As residential lighting becomes increasingly connected, DMF Lighting believes custom integrators are uniquely positioned to take ownership of the category rather than leaving it to other trades.
Speaking with CE Pro, DMF Lighting Senior Director of Product Strategy Charlie Derk argued that integrators are often the first call homeowners make when something connected to a control system fails, regardless of who supplied the lighting fixtures. Because of that, he says dealers should take control of the entire lighting experience and capture the associated revenue opportunities.
One of the biggest challenges in modern lighting is interoperability between fixtures and control systems. With more tunable and digital lighting products entering the market, ensuring compatibility has become increasingly important. Derk says DMF addresses this through extensive testing across major control platforms and by providing dealers with direct access to engineering support when issues arise.
DMF has also focused heavily on modularity, allowing key fixture decisions to be made later in the project lifecycle. According to Derk, the approach gives dealers and homeowners greater flexibility when plans inevitably change during construction.
The company’s recently introduced PhaseX technology is another example of simplifying installation. Designed for digital lighting fixtures, PhaseX transmits both power and control signals over standard Romex wiring, eliminating the need for additional low-voltage control wiring commonly associated with protocols such as DALI and DMX.
Beyond products, Derk sees lighting as a strategic entry point into projects. Because lighting conversations often happen earlier than discussions around audio and video systems, dealers who lead with lighting can establish relationships with architects, designers and homeowners sooner in the process. DMF supports those efforts through lighting design services, photometric studies and continuing education programs.
Looking ahead, Derk believes the industry is still “scratching the surface” of the lighting opportunity, pointing to linear lighting, decorative fixtures and especially landscape lighting as key growth areas for integrators.
