In an interview with CE Pro, Total Home Technologies CEO Keith Harrison says homeowner satisfaction with professionally installed smart homes is far lower than most integrators realize. Citing CEDIA data and manufacturer statistics, he notes that satisfaction averages in the high 40% range after one year and falls below 20% after five years. Harrison attributes this to weak networking foundations, inconsistent industry standards, limited customization and a tendency for integrators to undersell the infrastructure required for reliable systems.

He argues the industry still treats automation like a one-time appliance rather than an ongoing service, leading to abandoned systems and frustrated homeowners. Harrison also warns that integrators are behind on AI, while Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung rapidly push predictive home features. He urges dealers to embrace simplicity, lean into mainstream ecosystems when appropriate and design systems built on proper networking, redundancy and long-term service.

Michael Restrepo discusses how passion and purpose drive his work in the custom integration industry, describing Restrepo Innovations as a concierge-style design and build firm focused on meaningful client experiences. He highlights the human impact of smart home technology, the value of community at events like CEDIA Expo/CIX, and his commitment to an optimistic, people-first approach to the business. 

At CEDIA Expo 2025, Harman Luxury Audio’s Jim Garrett joined Convo by Design host Josh Cooperman inside the Volkswagen ID. Buzz “Podcast Van” to discuss how performance, aesthetics, and lifestyle continue to converge in home entertainment. Garrett highlighted Harman’s collaboration with Samsung, integrator feedback as a driver of innovation, and the company’s push toward discreet, design-friendly solutions like invisible loudspeakers. 

Recorded live on the Smart Stage at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, this episode features Ari Supran, CEO of Sonance, delivering one of the show’s most talked-about presentations: “Practical Uses of AI in the Custom Integration Industry.”

In this engaging and highly practical session, Supran walks the audience through how AI is already transforming day-to-day operations inside his company—and how custom integrators can do the same. Instead of focusing on futuristic speculation, he demonstrates how AI tools can save hours of manual work today.

In this exclusive interview conducted during CEDIA Expo/CIX last month in Denver, Buzz Delano, principal consultant at Delano Associates, reflects on the progress he's seen over 30 years in the business. That includes how we've seen design, custom builders, kitchen and bath technology, furniture and decor come to complement audio, video, home theater, networking, windows and shading at events like CEDIA Expo/CIX. This has redefine the entire industry as "the smart home profession," he says. Later in the interview, Delano describes the unique value proposition that Delano News Advance brings to our industry.

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Ring account managers Chris Babiak and Tommy Leonard join CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau to share strategies for growing your integration business with Ring. From creative upselling techniques to cross-industry partnerships and overlooked product features, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help pros build better systems, increase referrals, and boost recurring revenue.

In this episode of the CE Pro Podcast, Paul Williams, Managing Director of Home Management Solutions at Nice, discusses his recent advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill as part of CEDIA’s second annual Smart Home Day. The conversation focuses on why direct engagement with lawmakers is essential for the continued growth and innovation of the smart home industry.

Williams outlines several key policy issues raised during meetings with Congressional staff, including the need for tariff relief on specific imported products, support for the CHIPS and Science Act to bolster domestic semiconductor production, and backing for the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which expands 529 savings plans to cover trade school and certification programs.

The episode underscores how industry-led advocacy efforts are not only elevating the profile of home technology professionals but also shaping future discussions around emerging topics like artificial intelligence and data privacy. Williams encourages broader participation from integrators and manufacturers to ensure the industry's voice is heard as regulations continue to evolve.

Through the publication of his book Richard Charschan, president of AcousticSmart, aims to educate interior designers and architects on the benefits of properly designed home theaters. 

On the latest CE Pro Podcast, Joel Silver of ISF, Jason Dustal of Murideo and AVPro Edge, and Robert Zohn of Value Electronics, explain how even simple calibration adjustments can create happier clients. 

Before lighting fixtures and power management became hot categories in custom integration, the big buzz was about the impact of wireless audio. With multipurpose media rooms becoming the norm, we spoke with WiSA (Wireless Speaker and Audio Association President Tony Ostrom about the state of wireless audio and especially in surround sound settings and other applications as well, in this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode.