Editor’s Note: This article is part a CE Pro series examining the forces that shaped the custom-integration channel in 2025. Throughout December, CE Pro will share perspectives from respected industry voices to help integrators close out the year with a clearer view of where the market is heading.
As the smart home and residential technology sectors look back on 2025, it’s clear the industry experienced both meaningful growth and significant change. To help make sense of the trends, challenges and opportunities that defined the past year, CE Pro spoke with Adam Zell of Boston Automations. His reflections offer context on how shifting technologies, evolving customer expectations and changing business conditions are influencing today’s residential integrators.
CE Pro: How did homeowner expectations or project demands shift in 2025?
Adam Zell: Homeowners came into projects far more educated and opinionated in 2025, especially around lighting, power resilience, and network reliability. They expected fully integrated, design-driven systems rather than piecemeal solutions – essentially a turnkey experience from planning to post-install support. The wealthier the client, the more we hear the words, “Keep it simple,” which is usually due to them having extensive control system and “Smart Home” experience in their other properties. Control system requests have dropped significantly in the last 18 months.
CE Pro: Which categories surprised you in terms of growth or slowdown this year?
Zell: Lighting and power systems grew faster than expected, driven by builders finally recognizing the value of integrators owning that scope. Our ability to showcase these products has helped spur growth, rather than using websites, pamphlets, and videos. The slowdown came in voice-control-centric upgrades and control systems. Fewer clients are asking for voice control, and even when presented with the option, are not overly interested. Clients have shifted back toward tactile, intuitive interfaces as their primary control method; there continues to be pushback on complex handheld remote controls.
CE Pro: What major product launches or acquisitions had the biggest impact in 2025?
Zell: The wave of corporate consolidation created more anxiety than optimism, but a few standout launches cut through the noise—DMF’s new Artafex downlights and linear fixtures were easily the most exciting. On the positive side, AVPro’s acquisition of AudioControl, new investment fueling faster development at D-Tools, and Lutron’s Rania and Lumaris introductions all signaled real innovation and healthy competition.
CE Pro: How did AI adoption or workflow automation evolve across the channel?
Zell: AI finally became a practical tool rather than a buzzword, with firms using it to automate core tasks like documentation, quoting, scheduling, and client communication—and the operational gap grew quickly between those who adopted it and those who didn’t. At Boston Automations, we leaned into AI across the board, using it for scopes of work, SOPs, product research, website and education tools through platforms like Lovable.dev, and AI notetakers like Fathom and Plaud to capture and distribute meeting minutes with total consistency.
CE Pro: What trend or technology failed to gain traction despite early interest?
Zell: Standalone smart-device ecosystems continued to fall flat as clients realized they simply can’t deliver the reliability or refinement expected at the luxury level, and even powerful platforms like Home Assistant have virtually zero penetration in that segment. We also saw limited adoption of water purification and clean-air solutions—not because the need isn’t real, but because other trades resist integrator involvement and homeowners aren’t yet convinced that we’re the ones who should lead those categories.
CE Pro: How did collaboration with builders, designers, or architects change this year?
Zell: Collaboration moved earlier than ever into the design phase as lighting and power became central to our scope, and that shift pushed trade partners to rely on us to keep projects coordinated and on schedule. The trust factor has grown dramatically—five years ago most builders and designers barely understood our role, and now we’re getting proactive calls before projects even break ground. That momentum is reinforced by having a real design studio where partners can see power, lighting, controls, shading, and theater tech firsthand, which makes it easier for them to grasp what we offer and how much smoother we can make their workflow.
CE Pro: What lessons from 2025 should the industry carry into 2026?
Zell: Own the categories that touch design like lighting, shading, and power, or be prepared to lose relevance. And tighten operations now, because the firms winning in 2026 will be the ones who blend craftsmanship with disciplined process and automation.
