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Sony Renews Commitment to CE Channel (This is Not an Advertorial)
Integration-friendly products and a new fulfillment model highlight Sony's renewed focus on custom integrators
Sony integration wall at CEDIA 2009
You've seen the Sony advertorials peppered through CEPro.com, and some of you are giving the company flak.
I'd say, give Sony a chance. They may have lost touch with the custom community over the past few years but the company seems genuinely committed today.
At CEDIA 2009, Sony has a giant wall demonstrating its two-way integration with third-party controllers. Sony products, most notably the company's new BDP-CX7000ES Blu-ray megachanger, now integrate seamlessly into AMX, Control4, Crestron, Escient Vantage and other control systems.
So, for example, all of the discs in your Blu-ray changer appear among the other titles in your media library – all in one seamless interface provided by the automation company.
Neal Manowitz, director of Sony's home audio and video business, tells me the company's new STR-DA5500ES is the first receiver certified by Control4 for two-way IP communications.
So Sony is clearly committed to integration. How about the business of custom installation?
Sony is now offering dealers an advanced exchange warranty, so if a customer's product goes down, they don’t have to wait long for a replacement.
Also, Sony is embarking on a "huge fulfillment program," says Manowitz.
Through five stocking warehouses, the company promises speedier shipping than ever before.
"In the past, it has been a challenge to get product to our customers quickly," says Manowitz. "Customers [dealers] want to cut down on inventory."
With the new fulfillment system, dealers will be able to check Sony's inventory, real-time, and receive accurate feedback on ship dates.
"It's the best of distribution but within the Sony framework," Manowitz explains.
The new dealer-direct program applies to "everything they [dealers] buy from Sony," he adds.
Manowitz concedes that its has been "challenging to do business with Sony in the past," but that is changing.
"We see the opportunity in this market," he says. "We know housing is going to come back. Let's invest heavily now, instead of scaling back."
I'd say, give Sony a chance. They may have lost touch with the custom community over the past few years but the company seems genuinely committed today.
At CEDIA 2009, Sony has a giant wall demonstrating its two-way integration with third-party controllers. Sony products, most notably the company's new BDP-CX7000ES Blu-ray megachanger, now integrate seamlessly into AMX, Control4, Crestron, Escient Vantage and other control systems.
So, for example, all of the discs in your Blu-ray changer appear among the other titles in your media library – all in one seamless interface provided by the automation company.
Neal Manowitz, director of Sony's home audio and video business, tells me the company's new STR-DA5500ES is the first receiver certified by Control4 for two-way IP communications.
So Sony is clearly committed to integration. How about the business of custom installation?
Sony is now offering dealers an advanced exchange warranty, so if a customer's product goes down, they don’t have to wait long for a replacement.
Also, Sony is embarking on a "huge fulfillment program," says Manowitz.
Through five stocking warehouses, the company promises speedier shipping than ever before.
"In the past, it has been a challenge to get product to our customers quickly," says Manowitz. "Customers [dealers] want to cut down on inventory."
With the new fulfillment system, dealers will be able to check Sony's inventory, real-time, and receive accurate feedback on ship dates.
"It's the best of distribution but within the Sony framework," Manowitz explains.
The new dealer-direct program applies to "everything they [dealers] buy from Sony," he adds.
Manowitz concedes that its has been "challenging to do business with Sony in the past," but that is changing.
"We see the opportunity in this market," he says. "We know housing is going to come back. Let's invest heavily now, instead of scaling back."
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About the Author
Julie Jacobson, Editor-at-large, CE Pro
Julie Jacobson is co-founder of EH Publishing and currently spends most of her time writing for CE Pro, mostly in the areas of home automation, networked A/V and the business of home systems integration. She majored in Economics at the University of Michigan, earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, and has never taken a journalism class in her life. Julie is a washed-up Ultimate Frisbee player with the scars to prove it. Follow her on Twitter @juliejacobson.
3 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
I call Bullsh!t. It’s a repeat and their only here now as an opportunistic play. If the housing market doesn’t come back fast enough… If the integrator business doesn’t inflate fast enough… if the burden of dealer support or fulfillment or advanced exchanges is more than anticipated…
Peace Out!! They’re outta there.
It’s a gamble for any integrator that’s gonna build business on Sony and if history is any judge…
Not a roll of the dice I’d bet on anyway.
Good luck to Sony attracting committed dealers. Me thinks they’ll need it.
Joel, of course it’s opportunistic. We all should be!
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Doesn’t sound like Sony. Have they been taken over by aliens? Invasion of the Sony Snatchers?