|
|
Leadership & LegacyThe Winning Combo for the Future of the Smart Home |
|
The smart home cannot thrive in a vacuum – interoperability will be the defining pillar of success for the future. As more players enter the market, the Alliance has our sights squarely set on our goals and how Z-Wave will continue to provide value to members and, in-turn, to smart home customers. If the past several months serve as any indication for how busy 2023 will be, Z-Wave is in for a monumental year. Within the last quarter alone, a vast amount of momentum has been generated as Z-Wave welcomed new board members rounding out an already elite group of industry-leading experts from across the IoT space. |
|
Additionally, we announced the completion of the Z-Wave Source Code Project, a prolonged effort with massive payoffs ahead. Let’s look at these two achievements to drill into why leadership and legacy will bring Z-Wave into it’s most exciting chapter yet. Leadership for the Future:
First and foremost, Z-Wave has led the charge on interoperability for decades. As new organizations join the conversation, it’s exciting to see a meld of new and legacy members joining ranks to lead Z-Wave. We’ve welcomed Jonathan Adams, a young and emerging technology leader at Amazon as Chairman of the Board. Furthermore, the Alliance continues to benefit from the knowledge and expertise from the collective board, which includes leaders who are founding participants of Project CHIP and who currently hold chaired positions within both the Thread Group and the Connectivity Standards Alliance. An Evolving Legacy
Following the ratification and move to a Standards Development Organization (SDO), the Z-Wave Alliance has been working to open Z-Wave and to make it more widely available to members has been a top initiative. Providing Z-Wave members with a rich development environment containing the Z-Wave source code is a giant leap forward and partners are paying attention. At Z-Wave Summit, Exegin Technologies demonstrated the successful porting of Z-Wave Source code to third party silicon which is an update we all have been eagerly awaiting as the implications point towards members having choice when it comes to chip provider and development options. In addition to the Z-Wave Source Code Project, Silicon Labs, one of the primary code contributors to both Matter and Z-Wave, has developed a multi-protocol software development kit, the Unify SDK, for Matter-based hubs and bridges. The software tool provides for interoperability between the different wireless IoT protocols, including Z-Wave. The Unify SDK offers a how-to kit for manufacturers and developers to connect both new and legacy Z-Wave devices with new Matter devices. While buzz-worthy companies have entered the space with Matter, we know that in order for Matter to truly fulfil its promise, it cannot make it challenging for homeowners to include their legacy devices within their system. With a massive, certified ecosystem (4,100+ devices and counting) Z-Wave will continue to be critical as bridging technology will play a key role in connecting Matter to legacy devices and becoming interoperable with new Matter networks.
2023 is burgeoning with opportunities for Z-Wave, and as we start this exciting chapter, there truly has never been a more exciting time to be involved with what comes next for Z-Wave. The Z-Wave Alliance is independently run and member-driven. Member ideas, input, and feedback have a direct result on the steps we take in the coming year. This is your call to get involved! Visit the Alliance website to see the full list of committees and working groups you can join, as well as membership opportunities. Help us chart the course for Z-Wave in 2023 and beyond! |
|
 Z-Wave Enables a Quick Start for Newcomer LEXI |
|
When a company joins the Z-Wave Board of Directors, it signals a level of commitment to advancing the Z-Wave standard. The importance of membership involvement within the Z-Wave Alliance can’t be overstated, because when Z-Wave transitioned to a non-profit standards development organization in 2020, it ushered in a new era whereby members have become the dominant, driving force behind the organization and structure. For new board member LEXI, becoming an active and vocal participant of that driving force and gaining access to the tremendous resources offered by the Z-Wave Alliance and the members within was the perfect next step for LEXI. We sat down with John E. Osborne II, COO, LEXI to hear more about their company and their decision to join the Z-Wave Board of Directors. |
John E. Osborne II, COO, LEXI
|
|
LEXI is a relative newcomer in the IoT space, but they are already making an impact enough to entice Osborne an industry veteran to join their team. The company was founded in 2017 with founders that have a deep history in IoT and software development and a commitment to smart device interoperability. “The LEXI platform supports all major smart home ecosystems including Z-Wave’s 4,000+ strong device ecosystem,” shares Osborne. “The compelling part of joining the Z-Wave Alliance board is that as a newer company, LEXI is able to learn from the experience of other members. There is a huge level of support Z-Wave members provide one another because at the end of the day we are all working toward advancing the technology.”
In talking about their decision to join the board, Osborne made an important distinction that standards development organizations (SDOs) like the Z-Wave Alliance are not a private club. With the right goals, vision, and passion many companies have what it takes to not only sit on the board – but lead the industry – even the small companies. “Actively engaging with Z-Wave has given us an additional kick-start as we look to continue to grow our platform. Having a resource that we can use to help team members get up to speed on the protocols offers a huge benefit. As a member, you get to participate rather than waiting for technology to be released, you get to be a part of it. That gives you a first-to-market, leading edge opportunity. You can create it, guide it, and shape it,” says Osborne
Looking to the future, Osborne and the LEXI team see continued opportunity for Z-Wave. He shares “Interoperability is key to the industry being successful, growing and expanding the market for all companies in the IoT space and those looking to enter the IoT space. Z-Wave provides a way for new players to get in the industry because they don’t have to create their own standalone ecosystem. Over the next year I think we will continue to see those “walled gardens” of proprietary devices and platforms slowly evolve; consumers want choice and companies will need to focus on interoperability to grow and be successful. We’re excited to be part of this evolution as LEXI looks to launch our next series of gateways.” |
|
Volunteering Makes a BIG Difference Getting involved with the Z-Wave Alliance by joining a committee or working group makes a big difference in the work the alliance can produce. The more we work together the greater the impact we can have! Already part of a working group or committee? Make sure you are joining calls to contribute to the work that is being done. Find the meeting schedule here.
Help Consumers Find Your Products! Adding your products to the Z-Wave database makes it easy for end-users and integrators to find your devices as they look to complete their projects. Make sure people know what you have to offer, submit your products here. |
|
| January 5 – 8, 2023 Z-Wave Pavilion Booth #52908
Las Vegas, NV If you’re attending CES, make sure to stop by and say Hi to your fellow members and the Z-Wave Team at the pavilion. Stay safe, stay healthy, and we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming Z-Wave Alliance event soon! |
|
| |
|
