D-Tools CEDIA 2016 Wrap-up: Awards, Integrations, and Ideas
KMB Communications client D-Tools enjoyed CEDIA 2016 in Dallas in a way that was anything but ordinary. Certainly, some staples of the show surfaced, including the announcement of the D-Tools Design Awards winners and a packed booth where D-Tools staff showcased the latest iteration of System Integrator software (in this case, SI 2016, R2). But the D-Tools team also celebrated several one-of-a-kind moments that emphasize the company’s overall growth in recent years. Read on to learn more about three stand-out CEDIA 2016 moments for D-Tools.
D-Tools CEDIA Highlight #1:
Awards, Given and Received
Every year, the D-Tools Design Awards, culminating at CEDIA, showcase the most unique residential and commercial AV integration projects using the D-Tools Systems Integrator platform. D-Tools honored five winners this year, in the categories of Best Residential, Best Commercial, Most Unique, and Best Overall. (View the winning projects here on the D-Tools website.)
From whole home automation to sports bar and schools, the Design Awards showcase D-Tools’ versatility for integration projects of any size, scope, and style, and serve to recognize the home and commercial integrators who use the platform to its maximum capabilities.
While it may be better to give than to receive, D-Tools is honored to once again win the CE Pro BEST Award in the Business Operations Category for SI 2016 R2. The significant enhancements to this version of SI2016 placed the popular platform in the running and on the radar of CEDIA attendees once again.
D-Tools SI platform, was, additionally, recognized as a CEDIA Best New Product Finalist and, earlier this year, was recognized as one of CE Pro magazine’s top brands based on numbers from the annual “2016 CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis” study, which gauges the industry’s highest-revenue integrators.
CEDIA Highlight #2:
D-Tools’ Third Party Integrations: Well Received by CEDIA Attendees
As technology users—including custom integrators—get used to everything being connected (ala the Internet of Things), it’s equally important for business operations tools to interface seamlessly. With this in mind, D-Tools announced multiple third party software integrations, which were very well-received by CEDIA attendees.
D-Tools’ API and integration strategy is an integral component of the company’s core vision – to provide integrators of every type and size with a software platform that gives them the flexibility to select and adopt the various tools that best suit the needs of their business.
Strategic partnerships with Connectwise, Slateplan, TRX.io, ProjX360, and fellow KMB client Ihiji move D-Tools closer to its goal of providing AV, IT, and security system integrators and consultants with a complete end-to-end solution that allows data to flow seamlessly throughout the project lifecycle – from initial client contact through the ongoing service relationship.
CEDIA Highlight #3:
Blueprint for Success Panel Packs the House
On the topic of partnerships and service agreements, D-Tools’ CEO Randy Stearns took part in a first-of-its-kind breakfast panel presented by CEDIA and moderated by CE Pro’s Jason Knott. 
Stearns was joined by Slateplan, Portal (by SupplyStream) and KMB clients Ihiji and OneVision Resources, all industry leaders and former integrators.
“The concept came about last year at CEDIA,” Stearns tells Ed Wenck in a post on the CEDIA blog. “It was the realization that there’s a group of us – former integrators – that have turned our attention to developing tools or services for the integration community.”
With a packed house full of enthusiastic home technology professionals and the trade press, Stearns and the four other panelists discussed the technology tools and services available to custom integrators today to help them improve business processes and increase profits through enhanced efficiency.
Whether custom integrators choose to deploy just one software platform—such as D-Tools—or to incorporate a number of apps to help streamline operations and provide better service to customers, there’s no doubt they found a number of solutions at CEDIA 2016. The Blueprint for Success panel gathered some of the best software and service solutions, along with their creators, in one room to brainstorm ideas on how technology professionals can stay ahead in an ever-changing industry.
Keep your eye on the KMB social media feeds and newsroom for key takeaways from this disruptive panel session, and be sure to visit the D-Tools website and blog and follow the company on social media to learn more about the award-winning System Integrator platform.