The Evolution of Super Integrators from Specialized Contractors & Installers
Since COVID-19 began, moving more applications and services to digital platforms has risen to the forefront of almost every business. Research suggests that the digital transformation market will grow from 521.1 billion USD in 2021 to a whopping 1247.5 billion USD by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth rate of 19.1%.
These astounding statistics suggest that digital transformation is no longer a choice but a necessity. As a result, many companies have hired super integrators to drive and simplify digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data analytics, the cloud, smart edge, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Integrators allow companies to connect more devices, handle security breaches, and address communication silos.
Here you will find information about super integrators and the evolution of super integrators from more vertically aligned premise wiring/LAN contractors, security and alarm installers, home theater dealers, and home automation contractors or integrators.
What Are Super Integrators?
Super integrators are technology providers that allow businesses to drive digital transformation by delivering services and expertise across the full range of modern IT solutions. They can also create, manage, and execute complex IT initiatives and workflows.
Unlike their predecessors, super integrators empower companies to centralize servers, tools, and communication silos. This can help cut many costs, since managing different vendors can be expensive and frustrating.
Many industries use super integrators, including:
- Home automation
- Digital signage
- Commercial audiovisual installation
- Home-based audiovisual installation
- Industrial networking and automation
- Surveillance and security
- Fire alarms and detection
The History of Super Integrators
Super integrators can trace their origins to other contractors, installers, and dealers.
Vertically Aligned Premise Wiring or LAN Contractors
The first identifiable ancestor of super integrators is the LAN contractor. As their name suggests, LAN contractors connect people, technology, and information to Local Area Networks (LANs). LANs are comprised of access points, switches, cables, routers, and other components that allow computers and other devices to connect to web servers, internal servers, and other LANs.
LANs were first developed in the 1960s for universities, colleges, and research facilities such as NASA to connect computers to other computers. However, LANs only started to be used widely after Ethernet technology was developed, commercialized, and standardized in the 1980s. Now, LANs are everywhere, from businesses and schools to coffee shops, homes, and restaurants.
LAN contractors are responsible for connecting the devices together. They use LAN and premise wiring to connect devices and are also responsible for installing Power over Ethernet (PoE) cables, which let network cables carry electrical power. Education and certification in this field is attained through the BICSI organization.
The only similarity they have with super integrators is that they connect people, technology, and information to networks. Unlike super integrators, they do not have to install wiring for other systems in the company, such as alarm and security systems.
Security and Alarm Installers
The next step in super integrator evolution was security and alarm installation. In contrast to LAN contractors, security and alarm installers work with a variety of security related systems, such as access control, fire alarm, CCTV and surveillance, and more. Like super integrators, they drive digital transformation by linking the web to security and alarm installations.
Specifically, they use IP-based security devices and access control cables to send and receive data over the web. They accomplish this by using high-quality alarm/security cables such as Remee’s Vigilance™ security cables to link wireless, IoT, and Ethernet networks. Once everything is linked, these networks notify users of changes in the company environment, such as whether a window is open or closed.
Home Theater Dealers
While the alarm/security cabling market was developing and growing, the home theater industry started up, initially with high-end A/V installations for the discriminating home theater audience, such as audiophiles and videophiles. These high-end installations required appropriately matched high-end cabling for reliability and quality resolution of sound and video.
Home theater dealers started using these broadcast audio and video cables to link audio and video systems for the ultimate home-viewing experience.
Home Automation Contractors and Integrators
Home automation contractors and integrators took home theater dealers one step further. These contractors can link audio, video, internet, and security systems together. With this convenient home setup, devices and appliances can be controlled remotely from any networked device with an internet connection.
Like networked business devices, smart home devices are linked through the internet, allowing users to control the following:
- Lighting
- Home theater
- Temperature
- Security access and detection
- Other devices that can be linked to the network
The main difference between home automation contractors and super integrators is the scale of their responsibilities. Super integrators work with a lot more data, possibly from hundreds of applications and systems, involving many interconnections. In contrast, home automation contractors only work with five to ten systems or apps at most. As a result, super integrators need to cultivate a diverse skillset and maintain a larger and more varied supply of equipment, wire and cable.
An organization called CEDIA evolved to provide education for installers in Home Theater and Home Automation.
Experience the Remee Difference
Remee Wire & Cable is a manufacturer of low voltage electronic wire and cable with headquarters in Florida, New York.
Proudly family-run since 1972, Remee offers a broad selection of world-class cables for super integrators. Remee provides state-of-the-art LAN/premise cables, alarm/security cables (Vigilance™), automation cables, PoE and extended distance cables (Activate™), home automation cables, and audio/video cables. They also offer excess inventory cables for short-term needs — most of them at a discount.
You can get any kind of cable you want or need from Remee. They can modify and customize existing cables by adding features such as armoring, messengers, non-standard colored jackets, shielding configurations, water blocking, and more. Remee also offers composite cables, plenum cables, and multiple fiber optic cable types.
Learn more to find out more about Remee cables. If you have any questions, contact us at 1-800-431-3865 or info@remee.com.