A Year in Review: Annual Reflections and Takeaways from 2025
Today we close the book on 2025—a year of tumultuous turns, renewed momentum and some hard-earned perspective. Above all else, this was a year that absolutely demanded adaptation and rewarded those paying close attention. That’s why we’re bringing together this Year in Review hub.
Gathering our complete collection of annual reflections, editorial coverage and deep dives from across 2025, this “Year in Review” hub aims to offer a comprehensive look at everything that shaped (and shook) the custom integration industry up until this point.
Rather than delivering on a single perspective, we wanted to create this hub to serve as a multifaceted reference point: capturing the context, themes and turning points that defined 2025 and continue to influence the road ahead.
Whether you’re revisiting major developments or exploring the broader forces shaping the industry, this hub provides a clear, connected review of the year that was, and why it still matters.
Voices, Opinions & Editorial Reflections
Part of our year-end coverage for 2025 consisted of reaching out to dealers and manufacturers to get their thoughts on how the year played out in their respective areas of the industry. In these gathered articles, you will see a collection of varied perspectives offering their reviews and analyses of what happened in custom integration in 2025.
- Kyle Steele of Global Wave Integration on The CI Industry’s Biggest Lessons From 2025
- Adam Zell of Boston Automations on What Shaped the CI Industry in 2025
- Scott Geltz of Audio Video Outfitters with Reflections on CI in 2025
- Sonance’s Ari Supran on Design-Forward Technology and the Power of Disappearing AV in 2025
- ai’s Alex Capecelatro on How AI and User Expectations Shaped the Smart Home in 2025
- Crestron’s Michael Short Looks Back at a More ‘Intentional’ Homeowner and User in 2025
- CEDIA’s Daryl Friedman on the Industry’s 2025 Lessons
- Vanco’s Mark Corbin: Minimalist Design and Strong Infrastructure Defined 2025 Projects
- D-Tools’ Tim Bigoness on Data, Demand and a More Mature Integration Market in 2025
- HTSA’s Jon Robbins on Relationship Science, AI Adoption and Integrator Value
- CE Pro Recaps 2025: A Year Defined by Design, Security and the Push for Reliability
The Top News Stories of 2025
Massive regulatory shifts, upheavals in trade policy, high-profile leadership exits and emerging market forces all dominated the headlines of 2025. In assessing what to gather from the myriad news stories of the year, we selected 10 of the top articles on the site that not only garnered the most attention from integrators but also still hold relevance heading into 2026.
Technology and Product Evolution
Each year there’s at least a handful of product innovations and breakthroughs that really excite the channel. From being able to control lighting over Romex wire to RGB TVs, 2025 had its own list of stand-out products to pick from, so we chose 20 product releases throughout the year that highlighted the evolution of technology in 2025, as well as those that made us really excited to see in field.
Industry Trends and Market Shifts
Throughout the year, CE Pro assembles a vast trove of data that seeks to pull major product developments and trends from the market. These Deep Dives serve as snapshots of the industry as they are assembled and distributed, which, when combined, aim to serve as fuller pictures of shifting verticals throughout custom integration, and 2025 is no different.
- CE Pro’s Business Software Deep Dive Reveals How Integrators Are Balancing AI and Complexity
- From Add-On to Anchor Category: Shading Solidifies as Custom Integration’s Growth Engine
- Multipurpose Media Rooms Surge on Projects
- Lighting Controls Continue to Provide High-Ticket Sales for Integrators
- Outdoor Installations Continue Their Hot Streak for Integrators
Business, Policy & Legal Developments
2025 served as a pivotal year for both policy and business developments throughout custom integration. Several major mergers and acquisitions occurred during the year, in addition to tariffs providing a drastic shake-up to the way manufacturers conduct business. Additionally, 2025 served as a crucial moment for custom integration as advocates continue to fight for business reclassification within the federal government.
- How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Impacts Small Businesses
- Ed Note: How is Your Business Communicating Tariff Impacts?
- Samsung Considering Relocating TV Production Due to Tariffs
- Tariff Shifts May Reshape U.S. TV Market in Favor of Korean Brands
- A Comprehensive Guide to Tariffs for the Custom Integration Industry
- Behind CEDIA’s Strategy to Define Not Just Itself, But an Entire Industry
- 529 Savings Plans Now Cover Integrator Trade Education Following CEDIA Advocacy
- 2nd Smart Home Day on Capitol Hill Talks Tariffs, CEDIA Channel Importance
- The U.S. Government Might Ban TP-Link Routers
