspiration into a reality.
Developing business
Many contractors may already be involved in the sector, running Cat5 cabling infrastructures or working with home security, lighting control and other relatively familiar electronic technologies. Others may be sub-contracted to custom installation companies, carrying out the pre- wiring electrical installation work without having a role in the design, integration or installation of the major electronic control systems and components. Working more closely and developing business relationships with CEDIA members is an obvious way that contractors can grow their own business, and carry out more work on smart homes. Others may feel they’d like to diversify, and build a custom installation arm to their existing business. After all, custom installation is a natural business development for those already providing one facet of a residential custom installation contract. This is a market where training is the key to success. The technologies, terminologies and integration skills required
are likely to demand a major step up from where many electrical contractors are at the moment. The major differences between contracting and smart home installations are in the design and specifi cation, as well as knowing which products can work together to provide the solutions the client is seeking. CEDIA ESP (Electronic Systems Professional) members must know design and installation techniques inside and out. They are typically responsible for all the design and specifi cation related to their discipline and, as such, must carry the relevant design liability (professional indemnity), which has to be run continuously.
Today, more and more sub- systems within the home are being integrated into residential custom installation projects
Providing service Sharp, customer-facing skills are also required. Many CEDIA ESP members are dealing direct with wealthy homeowners. Some never get to meet the homeowner at all and simply deal with their chosen representatives, be they architects, interior designers or personal assistants. Polished documentation, faultless delivery and fantastic after-sales care is essential – service is required in spades. CEDIA is the recognised badge of quality in this industry and the benchmark provider of training in the home technology market. The association offers training from basic introduction through to specialist education, such as full industry certifi cation examinations.
About the author
Wendy Griffi ths Wendy Griffi ths is executive director of CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association). She joined CEDIA in 2002, and has acted as executive director since 2007. She heads up the association across Region 1 (the UK, Europe, Russia, Middle East, India and Pakistan).
This education programme covers the entire spectrum of the industry. It includes a recently launched ‘Wired for Technology’ introduction course for electrical contractors that costs only £70 (inc. VAT) for ECA members, when they quote discount code ECA2012 on booking (dates are available from the CEDIA website www.cediaeducation. com). CEDIA also offers training on IP and networking technology, which is an increasingly relevant area, and allows installers to program products and systems effectively. The smart home industry is an evolving one. It began life rooted very much in audio-visual systems. Today, more and more electronic sub-systems within the home are being integrated into residential custom installation projects. At the same time, technology awareness amongst consumers has risen, and lifestyle changes – such as an increase in people working from home and the growth in popularity of iPads, iPods and apps – are driving homeowner aspirations and expectations ever higher. The industry has changed and will continue to change in the future. For more information on CEDIA call 01480 213744 or visit
www.cedia.co.uk
May 2012 ECA Today 23
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