by Bob Archer | Feb 2, 2026 | Blog, D-Tools, KMB Communications, Kordz, SONOS, Torus Power
Every trade show has the same temptation: Chase the biggest screen, the loudest demo, the most dramatic “look what we can do.”
And listen—those are fun. We’re all human.
But if you want coverage that actually serves integrators—and gives your readers something they can act on Monday morning—you have to spend time with the unglamorous stuff. The things that don’t trend on social media or more succinctly—the things homeowners never notice—unless they fail.
That’s why this editorial angle works so well at ISE 2026 in Barcelona (Feb. 3–6): the fundamentals are having a moment. (ISE 2026)
Here’s what I mean.
Power isn’t a “nice-to-have” when the system is sophisticated
The more complex the home, the less forgiving it becomes. High-performance theaters, distributed audio, racks with serious density—these systems reveal power problems quickly.
Torus Power is showing why power isolation and stability belong in the conversation before the troubleshooting begins. It’s not just about protection; it’s about repeatable performance. Visit Torus at Stand #2D300. (CEPRO)
Cabling is where plans meet reality
Designers can draw the cleanest lines. Engineers can spec the perfect solution. But system installations happen in the real world—tight pathways, weird studs, bend radii, heat, vibrations, and the occasional “we need it done today.” Kordz is leaning into connectivity designed for professional deployment, and showing it in a way the press can actually capture: Demos, hands-on experiences, and practical product storytelling around HDMI and control infrastructure. Kordz will be at Stand #2F550. (Learn more here: Kordz)
Documentation is not paperwork, it’s risk management
Integrators don’t lose money because they’re bad at technology. They lose money because the project got messy—miscommunication, missed details, wrong versions, unclear scope, and other inefficiencies. D-Tools is showcasing workflow improvements that help firms build quotes and manage projects more efficiently, with a strong emphasis on reducing friction between office and field. If you want to write about the business of integration—and not only the gadgets—this is a “walk the booth” topic. D-Tools is at Stand #2J500. (Read more here: Commercial Integrator)
Whole-home audio is only “simple” when it’s designed to be lived with
Distributed audio is where the glamorous goal of beautiful sound everywhere meets the unglamorous truth (zones, tuning, racks, serviceability). Sonos’ Amp Multi announcement is a strong example of what’s changing: professional-grade architecture intended to scale cleanly, with tools and design choices meant to support real integrator workflows and reduce friction for homeowners. At ISE, Sonos will also be talking through its broader installed solutions, with demos at Hall 1, Booth 1E500. (Learn more here: newsroom.sonos.com)
Here’s a bigger point to consider: The integrator is the hero of these stories. And the hero’s superpower isn’t a flashy product—it’s risk reduction. It’s a system that works on day one and keeps working on day after day.
So if you’re writing for any of the outlets that keep this industry healthy—do your readers a favor at ISE: cover the fundamentals. That’s where the real differentiation is. That’s where the installs get cleaner. That’s where trust is built.
And that’s where the glamorous experiences begin.
KMB CEO and founder Katye McGregor Bennett will be at ISE. To book time to meet with the brands mentioned above, email katye@kmbcomm.com with “ISE Meeting Inquiry” in the subject line.
KMB Communications hosts a podcast called AV Trade Talk. Listeners can check out the podcast to learn about the latest happenings in the custom installation electronics industry. To listen to the KMB AV Trade Talk Podcast, click here.
by Bob Archer | Feb 2, 2026 | Blog, D-Tools, KMB Communications, Kordz, SONOS, Torus Power
Let’s be honest: The real enemy of a profitable integration business isn’t competition. It’s chaos.
Chaos is the wrong part ordered because the quote wasn’t clear. Chaos is the rack that overheats because airflow was a “later” problem. Chaos is the cable that technically worked … until it didn’t. Chaos is the client who says, “It’s fine,” while quietly losing faith.
That’s why one of my favorite editorial angles for ISE 2026 (Feb. 3–6, Barcelona) is the simplest one: Fewer truck rolls, fewer surprises. (ISE 2026)
This isn’t a glamorous theme—until you’ve lived it. Then it becomes the whole point.
Start with smarter quoting and cleaner collaboration
D-Tools is bringing a workflow story to ISE 2026 that’s tailor-made for this angle: Faster quoting, more efficient team collaboration, and tools that reduce friction between sales, design, project management, and the technicians in the field. When your documentation is aligned, your project execution becomes more predictable—and predictability is how you protect margin. Find D-Tools at Stand #2J500. (Commercial Integrator)
Make wiring clarity a standard, not a scramble
If you’ve ever watched a tech trace a cable with one hand and hold back frustration with the other, you already know why wiring clarity matters. Kordz is leaning into “install-ready design” at ISE 2026, pairing product introductions with hands-on demonstrations that reinforce durability and deployment confidence. The goal isn’t just better performance—it’s fewer unknowns when everything is already happening at once on a jobsite. Kordz will be at Stand #2F550. (Kordz)
Build infrastructure that behaves when the environment doesn’t
Power is the silent contributor to “random” problems. Brownouts, voltage swings, line noise, and surges are the kinds of issues that create intermittent failures and the dreaded phrase: “We can’t reproduce it.” Torus Power’s ISE presence is built around power isolation and stability as a foundation for performance and reliability, showcased at Stand #2D300. (CEPRO)
Reduce homeowner friction in multi-zone audio
Now, the part clients actually touch every day: Whole-home audio. Sonos’ new Amp Multi is provides integrators an easy way to scale distributed audio without scaling headaches—flexible zone assignment, high speaker counts, and tuning tools designed for integrators. Sonos is also making a point to use ISE as a platform for broader discussions about its installed solutions, not just the headline product. Look for Sonos in Hall 1, Booth 1E500. (newsroom.sonos.com)
Here’s why this matters to integration industry press members: The integration channel is full of “hero stories” that never get told because they’re not cinematic. The truth is, a successful project is often defined by what didn’t happen—no failure, no panic, no rework, no awkward client apology. That’s a compelling business story, and it’s a meaningful service story.
If you’re an editor ask the brands and integrators at ISE 2026 what they’ve done to reduce variables. Ask what eliminates callbacks. Ask what helps teams work faster without cutting corners. That’s where the modern integration narrative is headed—and it’s how the industry moves from “custom” to “consistently excellent.”
KMB CEO and founder Katye McGregor Bennett will be at ISE. To book time to meet with the brands mentioned above, email katye@kmbcomm.com with “ISE Meeting Inquiry” in the subject line.
KMB Communications hosts a podcast called AV Trade Talk. Listeners can check out the podcast to learn about the latest happenings in the custom installation electronics industry. To listen to the KMB AV Trade Talk Podcast, click here.
by Bob Archer | Feb 2, 2026 | Blog, D-Tools, KMB Communications, Kordz, SONOS, Torus Power
Luxury used to mean marble, motorized everything, and a home theater so ostentatious it left family and friends searching for words. Now? Luxury is the absence of friction.
Today’s luxury-seeking homeowner doesn’t ask, “why did the music stop in the kitchen?” Luxury is when the designer doesn’t get the dreaded text: “The wall plate is crooked and the TV keeps glitching.” More than anything luxury is best represented when the integrator doesn’t get a frantic Sunday night call because the equipment rack decided to throw a tantrum mid-party.
That’s the reliability conversation I’m most interested in during the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 show in Barcelona on February 3–6—especially with the show’s “Push Beyond” mindset setting the tone for what the industry values next. (ISE 2026)
For integrators and their clients the “wow” moments we all love with the modern home are only possible when the fundamentals behave. And this year, four brands are making a strong case that reliability is, in fact, the new luxury—each from a different angle.
Power integrity: Torus Power
Start at the beginning: Clean, stable power. Torus Power is showcasing its toroidal isolation approach at ISE 2026, highlighting why electrical isolation isn’t just protection—it’s performance and long-term stability. If you’ve ever chased a hum, ground issue, or a mysterious “it only happens at night” failure, you already understand why power is a luxury feature in disguise. Torus will be on-site at Stand #2D300. (CEPRO)
Signal integrity: Kordz
After power, the next part of the modern home that needs reliability is signal. Kordz offers connectivity integrators seek: Cables that are built for the way systems are actually installed—dense racks, tight bends, high bandwidth, real-world abuse. The show spotlight includes new HDMI and control solutions positioned to reduce failures and keep systems stable under pressure. Kordz will be at Stand #2F550. (Kordz)
Process integrity: D-Tools
Reliability isn’t only hardware—it’s also documentation and proper workflow. These efficiencies allow for fewer opportunities for human error to sneak in. D-Tools is previewing what’s next for its System Integrator and D-Tools Cloud integrator tools. These solutions focus on streamlining quoting, collaboration, and field execution. When the process is tight, the install is cleaner, the handoff is smoother, and the client experience feels “effortless”—which is exactly how luxury should feel. D-Tools will be at Stand #2J500. (Commercial Integrator)
Audio system integrity at scale: Sonos
Finally, let’s talk about reliability where homeowners notice it most: Whole-home audio. Sonos is introducing Amp Multi, a multi-zone audio solution that is specifically for professional installations. The new Sonos multi-zone streaming amplifier provides eight channels rated at 125 watts each, as well as up to four configurable zones, and architecture designed to scale by adding units as needed. Sonos also calls out the engineering choices that support long-term stability, including GaN power architecture and a fanless design. At ISE 2026, Sonos will be in Hall 1, Booth 1E500, with regular demos and broader installed-audio conversations across its lineup. (newsroom.sonos.com)
For press members, this is the editorial gift: Reliability is not a “spec sheet” story. It’s a human story about trust, reduced consumer friction, and systems that quietly do their job so the homeowner can enjoy the benefits that today’s luxury smart home is capable of providing. For integrators, it’s a profitability story: Fewer callbacks, fewer fire drills, and more capacity for the work you want to be doing.
At KMB, we love the glossy product moment as much as anyone—but we’re also obsessed with what makes that moment possible. This year at ISE 2026, the smartest coverage might be about the fundamentals … because that’s where the real differentiation is hiding.
KMB CEO and founder Katye McGregor Bennett will be at ISE. To book time to meet with the brands mentioned above, email katye@kmbcomm.com with “ISE Meeting Inquiry” in the subject line.
KMB Communications hosts a podcast called AV Trade Talk. Listeners can check out the podcast to learn about the latest happenings in the custom installation electronics industry. To listen to the KMB AV Trade Talk Podcast, click here.
by Bob Archer | Jan 30, 2026 | Blog
A large portion of the U.S. is experiencing a polar vortex winter, and right now the custom electronics industry is experiencing its own vortex: The trade show vortex.
Fresh off the heels of the largest trade show in North America—CES—the industry is in the midst of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE 2026), Lightapalooza 2026, and the International Builders Show (IBS)/KBIS event all which are happening between Feb. 3 to Feb. 19.
For those not working within the electronics industry, there’s also some event run by the National Football League (NFL) on Sunday, Feb. 8 that will attract more than 100 million TV viewers and serve as the platform the year’s biggest budget ads.
Focusing on the news of the week, KMB Comm and its Technology Week in Review, the current emphasis is the above-mentioned trade shows, but there were several items worth highlighting, nevertheless.
KMB Comm Technology Week in Review Look at Residential Market News
Let’s start with a rundown of Lightapalooza educational sessions from CE Pro. In the story, Nick Boever reports the event will offer attendees learning opportunities for everyone from beginners to more advanced professionals.
Here is the CE Pro story.
Over at Residential Systems, the publication’s reviewer John Sciacca looks at the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 Dolby Atmos Soundbar. Without giving away anything, Sciacca points out the soundbar offers impressive levels of output and amenities that include Dirac room correction.
The entire review can be found here.
Since a large part of the U.S. is stuck inside due to the polar vortex and with only one NFL game left, it’s time to pick up on those streaming activities. Tudum by Netflix recently ran down the service’s most popular titles, which can serve as a guide to finding new content during the cold winter months.
The story points out the top 10 list is led by “The Rip,” along with other titles such as “Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials,” and “Skyscraper Live.” The story provides lots of suggestions for English and non-English speaking subscribers.
LinkedIn Leads with National News
The social media site LinkedIn had a good with of reporting several bigger stories this past week.
Anyone traveling to any of these winter trade events knows how difficult flying can be. LinkedIn states that Southwest Airlines has ended the “cattle call” open boarding practices, and its assigned seating is now active. With this new policy there’s one less problem for Southwest customers to deal with.
This Apple partnership with Google is kind of flying under the radar probably due to football, the current political climate and the economy, but this is big news. According to LinkedIn, Apple’s new version of Siri, powered by Google Gemini from making its public debut.
To learn more about these two tech giants collaboration click here.
Concluding the LinkedIn items the KMB Comm Technology Week in Review is looking at is an economic report. The post by the social media site notes that while spending on AI has exploded, it is not the sole reason why the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) grew in 2025. The story says AI was the second biggest reason why the GDP grew, falling in next to consumer spending.
Consumers, the post stresses were the biggest driver of the GDP this past year.
One final tech item that is making national news comes from the technology company Tesla. Yahoo Finance via CNN reports the electric vehicle manufacturer is ceasing production on the Model S and Model X products.
The story points out these are two of the most expensive cars from the company, and it will convert the factory that made those products into a facility that manufactures humanoid robots.
The complete story can be found here.
KMB Communications hosts a podcast called AV Trade Talk. Listeners can check out the podcast to learn about the latest happenings in the custom installation electronics industry. To listen to the KMB AV Trade Talk Podcast, click here.
by Bob Archer | Jan 30, 2026 | News
Barcelona, January 28, 2026 – Nice North America (Nice), a global leader in Smart Living solutions, is showcasing the next evolution of its integrated ecosystem at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), highlighting how ELAN OS 9 and Yubii OS work together to deliver scalable, installer-driven smart living experiences across global markets with a focused, strategic path forward for North America.
This year marks a pivotal shift: Smart Living becomes the core of Nice’s offering and identity. More than automation, Smart Living is a vision: a way to create seamless, intuitive experiences that adapt to how people live, work, and connect every day.
At ISE 2026, Nice is demonstrating how its two operating systems — ELAN OS and Yubii OS — interoperate to support different installation environments, customer needs, and levels of system complexity. Together, they reflect Nice’s Smart Living vision of a unified ecosystem.
“Smart Living is not just about connecting devices — it’s about designing meaningful experiences that evolve with people’s lives. At Nice, we believe technology should simplify the everyday, enrich our spaces, and give us back time for what truly matters. That’s why we’re building an ecosystem that’s intuitive, integrated, and ready to grow with you.” Davide Bignù, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Nice.
Two Operating Systems. One Ecosystem. One Brand.
ISE serves as a key moment for Nice to demonstrate how its Smart Living ecosystem scales across regions, installation types, and customer expectations. By showcasing ELAN OS 9 and Yubii OS together, Nice reinforces its commitment to a modular, interoperable architecture that allows integrators to design systems that allow growth as needs change rather than locking customers into a single path.
In European markets, Yubii Home, part of the Yubii OS platform, is already established as a standalone smart home controller, supporting a wide range of Z-Wave and Nice-branded devices for lighting, climate, access, and sun-shading. Designed for retrofit-friendly installations and modular expansion, it enables wireless control across thousands of compatible devices and plays a central role in Nice’s broader Smart Living ecosystem globally.
That proven foundation is now shaping how Nice introduces Yubii Home to North America — not as a one-size-fits-all controller, but as a strategic extension of its premium Smart Living experience.
With Yubii Home as a dedicated controller, the system can benefit from native support for Z-Wave protocol, seamless integration of battery-powered devices, smart modules, and Nice automation solutions – including shading, gate, and door control – directly within the Nice ecosystem. The initial focus will be on motorized shading’s integration, offering a streamlined, bridge-free experience with enhanced responsiveness and design consistency.
Through this integration:
- ELAN OS communicates over the network to Yubii OS
- Yubii Home manages Z-Wave and proprietary Nice protocols
- Commands are delivered wirelessly with improved robustness and device capacity
This architecture replaces legacy bridge-based approaches and enables Yubii Home to act as a dedicated gateway within ELAN OS-controlled systems. Because Yubii OS is native to Nice, designed to work seamlessly with Nice motors, gateways, and control logic, it delivers a level of integration that is difficult to replicate with third-party solutions.
“For the North American market, this integration is about solving real-world installer challenges,” said Jeff Shaw, Chief Product Officer at Nice North America. “By integrating ELAN OS 9 with Yubii Home as a dedicated gateway for wireless devices and shading, we’re giving dealers a more robust, scalable architecture, one that simplifies installation, improves reliability, and creates a clear path for system growth without forcing them to start over.”
Reducing Complexity, Increasing Confidence
For professional integrators, this comprehensive Smart Living ecosystem is designed to reduce friction across the entire project lifecycle — from system design and installation to long-term support. By offloading wireless communication to a purpose-built gateway, installers can support a greater number of devices, extend system range, and reduce troubleshooting related to battery-powered endpoints.
The result is a cleaner system architecture, fewer service calls, and greater confidence as projects scale, particularly in homes with extensive shading, larger footprints, or mixed wireless environments.
Flexible Paths for End Users
Yubii Home’s architecture also enables flexibility for homeowners. It can be deployed as:
- A standalone controller for Nice motorized shades with app-based control
- A gateway integrated with ELAN OS, expanding system scale without starting from scratch
- A foundation that allows customersto begin with shading and elevate to a more premium Smart Living experience later as needs evolve
This flexibility opens new opportunities for dealers to serve customers who may not initially invest in full custom integration, while preserving a clear upgrade path within the Nice ecosystem.
A Differentiated Approach to Smart Living
Unlike traditional control systems that rely on a single controller to manage every device type, Nice’s dual-OS approach allows each component to do what it does best. The ecosystem combines a premium, deeply customizable control experience, with a scalable wireless backbone, creating an architecture that is both powerful and adaptable.
This opens the ecosystem beyond a single system definition, allowing integrators to expand functionality, device count, and system scope without compromising performance or user experience.
Global Innovation at ISE, Tailored for the North American Market
At ISE, Nice is demonstrating its full Smart Living ecosystem — including ELAN OS 9, Yubii OS, sun-shading solutions, AV distribution, and security — reflecting the company’s global vision for integrated living.
In the United States, Nice premium Smart Living solutions powered by ELAN OS are available today through authorized Nice dealers and the Nice Store. Yubii Home’s initial North American introduction will begin in a limited, shading-focused configuration, with broader functionality and distribution plans to be announced.
Together, ELAN OS and Yubii OS represent a forward-looking approach to smart living — one designed around flexibility, scalability, and the realities of professional installation.
Visit Nice at booth 2H300 at ISE from February 3 – 6. For additional information on Nice products, please visit niceforyou.com. For product imagery, click here.
About Nice
Founded in the early 1990s, Nice is a global leader in Smart Living Solutions, offering a complete range of integrated solutions for gate automation, garage doors, solar shading systems, parking systems, wireless alarm systems and home security, for residential, commercial and industrial applications; smart and connected systems for residential and commercial applications, for the security, access control, AI (Artificial Intelligence), comfort & wellness, control and power/AV sectors. Nice has embarked on a strategic path of expansion and extension of its portfolio of connected solutions and platforms, to offer a wide choice of customizable solutions and ease of use for the end user. This is complemented by strengthening and expanding in markets with high growth potential, as well as a renewed branding activity to compete in new market segments. Today, Nice can rely on an organization of over 2,000 people on 5 continents, boasting a wealth of different skills and cultures, as well as 15 R&D centers and 15 production plants serving its partners and customers in over 100 countries worldwide.
About Nice North America
Nice North America, LLC, a subsidiary of Nice, is one of the largest manufacturers of smart residential, commercial, and industrial solutions in the world, providing integrated smart living experiences. They offer seamless and easy-to-install technology for smart home control, security & automation, perimeter access and protection, including hostile vehicle mitigation, sunshade solutions, power management, and entertainment. Based in Carlsbad, CA, at the heart of Southern California’s innovation corridor, the company drives innovation through a network of advanced R&D and manufacturing centers across the region, with major operations in Kent, Olive Branch, and Montreal, Canada. Supporting professional integrators, dealers, and distribution partners, the company offers award-winning programs, hands-on technical support, field training, and CEU-certified education initiatives designed to help accelerate business growth. Nice North America lives out their mission of creating environments where individuals truly feel unbounded, safe, and free through smart solutions – an impact exemplified by its support of the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program for wounded veterans – and strives toward building a brighter and more sustainable future.
Corporate Contact
Valentina Ghirardi
Global Head of Communication
Nice HQ
v.ghirardi@niceforyou.com
North America Corporate Contact
Holly Tessmer
Sr. Marketing Manager, Events & PR
Nice North America
holly.tessmer@niceforyou.com
