Changes Announced for the 2025 Excellence in Product Innovation Awards

NSCA announces that entries are now being accepted for the 12th annual Excellence in Product Innovation Awards. This recognition program honors manufacturers and products that have a profound impact on systems integrators, and this year comes with big changes.

Winners will now be announced at NSCA's annual Excellence in Business Operations (XBO) Experience event instead of the Business and Leadership Conference (BLC). This year's XBO Experience event is being held in Austin, Texas, on October 28-29.

Given the ever-changing nature of commercial integration, the Excellence in Product Innovation awards divisions have been completely revamped to reflect key growth areas. Twenty-five (25) winners will be named in each of the following categories, which are grouped into six divisions:

AI & Intelligent Automation Division: Products that harness artificial intelligence, machine learning, and/or automated processes to enhance integrator and/or end-user experiences.

*Best AI-Infused Classroom AV Solution
*Best AI-Infused Enterprise AV Solution
*Best AI-Infused School Safety Solution
*Best AI-Infused Surveillance Solution
*Best AI-Infused Access Control Solution
*Best AI-Infused Digital Signage Solution

Recurring revenue and service enablement division: Technologies that empower integrators to build sustainable recurring revenue through service contracts, monitoring, and support platforms.

*Best RMR-Generating Corporate AV Solution
*Best RMR-Generating School Security Solution
*Best RMR-Generating Higher Education Solution
Installation and integration excellence division: Products designed for easy deployment, retrofitting, or seamless integration to reduce labor, time, and/or cost in the field.

*Best Installation Tool for Integrators
*Best Project Management Tool
*Best System Design Tool
*Best Job Costing and Financial Management Tool
*Best Training Program/Solution for Integrators

Cybersecurity and risk mitigation division: Technologies that strengthen system security, protect data, and help integrators offer secure solutions to clients.

*Best Cyber-Protected Security Product for Education
*Best Cyber-Protected AV Product for Education
*Best Cyber-Protected Security Product for Corporate
*Best Cyber-Protected AV Product for Corporate

Platform power and ecosystem integration division: Technologies that serve as a central platform or integrate seamlessly with broader ecosystems to deliver scalable value.

*Best Centralized AV Platform for the Classroom
*Best Centralized AV Platform for Command & Control
*Best Centralized Security Platform for Education
*Best Centralized Security Platform for Enterprise

Next-gen innovation division: Products that are trailblazing and future-forward, redefining what's possible in the integration industry.

*Best Next-Generation Networking and Wireless Tools
*Best AR/VR/XR-Enabled Design Technologies
*Best AR/VR/XR-Enabled Education Technologies

Any manufacturer producing innovative technology solutions for installation by commercial integrators is eligible for this award. Industry manufacturers may nominate their products and are encouraged to take advantage of early-bird pricing now through August 21, which offers savings of $100 per submission.

"We've evolved the Excellence in Product Innovation awards this year to better reflect the innovations that drive the industry forward," says Tom LeBlanc, NSCA executive director. "Our updated categories ensure that we recognize not only breakthrough products but also solutions that solve critical business and operational challenges. Our goal is to honor innovations that empower integrators to deliver more value to their clients."

Winners will be recognized through the following coverage:

*On-stage recognition at NSCA's XBO Experience event
*A quarter-page ad in one issue of Integrate (NSCA's quarterly trade publication)
*Online product footer ad on NSCA.org
*Included in NSCA press release announcement
*Spotlight in Inside NSCA, NSCA's biweekly e-newsletter
*Social media shoutouts
*Featured in a blog posted on NSCA's website to spotlight EPI winners
*Mentioned in Commercial Integrator and Security Sales & Integration online articles

All entries will be featured in a photo gallery on CommercialIntegrator.com, listed in NSCA's press release announcement, and included in a Commercial Integrator e-newsletter.

Entries are being accepted now through September 25. Each product entry is $697; however, NSCA members can save $200 per entry by contacting NSCA for a coupon code. (Call 800-446-6722 or email mjohnson@nsca.org for the code.) NSCA members can combine this discount code with the early-bird rate as well.

To enter, visit epiawards.secure-platform.com. Products submitted for consideration must be announced after July 1, 2024, and they must be available for sale and shipment on or before December 31, 2025.