Entries are now being accepted for the 11th annual NSCA Excellence in Product Innovation awards, which honor manufacturers and products that have a profound impact on systems integrators.

Any manufacturer that produces innovative technology solutions for installation by commercial integrators is eligible for this award. Industry manufacturers may nominate their own products and are encouraged to take advantage of early-bird pricing now through December 1, 2024.

Winners will be announced at NSCA’s 27th annual Business & Leadership Conference next February in Irving, TX. In addition to naming a Grand Prize Winner, one winner will be named in each of the following categories:

• Ease of Customization: products that excel at interoperability and allow integrators to add value with custom solutions
• New Revenue Potential: products that offer ways for integrators to add value through new offerings
• Recurring Revenue Potential: solutions that make it easier for integrators to expand their managed services offerings
• Retrofit-/Installer-Friendly: products that reduce installation time and secure profit margins
• Technology Platform: platforms for manufacturers to build from and push the industry forward
• Trailblazing Innovation: products that symbolize bold research and development to help reshape the industry

Additional considerations are made during judging about how the product impacts user experience (scalability, versatility, deployment cost, ease-of-use, ROI, ADA compliance, energy efficiency, etc.).

“Why do integrators choose to partner with one manufacturer over another?” asked NSCA executive director Tom LeBlanc. “It often comes down to the innovation a manufacturer can offer. Do their products make it easy to do business with them? Do their products give integrators new ways to bring value to their customers or expand their offerings? This program aims to recognize the manufacturers that take steps to do these things to stay competitive and relevant.”

Entries are being accepted now through December 20. NSCA members can save $200 per entry by contacting the association for a coupon code; call 800-446-6722 or email mjohnson@nsca.org for the code.

An early-bird rate is also available through December 1 for all submissions; members and non-members will save $100 per entry with the early-bird rate.

Products submitted for consideration must be announced after February 1, 2024, and they must be available for sale and shipment on or before April 1, 2025. To enter, visit https://epiawards.secure-platform.com.