As we look to wrap up 2024, I can confidently say that it was a milestone year for innovation, collaboration, and growth for the Z-Wave Alliance. From expanding global reach to welcoming new leadership, the Alliance continued to solidify its role as a driving force in the smart home and IoT space. Let’s take a moment to admire all that was accomplished this year.
CES 2024
Over 30 Z-Wave Alliance members participated in CES this year, demonstrating that the show continues to be an important touchpoint to showcase the strength and versatility of the Z-Wave ecosystem. The Alliance introduced a new program at CES 2024, the Z-Wave Fireside Chats & Happy Hour series, which provided a platform to discuss the latest Z-Wave developments and where the industry is heading. The feedback on these discussions were overwhelmingly positive, so you will see them again at CES in 2025 with all new topics and the same great way to connect with your fellow members (make sure to pre-register if you want to attend).
Z-Wave Long Range EU
In February, the Alliance was excited to announce the availability of Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) for our valued European members, offering them enhanced capabilities including extended range, increased scalability, and optimized battery life. ZWLR EU, which will be certifiable starting in January 2025, will open the door to new applications across smart home, multi-dwelling units, hospitality, and more sectors in the EU. We’re seeing a lot of growth and excitement in the European market, and we’re thrilled to be hosting the Z-Wave Alliance Summit and Unplug Fest EMEA at ISE 2025 in February.
New Tools for Developers
The Alliance is constantly working to empower developers to accelerate innovation and bring new Z-Wave products to market more efficiently. In June, we were proud to release the 2024A Specification Package and a new Z-Wave Reference Application Design (ZRAD) to do just that. 2024A introduced updates to the User Credential Command Class, enabling secure, interoperable management of user credentials, with enhancements for smart locks and access control automation. A publicly available open-source tool, ZRAD provides detailed schematics and a step-by-step guide for creating devices with an exceptional RF range of over 2 miles. Together, these resources simplify the Z-Wave product development process and have helped spur on the continued growth of the product catalog. We expect to surpass 4,500 certified devices in early 2025.
Board of Directors
In September, we warmly welcomed Paulus Schoutsen, founder of Home Assistant and Nabu Casa, to the Z-Wave Alliance Board of Directors. A champion of the open-source community, Paulus brings fresh perspectives to the Alliance’s mission of fostering interoperability and expanding the Z-Wave ecosystem. His addition underscores Z-Wave’s commitment to an open, secure, and inclusive smart home future that we will carry into 2025.
I am pleased to announce the re-election of the entire Z-Wave Alliance Board of Directors for 2025:
- Chairman of the Board – Avi Rosenthal, bluesalve partners
- Vice Chairman of the Board – Gustaf Lonaeus, Alarm.com
- Treasurer – Kevin Kraus, Fortune Brands Innovation
- Secretary – Bill Scheffler, Trident IoT
- Chair Emeritus – Jonathan Adams, Amazon
- Directors – Jake Alamat (Silicon Labs), Lisa Corte (ASSA ABLOY), Geoff Cummings (Johnson Controls Inc.), Scott Laing (Vivint), John Osborne (Lexi Devices), Andrew Weir (ADT), Paulus Schoutsen (Home Assistant and Nabu Casa)
Get Involved
With 28 new members joining the Alliance this year, we are stronger than ever. While this year has been one for the books, we couldn’t do it without the tireless work of our members, especially those who are leading and participating in our work groups. Being a part of these groups is a great way to get connected and impact change in the industry. Know someone who should get involved? Check out the full list of work groups here.
If your company is not currently a Z-Wave Alliance member, I invite you to learn more about Z-Wave. Follow the Z-Wave Alliance on LinkedIn for live updates and visit us at CES 2025 or the Z-Wave Alliance Summit & Unplug Fest EMEA.
from Avi Rosenthal, Chairman of the Board
