The year 2023 is almost at an end and with it comes nervous anticipation. I’m sure all our readers have had their fill of recession talks so rather than discuss what may yet lie ahead, let’s all take this opportunity to look back. Let’s see the top stories captured the attention of CE pros in 2023.

There was plenty of excitement to be had, from the explosion of AI onto the scene, as well as the biggest CEDIA Expo since the pandemic. There were also plenty of shakeups within the industry from lawsuits to buyouts. And in between all of that, there’s been plenty of celebration for the history of the industry and what yet lies ahead for CE pros.

As with our prior retrospectives, a few elements were taken into consideration: how much onsite engagement the articles received, what potential industry impact they reveal, and how relevant they are now. The pageviews come first, then the rest factor in what makes it to the top; that way, if you happened to miss any of these stories when they first came out, we made sure they’re still worth going back to now, even as 2023 comes to a close.

Here’s the top CI industry stories of 2023.

CE Pro’s Top Custom Integration Stories of 2023

#1 10 Failed Electronics Retailers We’ll Always Keep in Our Hearts

Given how closely tied many integrators were to the old big box stores, the bygone electronic retailers of yesteryear remain near and dear to our hearts. From Tweeter to Crazy Eddie’s, there’s plenty to reminisce on nowadays, as it seems like Best Buy is really the only one still kicking, and even they’re trying to shift up their business model just to stay alive.

The Future of Digital Lighting & Control

As a custom integrator, lighting is in demand. Effective communication, education and showcasing the value proposition of LED light fixtures in conjunction with integrative control systems are the keys to overcoming challenges and closing sales in this specialized market. Join us as we discuss the future of digital lighting and control with David Warfel from Light Can Help You and Patrick Laidlaw and Mark Moody from AiSPIRE. Register Now! 

#2 Bose Sells Professional Audio Division

Bose is a big name in audio, so it came as a shock when the company announced it would be selling its professional audio business to focus more on its consumer-oriented products. What was even wilder for many was who bought the segment: Transom Capital—a private equity firm with a long-running history of snatching up corporate divestures and cleaning up operations for maximum growth efficiency.

#3 Snap One Files Lawsuit Against Josh.ai & AVA Over NEEO Remote Patent

Seems like it was just last year when we were talking about the newly formed AVA (wait we were?). The patent infringement allegations were fired out right before CEDIA Expo 2023 so amidst the flurry of event news and new product announcements, you’d be forgiven if this firestorm passed underneath your radar at the time.

#4 Control4 OS 3.4 is a Much Needed Update to the User Experience

OS updates are always welcome news within the CI industry, and with a control system as widely used as Control4, it makes sense that people would flock to the news of a better overall user experience. And considering the ‘enhanced user experience’ means less work for integrators on changing the smaller features on the platform, that’s just gravy.

#5 Brink’s Home Security Parent Monitronics Files for Bankruptcy…Again

Monitronics has had a storied history of financial troubles. The company had already undergone a substantial restructuring in 2019 to try and get the situation under control, but four years later, it seemed as though the company just couldn’t get it to work, declaring Chapter 11 Bankruptcy one more time.

#6 The Elite Designers Behind the Most High-Profile Home Theaters in the World

A toast to the legends that have essentially been around since the custom home theater first broke onto the scene, resident videophile Bob Archer interviews some of the top home theater designers in the industry who have transformed the custom creation into a treasured art form.

#7 FCC Adjusts Stance on ATSC 3.0 Adoption

CE Pro (and it seems a lot of other people) have been waiting for NextGEN TV with bated breath. Poised to revolutionize the industry (and potentially shake up streaming’s chokehold on the market) all that’s really left is for it to actually be implemented in the broader market, and the FCC opening up more licensing for the innovation is a great push in that direction.

#8 GPS Giant Garmin Acquires JL Audio Brand

Garmin is known for many things, but most will likely know it for its GPS’s. So with that in mind, its acquisition of beloved audio brand JL Audio might have you going “Huh?” There’s speculation on it still, but many have proposed the company plans on incorporating JL’s technology into its incredibly popular marine and overland devices. We’ll just have to see what Garmin has planned.

#9 AV Technician Ranked as Most Interesting ‘No-Degree Job’ in U.S.

The topic of education and introducing new blood into the CI industry is something that integrators have long grappled with, and the talent shortage certainly didn’t help with that. However, with AV technician gaining more recognition as a potential option for younger generations looking to get into the workforce without going massively into debt for a college degree, perhaps all that hard work and advocacy is paying off.

#10 Total Home Technologies’ Leasing Business Model is a Total Game Changer

Within the industry, Total Home Technologies has certainly found fantastic success, and off of a truly unique business model no less. In an industry where RMR models are fairly uncommon, hearing that a company is able to pull in over $1 million annually through such a set-up is jaw dropping to say the lease(t). It’s enough to get people wondering: is this the future of custom integration?

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