CEDIA has unveiled the outputs from its new strategic plan that will prioritise the work of the association over the next three years.

“The strategy process provided an unparalleled opportunity to align the values, interests and input of all of CEDIA’s key stakeholders. We have been able to build consensus on what success should look like for CEDIA at the end of this strategy and how we as an organisation will get there,” says CEDIA chairman David Humphries.

The strategic plan has been developed jointly by CEDIA staff and board, with input from members and guidance from strategy expert Dr. Rebecca Homkes. It aims to achieve significant advances and leadership in three key areas – education, increasing professionalism through standards, guidelines and best practices, and deeper engagement and partnership with the design and build community.

“CEDIA is committed to members and their success, and this process created clarity around the priorities that provide the most meaningful benefit to them individually and to the industry as a whole,” says CEDIA global president and chief executive Tabatha O’Connor.

“The overall health of the industry is dependent upon a well-trained and professional workforce and CEDIA’s responsibility is to deliver education pathways to support that. CEDIA will seek to enhance the overall education experience through refining, curating and developing new, relevant and compelling courses. This will include an improved digital experience as well as expanded regional education offerings.”

In order to achieve its goal of advancing education, CEDIA has scheduled over 50 regional training events for 2018 in 12 countries, including the US, India, Colombia, Australia, China and countries across Europe.

Tabatha says the association will also be deeply engaged with relevant standards bodies to create and influence the direction of industry standards.

“The ever-evolving nature of technology makes it especially important to ensure the highest level of expertise, which leads to consistent, successful client outcomes. We know time is a limited resource, so we will distil down these technical documents to deliver the information in a way that is quick and easy to understand, and can be immediately implemented.”

CEDIA will collaborate with manufacturers to facilitate adoption of the standards in new product development. The association will also seek to better understand product road maps and how CEDIA education can advance awareness, understanding and implementation of these new technologies.

To develop deeper engagement with the design and build community, CEDIA currently has a proven, successful initiative supporting this effort – the CEDIA Outreach Instructor programme — that will get more emphasis and focus.

“Throughout this process we looked long and hard at how to move the needle for the industry and for CEDIA members we determined that it was by building awareness and creating demand for CEDIA members’ services with architects, builders and designers,” says David.

“We plan to engage in an integrated marketing campaign, including hiring a media relations firm specialised in this area, to ensure that architects, builders and designers know who we are, what we do and why they need to work with their local CEDIA member,” says David.

Efforts have been ramping up over the last two years, highlighted by the successful CEDIA Technology Solutions Pavilion at Design and Construction Week. This annual trade show is attended by 80,000 architects, builders and designers.

“We are incredibly energised about the future — for both our industry and our association. We look forward to sharing our progress and success with the members,” says Tabatha.