1. Reclaim ownership of content

The new age of content is on streaming services. One of the major issues with this is that those streaming services are deciding to chop and change content availability whenever they want and raise the monthly subscriptions seemingly as often as they like.

The only way to guarantee that a piece of content is truly yours is to purchase it in hard format. This guarantees compression-free data, not to mention the appreciation of owning something that can be sold again and quite possibly a collector’s item in years to come, if not already (check out how 4K disc sales are on the rise).

There are solutions on the market that will store your discs, play them without compression and give you an intuitive streaming-like interface.

Playing without compression is important to integrators because it can play to your system’s optimal settings, not having to muck around with the right streaming hardware or software.

2. Enhanced 24/7 security in residential

There’s a requirement for security systems to become more intelligent, adding constant monitoring and facial recognition to keep loved ones and possessions safe.

Imagine a system that’s able to ensure loved ones are in good health and send a message if the system detects any level of distress or uncertainty about their wellbeing.

Facial recognition on video surveillance can let users know if intruders are in areas they shouldn’t be and with the integrated ability to act on the situation.

Security is going to be needed more in the future with its ever-growing demand and we will continue to ask more of its abilities. Where there’s a demand, there will be a solution.

3. AI-enhanced integration adoption

Our smart tech will get a smarter upgrade, with artificial intelligence (AI) our integrated systems will have the ability to evolve and predict. They will be able to adapt to our needs and help us when we make a mistake.

And the more integrated a home is today, the easier it will be to receive an AI upgrade in the future.

No more will there be a need to design and write pages of logic and code… all we will be required to do is create a simple prompt and AI will carry out the most logical outcome and better itself as time goes on… now isn’t that something?

4. Old school, new Kool

Just seeing the faces of fellow integrators as they see our ‘vintage’ collection of user interfaces in our recently opened showroom reminds me of how it all started. The curious mind of a child wanting to know how everything worked, starting with the bare basics in electronics and programming using simple logic.

I believe there will be a reignited interest in the old-school tech we grew up with in the days when you could actually read the colour codes and part numbers on transistors and resistors. Things were so much simpler back then, it was clear which capacitor was destroyed by looking for the large burnt section on the PCB.

With nanotech and programming now written in native tongue, we have evolved. Alongside that, we have lost the ability to learn the fundamentals of what, how and why.

I see more enthusiastic and curious integrators taking an interest in the fundamentals of how we made it to where we are today, ripping back the covers and seeing how things work so we don’t lose touch with our roots.

5. Licensing and certifications: Without them you’re missing out on quality business

With our customers understanding how critical our role is in their new artificial high-tech environments, they won’t be looking for just anyone with a screwdriver, laptop and fancy sign on a van.

They will want someone they trust, and without a referral how will they decide on their future integration expert? The answer is licensing, certifications and members of reparable organisations such as CEDIA.

If you’re looking to grow or expand your business without the right licencing and training, you may well be missing out… big time not to mention how difficult it may be to find insurance to cover yourself.

I predict more service providers will be contacting their local organisation representatives to seek advice on how to make sure they are not missing out on opportunities and protecting themselves in such a fast-paced industry.