FULL FRAME: Technology How the State of the

How the State of the Industry Pertains to Motorized Window Coverings

BY O’D MCKEWAN

My first thought when thinking about the state of the industry and how it pertains to motorized window coverings is: The times they are a-changing. Especially in our industry. With the new child-safety laws taking effect soon, there are going to be a lot of changes that will affect us at every level of our industry. Most manufacturers have been doing a great job of redesigning, inventing and implementing new products or enhancements to allow most window coverings to be compliant with the new and upcoming requirements, such as making cord-free lift options available for almost every type of window covering. As we know, this is a great option for child safety, but it is not always the best option for our clients.

There are many challenges with manually operated cord-free lift systems. The two main ones are the width and height limitations and the client’s ability to reach and operate the systems. These two challenges alone have a huge list of potential issues for the end user. So many, I could write a whole article listing and describing the issues many of us have already contemplated or dealt with, but instead I will stay on target and discuss motorization.

I will still integrate the concept of the new laws as they will definitely alter our sales techniques. Keeping child safety in mind and considering the fact that we must eliminate low-hanging cords, offering motorization may seem like a simple task, but it also comes with multiple challenges. The main one being cost. Nowadays, there are several motorization options out there and the prices can vary greatly. Some window covering manufacturers offer multiple lines of motorization at different price levels. I believe we will see a battle for low-cost motor options as a standard alternative to manually operated window coverings.

Right now, we have rechargeable, battery-powered, plug-in, and hardwired motors and everything from remote controlled to voice controlled, but I believe the simplest and least expensive alternative to the cordless lift option is going to be the motorized wand system. There are many manufacturers that offer a simple rechargeable motor that is operated by a wand attached to the headrail and allows the end user to raise and lower the window covering with the press of a button.

These low-cost motors do not use a remote control, nor are they able to be hooked up to any form of home automation. That is what keeps the price down and makes it an affordable option to cordless lift systems. These systems have been out for a few years now with limited success or popularity, but I believe they will become one of the most popular options once clients are forced to choose between a cordless lift system and a motorized system. This is my entry-level motorization option. In fact, I noticed at the last International Window Coverings Expo that many manufacturers were prominently displaying their motorized wand options and the new features they have, like Louvolite’s secured metal wand attachment and Coulisse’s flexible wand attachment. As this item gains popularity, I believe we will see a lot of upgrades, including a hardwired application instead of a rechargeable system so that it can be used in commercial applications and in public spaces where the cordless lift will not be a viable option. (Hint, hint manufacturers.)

Speaking of rechargeable options, using either a rechargeable motor or a rechargeable battery pack is one of the most popular options for motorized window coverings now. This is due, in part, to the simplicity of selling and installing them and their price point. As I have mentioned in previous articles, rechargeable motors and batteries are not without their problems, including life span, accessibility and recyclability. However, since rechargeable batteries are the No. 1 sold battery in the world, the constant technology improvements will make these options more viable to a certain extent. Remember, no battery manufacturer wants to make a battery that lasts forever.

When it comes to technology, motorization is a constantly evolving entity. As it pertains to motorized window coverings, most of our technological advances come from other fields and are implemented to be used with our products. This is most evident when it comes to communicating with the motors. We started with “dumb motors” that were wired to a switch that either raised or lowered a shade. Then, we moved on to infrared, which allowed us to use hand-held remotes that had to be pointed at the shade. From there, we moved to manufacturer-specific radio frequency (RF) remotes that gave us much better range and a lot of control options. RF communications also allowed us to communicate with other types of devices such as hubs and gateways that allowed us to control our motors from mobile devices and voice-controlled assistants.

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Rollease Automate Lithium Ion 3.0 Rechargeable Motor

This has been the biggest evolution in our industry for the last 10 years. The problem was that everything was brand specific. Every manufacturer had their own remotes and hubs that would only work with their products. Now, I am seeing more manufacturers opening up to more generalized and universal communications, including Hunter Douglas, Coulisse and Somfy. This will minimize the need for brand-specific hubs and allow the end user to be able to control multitudes of electronic devices from a single app or voice assistant.

These universal communications—such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Z-Wave—are still radio frequencies, they are just open to anyone that has a compatible device, much like your phone can connect to any Wi-Fi or Bluetooth you have access to. There is even a current push in the electronics industry for a new standard and universal RF communication protocol called Matter. This would allow any Matter device to communicate with any other Matter device no matter what the product is or who the manufacturer is. This would really open up our possibilities in the motorized window covering world.

So, where does this leave us now in our industry? Well, I believe this is going to be a rapidly evolving time for the next 10 years. Technology and the demand for alternative lift options are going to force us as an industry to make a lot of changes—from manufacturing, sales, installations and servicing issues. If you are not staying current and willing to adapt to the upcoming changes, you are probably not going to be happy and fall behind those who are and, with our impending forced recession, you should be willing, eager and able to make the changes to stay ahead of those who are not.

You have taken the time to read this, so take a little more time to prepare yourself for where we are going as an industry. Research the new laws and how they are going to affect your business. Take classes to stay current on constantly changing motorization options. Start selling alternative lifting options so you can learn firsthand how it is going to affect your business before and after the sale. If you would like to learn more or stay current, visit our site at WindowCoveringWorld.com. V

SPEAKER

O’D McKewan is the product coach for Window Covering World, an expert on motorization and an industry leader in the field of motorized window coverings. He has extensive hands-on experience with motorized window coverings, including fabrication, installation and selling. » WindowCoveringWorld.com

Take O’D McKewan’s WFCP Motorization Certification course on Wednesday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. He will also speak during a session on “Virtual Selling: Grow Your Business With Reduced Expense” on Thursday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m. and a session on “Mastering Motorization” on Friday, April 21, at 9 a.m.