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.
Ryan Donaher of Apex Technologies US says 2025 marked a turning point, with homeowners prioritizing dependable performance over flashy features, while integrators leaned into cinema-scale experiences and resilient power infrastructure to meet rising expectations.
CE Pro: How did homeowner expectations or project demands shift in 2025?
Although, it doesn’t seem like it would be a new trend, we observed an uptick in the number of times we heard of homeowner expectations centered around, “just wanting their systems to work.” There seems to be a growing frustration in automation and in the centralized distribution of tech not meeting the promised user experience.
CE Pro: Which categories surprised you in terms of growth or slowdown this year?
Two areas stuck out amongst the total growth for us across infrastructural and experiential offerings: home cinema and power solutions for large scale projects. TPI Aerospace brought immersive audio to compliment large home cinemas with either dvLED or front projection video. On the downside, we did notice a slight decrease in centralized video distribution that we will keep an eye on in the year ahead.
CE Pro: What major product launches or acquisitions had the biggest impact in 2025?
The embrace of our customers around the momentum of TPI Movement has helped to bring an elevated and totally immersive cinema experience to many pleased homeowners across North America and beyond. The Apex Power Hub promotes the maximization of a homeowner’s enjoyment of all the cool and life-enhancing systems our customers create for them. The Power Hub is like a control center monitoring and managing all web-connected power infrastructure pieces around a home, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of good power quality without anyone having to think about power.
CE Pro: What trend or technology failed to gain traction despite early interest?
We are just beginning to get a glimpse of increased awareness for our line of interactive digital LED solutions. Each year we bring a bigger and bolder display of ProtoPixel to a show, and we see results wherein someone takes the canvas and expands its borders, inside and out of the home cinema.
CE Pro: How did collaboration with builders, designers, or architects change this year?
Each year for the last few, we have experienced an uptick in the number of times we have an opportunity to be in front of the major trades closest to our customers. We are thankful to our Rep team, our peers and our customers for bringing us to teach discussion. We learn sometimes as much, or more as the others in the room, about strengthening these relationships in each conversation.
CE Pro: What lessons from 2025 should the industry carry into 2026?
Continue to seek the most relevant business relationships with partners who can hold each other accountable for the betterment of growing together.
